Monday, March 16, 2015

Study to help TN frame incentives to promote green buildings to be ready in next 4 months

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

A study to help Tamil Nadu formulate a policy framework for deciding
the incentives to promote green buildings in the state will be
completed in next four months, according to official sources.

The study, which is being conducted by Bangalore-based The Energy
Research Institute, is 30 per cent completed and a final report is
expected within four months time.

A green building is a structure that is environmentally responsible
and resource-efficient throughout its life-cycle.

The study is being conducted after the government in its endeavour to
promote green buildings in private sector announced in the legislative
assembly last year that incentives for green buildings after a
systematic review.

The study ‘Formulating of Incentives Policy for promoting Green
Buildings in Tamil Nadu’ is being done at a cost of around Rs 35 lakh
and is expected to suggest appropriate operational procedure for
implementing the recommendations for incentives emerging out of the
study so that any incentives offered fully meet the purpose without
any leakage.

It is learnt that consultants would study various concessions,
incentives or any other support offered by the Union governments or
planning and development authorities and other departments in the
Centre for promoting green buildings.

The study would also make an inventory of different rating systems
available for Green buildings and make a comparative analysis to
arrive at common criteria for feature of availing appropriate
incentives.

Currently, India is the third country in the world with over 2.2
billion square feet of green building footprint. Builders say that the
construction costs of a green building is 3 to 5 per cent higher for a
platinum building than a conventional building, but the incremental
cost gets paid back within 3 to 4 years with substantial reduction in
operational costs.


Factfile:

1.   Green buildings efficiently use and harvest energy, water, and
materials; and protect and restore human health and the environment,
throughout the building life-cycle.

2.   A green building may cost more up front, but can save money over
the life of the building through lower operating costs.

3.   Conventional buildings in India consume about 20% of country’s
total electricity and have a significant impact on the environment and
resources

4.   TN has already constructed Green houses in rural areas

5.   The study will help formulate ratings for green buildings in the state

6.   India has two green building rating systems -- LEED by IGBC and
GRIHA by TERI.

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