Page 15 - GRIHA Manual Volume I - Introduction to National Rating System
P. 15
2 GRIHA Manual: Volume 1
litres per day (MLD) (9.51 billion cubic metre (BCM) was generated in 921 Class I cities and Class II
cities in India (housing more than 70% of urban population). The waste water treatment capacity
developed so far is about 7044 MLD accounting for only 27% of waste water generated in these two
classes of urban centres (2.57 BCM/year).
Management of construction and demolition waste and solid waste generated by occupants
of building pose another major challenge which needs attention. The CPCB has estimated current
quantum of solid waste generation in India to the tune of 48 million tonnes per annum, out of which
25% of waste accounts for construction industry. Management of such high quantum of waste puts
enormous pressure on solid waste management system. In addition, about 42 million metric tonnes
(MMT) of solid waste is generated daily in the urban areas of the country. Most urban centres lack
appropriate segregation, management and treatment facilities for solid waste. Currently, municipal
solid waste is hardly segregated at source. Mixed waste is being dumped into the depression or
earmarked low lying areas in and around the towns. Municipal solid waste comprises of 30% to 55%
of bio-degradable (organic) matter, 20% to 35% inert matter and 5% to 15% recyclables. The organic
fraction of municipal solid waste contains bio-degradable matter ranging from 30% to 55%, which
can be profi tably converted into useful products like compost (organic manure), methane gas (used
for cooking, heating, lighting, production of energy), and so on.
At macro level, extensive urbanization is leading to uncontrolled ‘heat island’ eff ect. Vegetation and
tree cover give way to urban areas with large expanses of pavements, buildings, and other structures,
thus eliminating cooling provided by vegetation through both shade and evapotranspiration. This
contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is detrimental to human health. Urban
heat island impacts give rise to increased temperatures by up to ten degrees Fahrenheit. This also
results in increased demand for air conditioning. Increased air conditioning demands increased
generation of electricity which again contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases. These need
to be addressed at settlement planning level as well as micro planning level during site development
and planning for buildings.
As we chart our developmental path, it is important for us to keep our eyes on the environmental
damage that we create. It is extremely important to pause for a while and carry out necessary course
correction for benefi t of the Mother Earth and our future generations. It is a well established fact that
green buildings off er immense potential to reduce consumption and regenerate resources from
waste and renewable sources and off er win-win solution for user, owner and the environment.
1.1.1 What is a green building?
Buildings have major environmental impacts during their life. Resources such as ground cover, forests,
water, and energy are dwindling to give way to buildings. Resource-intensive materials provide
structure to a building and landscaping adds beauty to it, in turn using up water and pesticides to
maintain it. Energy-consuming systems for lighting, air conditioning, and water heating provide
comfort to its occupants. Hi-tech controls add intelligence to ‘inanimate’ buildings so that they can
respond to varying conditions, and intelligently monitor and control resource use, security, and
usage of fi re fi ghting systems and other such systems in the building. Water, another vital resource
for the occupants, gets consumed continuously during building construction and operation. Several
building processes and occupant functions generate large amounts of waste, which can be recycled
for use or can be reused directly. Buildings are thus one of the major pollutants that aff ect urban air
quality and contribute to climate change. Hence, the need to design a green building, the essence
of which is to address all these issues in an integrated and scientifi c manner. It is a known fact that
it costs more to design and construct a green building compared to other buildings. However, it is
litres per day (MLD) (9.51 billion cubic metre (BCM) was generated in 921 Class I cities and Class II
cities in India (housing more than 70% of urban population). The waste water treatment capacity
developed so far is about 7044 MLD accounting for only 27% of waste water generated in these two
classes of urban centres (2.57 BCM/year).
Management of construction and demolition waste and solid waste generated by occupants
of building pose another major challenge which needs attention. The CPCB has estimated current
quantum of solid waste generation in India to the tune of 48 million tonnes per annum, out of which
25% of waste accounts for construction industry. Management of such high quantum of waste puts
enormous pressure on solid waste management system. In addition, about 42 million metric tonnes
(MMT) of solid waste is generated daily in the urban areas of the country. Most urban centres lack
appropriate segregation, management and treatment facilities for solid waste. Currently, municipal
solid waste is hardly segregated at source. Mixed waste is being dumped into the depression or
earmarked low lying areas in and around the towns. Municipal solid waste comprises of 30% to 55%
of bio-degradable (organic) matter, 20% to 35% inert matter and 5% to 15% recyclables. The organic
fraction of municipal solid waste contains bio-degradable matter ranging from 30% to 55%, which
can be profi tably converted into useful products like compost (organic manure), methane gas (used
for cooking, heating, lighting, production of energy), and so on.
At macro level, extensive urbanization is leading to uncontrolled ‘heat island’ eff ect. Vegetation and
tree cover give way to urban areas with large expanses of pavements, buildings, and other structures,
thus eliminating cooling provided by vegetation through both shade and evapotranspiration. This
contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is detrimental to human health. Urban
heat island impacts give rise to increased temperatures by up to ten degrees Fahrenheit. This also
results in increased demand for air conditioning. Increased air conditioning demands increased
generation of electricity which again contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases. These need
to be addressed at settlement planning level as well as micro planning level during site development
and planning for buildings.
As we chart our developmental path, it is important for us to keep our eyes on the environmental
damage that we create. It is extremely important to pause for a while and carry out necessary course
correction for benefi t of the Mother Earth and our future generations. It is a well established fact that
green buildings off er immense potential to reduce consumption and regenerate resources from
waste and renewable sources and off er win-win solution for user, owner and the environment.
1.1.1 What is a green building?
Buildings have major environmental impacts during their life. Resources such as ground cover, forests,
water, and energy are dwindling to give way to buildings. Resource-intensive materials provide
structure to a building and landscaping adds beauty to it, in turn using up water and pesticides to
maintain it. Energy-consuming systems for lighting, air conditioning, and water heating provide
comfort to its occupants. Hi-tech controls add intelligence to ‘inanimate’ buildings so that they can
respond to varying conditions, and intelligently monitor and control resource use, security, and
usage of fi re fi ghting systems and other such systems in the building. Water, another vital resource
for the occupants, gets consumed continuously during building construction and operation. Several
building processes and occupant functions generate large amounts of waste, which can be recycled
for use or can be reused directly. Buildings are thus one of the major pollutants that aff ect urban air
quality and contribute to climate change. Hence, the need to design a green building, the essence
of which is to address all these issues in an integrated and scientifi c manner. It is a known fact that
it costs more to design and construct a green building compared to other buildings. However, it is
