GRIHA - Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment

GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment), the national green building rating system of India, is the product of the collaboration of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Being the country's own green building grading system, GRIHA analyzes a building's resource consumption, waste generation, and overall environmental impact.

Requirements of a Green Habitat

A green habitat strives to:

• Keep the demand for electricity, water, and other natural resources as minimal as possible in all phases of construction, operation, and demolition.
• Use renewable energy to generate on-site electricity.
• Meet all of its water requirements using environmentally friendly ways such as rainwater harvesting.
• Recycle and reuse all of its waste on-site, resulting in a minimal environmental effect.

GRIHA Assessment Criteria

Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) assesses a building on 30 parameters divided into 11 sections. They are:

1. Sustainable site planning

• Green infrastructure
• Low-impact design
• UHIE-mitigation designs

2. Construction management

• Pollution control- air and soil
• Preserving topsoil
• Adopting best practices for construction management

3. Energy efficiency

• Optimizing energy consumption
• Using renewable energy
• Using materials with low GWP (Global Warming Potential) and ODP (Ozone Depleting Potential)

4. The comfort of the occupant

• Visual comfort
• Thermal comfort
• Internal air quality

5. Water management

• Reducing water demand
• Treating wastewater
• Managing/ storing rainwater
• Self-sufficiency and water quality analysis

6. Solid waste management

• Waste management methods after the occupation
• The on-site organic waste treatment facility

7. Use of environmentally-friendly building materials

• Using green alternatives for construction
• Life Cycle Assessment and reducing global warming potential
• Using alternate materials for developing the external site

8. Analysis of life cycle costing

9. Socio-economic parameters

• Sanitation and workplace safety of workers involved in construction activities
• Accessibility
• Facilities for service staff
• Favourable social impact

10. Performance Monitoring

• Commissioning for final rating
• Smart metering
• Protocol for operation and maintenance

11. Innovation

GRIHA Ratings

Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) allocates points to buildings on a scale of 100, based on the 30 parameters discussed above. However, to be certified by GRIHA, a project must receive at least 50 points.

Significance of GRIHA

• Environmental protection and climate change mitigation are fundamental problems for our country and the rest of the world.
• Urban infrastructure must provide critical services to the residents while also dealing with massive demographic transitions sustainably amidst rising urbanization.
• Cities bear a large amount of responsibility for balancing current requirements with the needs of future generations to maintain a sustainable balance and reduce the negative environmental repercussions of urbanization.
• India lacks adequate infrastructure for water recycling, reuse, and treatment despite its enormous coastline and rivers.
• Green Buildings are crucial in ensuring that people don't misuse, abuse, and overuse resources to the point of scarcity in the coming years.
• Green buildings can aid in the achievement of nine of the seventeen SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

12th GRIHA Summit

The 12th Virtual Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Summit was held in New Delhi on 15th December 2020.

• Theme- Rejuvenating Resilient Habitats.
• India’s Vice President released SHASHWAT Magazine and a book titled 30 Stories Beyond Buildings.
• Sessions of the summit promoted knowledge sharing and the development of green and sustainable ecosystems across the country.

To sum up, the GRIHA rating system determines the position of your building, in comparison to nationally recognized green norms.

GRIHA proposes a wide definition of what makes a green building by measuring a building's environmental performance over its entire life cycle.

The grading system, based on recognized energy and environmental principles, will strive to strike a balance between present practices and emerging green developments.

FAQs on GRIHA

Q.1) What does the word GRIHA mean?

In Sanskrit, GRIHA means abode.

Q.2) Which is the first Indian campus to get GRIHA five-star rating?

In 2017, the campus of IIT Gandhinagar became the first Indian campus to get a five-star GRIHA rating.

Q.3) Which buildings are eligible for applying for GRIHA certification?

GRIHA certification is available for any new construction project with a built-up area greater than 2500 sq. meters, excluding parking, basement areas, and typical structures.

Q.4) Do the Government offer any incentives for GRIHA buildings?

Yes. Various state governments offer a bunch of incentives for buildings built in compliance with GRIHA guidelines.

For instance, following receipt of a GRIHA Green Building Certificate, the Maharashtra government grants a three percent FSI incentive for three-star projects, a five percent FSI incentive for four-star projects, and a seven percent FSI incentive for five-star projects.