Page 14 - GRIHA Manual Volume I - Introduction to National Rating System
P. 14
Introduction 1 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Green buildings: global and local perspective
The construction sector poses a major challenge to the environment. Globally, buildings are
responsible for at least 40% of energy use. An estimated 42% of the global water consumption
and 50% of the global consumption of raw materials is consumed by buildings when taking into
account the manufacture, construction, and operational period of buildings. In addition, building
activities contribute an estimated 50% of the world’s air pollution, 42% of its greenhouse gases,
50% of all water pollution, 48% of all solid wastes and 50% of all CFCs (chlorofl uorocarbons) to the
environment.
India too faces the environmental challenges of the construction sector. The gross built-up area
added to commercial and residential spaces was about 40.8 million square metres in 2004–05,
which is about 1% of annual average constructed fl oor area around the world and the trends show
a sustained growth of 10% over the coming years. With a near consistent 8% rise in annual energy
consumption in the residential and commercial sectors, building energy consumption has seen
1
an increase, from a low 14% in the 1970s to nearly 33% in 2004–05. Energy consumption would
continue to rise unless suitable actions to improve energy effi ciency are taken up immediately.
As per TERI estimates, there is an increased demand of about 5.4 billion units (kWh) of electricity
annually for meeting end-use energy requirement for residential and commercial buildings.
Buildings are major consumers of water during construction and operation (for occupants,
3
cooling, and landscaping). Per capita water consumption in 1990 was 2464 m per capita per annum,
but by 2025 with an expected population of 1.4 billion, it will almost certainly be in the stress
3
category with less than 1700 m per capita per annum. In terms of accessibility to water supply, as
per the information received from the State Governments of India, as of March 2004, about 93%
of urban population has access to drinking water supply facilities. The coverage fi gures indicate
only the accessibility, whereas adequacy and equitable distribution and per-capita provision of
these basic services may not be as per the prescribed norms in some cases. For instance, the poor,
particularly those living in slums and squatter settlements, are generally deprived of these basic
facilities. Similarly, the issue of water supply is critical not only for day to day needs of drinking water
but also for agriculture and allied activities.
While we grapple with water shortage, there is a huge potential of meeting the resource
gap through treatment of waste water and reuse of the same for various applications. As per
an assessment made by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the status of wastewater
generation and treatment in Class I cities and Class-II towns during 2003–04, about 26 254 million
1 Construction Industry Development Council, India. India Country Report, 2005–06; Address: 801, Hemkunt Chambers, 89, Nehru Place,
New Delhi 110 019
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Green buildings: global and local perspective
The construction sector poses a major challenge to the environment. Globally, buildings are
responsible for at least 40% of energy use. An estimated 42% of the global water consumption
and 50% of the global consumption of raw materials is consumed by buildings when taking into
account the manufacture, construction, and operational period of buildings. In addition, building
activities contribute an estimated 50% of the world’s air pollution, 42% of its greenhouse gases,
50% of all water pollution, 48% of all solid wastes and 50% of all CFCs (chlorofl uorocarbons) to the
environment.
India too faces the environmental challenges of the construction sector. The gross built-up area
added to commercial and residential spaces was about 40.8 million square metres in 2004–05,
which is about 1% of annual average constructed fl oor area around the world and the trends show
a sustained growth of 10% over the coming years. With a near consistent 8% rise in annual energy
consumption in the residential and commercial sectors, building energy consumption has seen
1
an increase, from a low 14% in the 1970s to nearly 33% in 2004–05. Energy consumption would
continue to rise unless suitable actions to improve energy effi ciency are taken up immediately.
As per TERI estimates, there is an increased demand of about 5.4 billion units (kWh) of electricity
annually for meeting end-use energy requirement for residential and commercial buildings.
Buildings are major consumers of water during construction and operation (for occupants,
3
cooling, and landscaping). Per capita water consumption in 1990 was 2464 m per capita per annum,
but by 2025 with an expected population of 1.4 billion, it will almost certainly be in the stress
3
category with less than 1700 m per capita per annum. In terms of accessibility to water supply, as
per the information received from the State Governments of India, as of March 2004, about 93%
of urban population has access to drinking water supply facilities. The coverage fi gures indicate
only the accessibility, whereas adequacy and equitable distribution and per-capita provision of
these basic services may not be as per the prescribed norms in some cases. For instance, the poor,
particularly those living in slums and squatter settlements, are generally deprived of these basic
facilities. Similarly, the issue of water supply is critical not only for day to day needs of drinking water
but also for agriculture and allied activities.
While we grapple with water shortage, there is a huge potential of meeting the resource
gap through treatment of waste water and reuse of the same for various applications. As per
an assessment made by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the status of wastewater
generation and treatment in Class I cities and Class-II towns during 2003–04, about 26 254 million
1 Construction Industry Development Council, India. India Country Report, 2005–06; Address: 801, Hemkunt Chambers, 89, Nehru Place,
New Delhi 110 019
