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Energy efficient building design involves constructing or upgrading buildings that are able to get the
most work out of the energy that is supplied to them by taking steps to reduce energy loss such as
decreasing the loss of heat through the building envelope. Energy efficient homes, whether they are
renovated to be more efficient or a built with energy efficiency in mind, pose a significant number of
benefits. Energy efficient homes are less expensive to operate, more comfortable to live in, and more
environmentally friendly.
Inefficiencies that are not removed in the building process can pose issues for years. However, keeping
energy efficient building design in mind when construction is underway is a more effective way to
approach making a home more efficient, which is less expensive for a homeowner in the long run.
Building codes exist around the world to ensure that buildings are energy efficient to a certain degree,
however sometimes it is wise to go above and beyond these recommendations to have an even more
energy efficient home. As well, since a house operates as a system, a home must be looked at as a
whole in order to fully increase the energy efficiency. For example, expensive heating and cooling
equipment do nothing to improve the energy performance of the house if insulation isn't
keeping heat in during the winter and out in the summer.
Energy efficiency and energy conservation are often referred to as the cheapest and cleanest sources of
energy. Energy efficiency is achieved through the application of technology, such as insulation
upgrades, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), high efficiency furnaces, and so forth.
Energy conservation is achieved through behavioral changes, such as turning off lights when not
needed, using household appliances differently, carpooling, and so forth. Reducing energy
consumption is generally applied to the built environment, such as building energy.
2. Optimize Energy Use: Improving the energy performance of existing buildings is important
to increasing our energy independence. Operating net zero energy buildings is one way to
significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuel-derived energy.
3. Protect and Conserve Water: A sustainable building should use water efficiently, and
reuse or recycle water for on-site use, when feasible.
4. Optimize Building Space and Material Use: As the world population continues to grow;
the use of natural resources (and the demands for them) continues to increase. A sustainable
building is designed and operated to use and reuse materials in the most productive and
sustainable way across its entire life cycle.
5. Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ): The indoor environmental quality (IEQ)
of a building has a significant impact on occupant health, comfort, and productivity. Among
other attributes, a sustainable building maximizes daylighting, has appropriate ventilation and
moisture control, optimizes acoustic performance, and avoids the use of materials with high-
VOC emissions.
6. Optimize Operational and Maintenance Practices: Designers can specify materials and
systems that simplify and reduce maintenance requirements; require less water, energy, and
toxic chemicals and cleaners to maintain; and are cost-effective and reduce life-cycle costs.
Commonwealth Games Village, New Delhi, Fortis Hospital, New Delhi, CESE (Centre for
Environmental Sciences & Engineering) Bldg, IIT Kanpur, Suzlon One Earth, Pune and many other
buildings has received GRIHA rating.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) formed the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) in year
2001. IGBC is the non profit research institution having its offices in CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green
Business Centre, which is itself a LEED certified Green building. Indian Green Building Council
(IGBC) has licensed the LEED Green Building Standard from the USGBC. IGBC facilitates Indian
green structures to become one of the green buildings.
IGBC has developed the following green building rating systems for different types of building in line
and conformity with US Green Building Council. Till date, following Green Building rating systems
are available under IGBC;
a. LEED India for New b. LEED India for Core and c. IGBC Green Homes
Construction Shell
d. IGBC Green Factory e. IGBC Green SEZ f. IGBC Green Townships
Building