Page 13 - GRIHA Manual Volume II - Introduction to National Rating System
P. 13
Sustainable site planning 5
CRIteRIon 1
SIte SeleCtIon
Figure 1 Ensure that basic amenities are all located within a ixed radius of the selected site so as to reduce the burden
on transportation fuel consumption and related emissions.
Introduction
Harmonizing buildings with the natural, physical, social or economic environment of its periphery
is crucial to sustainable site planning. Buildings that are designed to isolate its occupants from all
the above parameters of the environment by providing controlled indoor environmental conditions
have large environmental footprints. As such, isolation, in most cases, comes at a very high cost in
terms of energy and resource consumption.
Environmentally, several buildings are built with little regard for the existing biodiversity, natural
infrastructure such as flora and fauna, hydro-geology, wind-patterns, solar path, and water tables.
This practice also extends to other sensitive areas such as preserved/protected coastal zones,
heritage zones, and high-biodiversity zones.
Increased urbanization with out appropriate planning has led to mushrooming of several large
IT parks/housing townships in areas with little or no infrastructure. It has also led to contradictory
land use. Farmlands are often converted into high-energy-consuming townships, and residential
areas are converted into commercial shopping areas. This conversion is driven generally by cost
CRIteRIon 1
SIte SeleCtIon
Figure 1 Ensure that basic amenities are all located within a ixed radius of the selected site so as to reduce the burden
on transportation fuel consumption and related emissions.
Introduction
Harmonizing buildings with the natural, physical, social or economic environment of its periphery
is crucial to sustainable site planning. Buildings that are designed to isolate its occupants from all
the above parameters of the environment by providing controlled indoor environmental conditions
have large environmental footprints. As such, isolation, in most cases, comes at a very high cost in
terms of energy and resource consumption.
Environmentally, several buildings are built with little regard for the existing biodiversity, natural
infrastructure such as flora and fauna, hydro-geology, wind-patterns, solar path, and water tables.
This practice also extends to other sensitive areas such as preserved/protected coastal zones,
heritage zones, and high-biodiversity zones.
Increased urbanization with out appropriate planning has led to mushrooming of several large
IT parks/housing townships in areas with little or no infrastructure. It has also led to contradictory
land use. Farmlands are often converted into high-energy-consuming townships, and residential
areas are converted into commercial shopping areas. This conversion is driven generally by cost
