The majority of buildings in India are inefficient and rely entirely on non-renewable energy sources such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal.

An energy-efficient building lowers maintenance and utility costs while also increasing durability, emitting less noise, being more pleasant, and creating a nice atmosphere for safe living. Another goal of energy-efficient building construction is to limit environmental damage and reduce the use of natural resources such as raw materials, land, water, and energy. Reduced energy consumption means that excess greenhouse gas emissions are avoided. Efficient measures are incorporated into new or existing construction by retrofitting some useful parts. Fortunately, there are methods, materials, and resources available to assist engineers, designers, and architects in moving toward an efficient and high-performance building. Engineers and architects have the potential to design and construct an ideal energy-efficient building that is net zero carbon, uses less, and emits less. This may be done by choosing an acceptable building location, using current construction technologies, and adding the essential fundamental elements to the project.

General methods to make buildings efficient

• Convenient Access to Public Transportation

As previously stated, one of the advantages of being energy efficient is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Workers will not need to rely on their cars to get to work if your building is located in the city center and close to public transportation. This means they can use public transportation instead of driving, which emits harmful gases into the environment.

• Orientation to Nature Should Be Considered in New Buildings

If you examine the direction of your structure, you may make greater use of sunshine and install windows accordingly (if it is new). This will help you to save money on your power costs by reducing your dependency on electricity throughout the day.

• Make use of existing structures

Instead of constructing an entirely new structure, look for an existing one that can be retrofitted to your specifications. Not only could this save a significant amount of money, but it could also save the energy required to construct an entirely new building.

• Create with retrofitting in mind.

Alternatively, if you must construct a new structure, it should be designed with retrofitting in mind. That way, if you ever decide to sell, someone else can buy it and start from scratch, rather than having to start from scratch themselves.

• Pick the smallest building possible.

If you don’t need a large structure, don’t go with a massive one. You can create a significantly more energy-efficient building simply by selecting a reasonably sized building. Smaller buildings require fewer materials and less energy to operate, saving thousands of dollars in construction and operation costs.

• Have adequate insulation

Insulation is a critical component in making buildings more energy efficient. To begin, select a green insulation material such as polystyrene or cellulose. Then, make certain that your building is properly insulated. You won’t have to worry about hot or cold air escaping if you properly insulate the building with a quality product, which will help you save money on your utility bills.

• Select the Best Windows

The type of windows you use also makes a significant difference. Choosing windows with double or triple panes and low transmittance can help insulate and protect the building even more. These energy-saving options will help increase the overall energy efficiency of your building and save you even more money on your utility bills.

• Invest in insulated concrete.

When developing an energy-efficient structure from the ground up, using energy-efficient construction materials from the ground up is a terrific alternative. Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) and aluminum frames work together to provide a more durable, energy-efficient construction that provides more insulation and can endure harsh weather.

• Think about installing solar panels.

Installing solar panels is another excellent option for being energy efficient and using less electricity. Solar panels allow you to use less electricity, which reduces the amount of money you spend on lighting and running various appliances and machines. Numerous cities and states also provide substantial incentives for the installation of solar panels, adding to their long list of advantages.

Various Certifications available in market

• ENERGY STAR Building Certification

By generating fewer greenhouse gases than typical buildings, certified buildings save energy and money while also helping to safeguard the environment. To be recognized as ENERGY STAR, a building must fulfill rigorous EPA energy performance requirements.

To be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification, a building must achieve an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on the EPA’s 1 – 100 scale, indicating that it outperforms at least 75% of similar buildings nationwide. This 1–100 ENERGY STAR score is computed using the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager program and is based on a building’s actual, measured energy consumption. The score takes into account differences in operating conditions, regional weather data, and other important factors. Because certification is granted on an annual basis, a building must maintain its high performance to be certified year after year. In addition, the information provided in the certification application must be verified by a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) before it can be accepted.

• LEED CERTIFICATION

The USGBC’s LEED certification program acknowledges a wide range of “green” construction ideas and practices. Building projects can get LEED certification under one of five grading systems: building design and construction, interior design and construction, building operations and maintenance, neighborhood development, or residences. To be certified, a project must gain credits within the relevant grading system by satisfying specified criteria and additional optional goals. There are four levels of certification based on how many credits a project receives: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59), Gold (60-79), and Platinum (80+).

• Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) India

GBCI India offers on-site customer service to regional green building and business project teams. With this operational hub, GBCI will be able to provide full-service onsite certification and verification for the organization’s sustainability activities. GBCI collaborates with industry and government authorities to address and solve the urgent requirements of a rapidly urbanizing India. It is the world’s leading independent organization recognizing excellence in green business industry performance and practice.

• Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA)

GRIHA is a grading instrument that assists users in evaluating the performance of their building against nationally accepted norms. It assesses a building’s environmental performance holistically across its full life cycle, establishing a comprehensive criterion for what defines a “green building.”

• Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

The BEE issues the Bureau of Energy Efficiency rating certificate to show an organization’s level of compliance with the bureau’s standards and recommendations. The certificate is intended to govern, audit, monitor, and improve energy efficiency.

• BEEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method)

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a voluntary green building sustainability grading system developed in the United Kingdom to measure building environmental performance. It evaluates building performance across a wide variety of environmental challenges and assigns a rating of PASS, GOOD, VERY GOOD, EXCELLENT, or OUTSTANDING.

• Green Globes

Green Globes takes a distinct approach, providing in-depth help for changes that are best suited to each project. Building owners and facility managers are the most knowledgeable about their facilities and operations. We value that expertise and use it with individualized help to generate best practices in sustainable design, construction, and operations. We establish a relationship that allows experienced green building project teams to shine while reducing the learning curve for those new to green building by incorporating third-party assessors available throughout the certification process.

• Living Building Challenge

The Living Building Challenge (LBC) is a certification program that provides a framework for design, construction, and the symbiotic interaction between humans and all parts of the built environment. It is one of the most stringent performance criteria in the business, requiring each project to use net-zero energy, waste, and water.

The majority of buildings in India are inefficient and rely entirely on non-renewable energy sources such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal.