GREEN BUILDING CONCEPT :

Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. This requires close cooperation of the design team, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages. The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:  Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources  Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity  Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation:

A similar concept is natural building, which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally. Other related topics include sustainable design and green architecture. Sustainability may be defined as meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Green building does not specifically address the issue of the retrofitting existing homes. Green building brings together a vast array of practices and techniques to reduce and ultimately eliminate the impacts of buildings on the environment and human health. It often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, e.g., using sunlight through passive solar, active solar, and photovoltaic techniques and using plants and trees through green roofs, rain gardens, and for reduction of rainwater run-off. Many other techniques, such as using packed gravel or permeable concrete instead of conventional concrete or asphalt to enhance replenishment of ground water, are used as well.

Operations and maintenance optimization :

No matter how sustainable a building may have been in its design and construction, it can only remain so if it is operated responsibly and maintained properly. Ensuring operations and maintenance(O&M) personnel are part of the project's planning and development process will help retain the green criteria designed at the onset of the project. Every aspect of green building is integrated into the O&M phase of a building's life. The addition of new green technologies also falls on the O&M staff. Although the goal of

waste reduction may be applied during the design, construction and demolition phases of a building's lifecycle, it is in the O&M phase that green practices such as recycling and air quality enhancement take place.

Waste reduction :
Green architecture also seeks to reduce waste of energy, water and materials used during construction. For example, in California nearly 60% of the state's waste comes from commercial buildings. During the construction phase, one goal should be to reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Well-designed buildings also help reduce the amount of waste generated by the occupants as well, by providing on-site solutions such as compost bins to reduce matter going to landfills.

HOW DO GREEN BUILDING DIFFER FROM OTHERS :

The major differentiating factor is that the five elements of nature are taken care of in a green building.

Conventional construction materials consists of volatile organic compounds and crude elements. These elements have harmful effects on our living and as a result of which we suffer from nausea, headache or asthma. The materials used for green buildings have heat island effect which makes for better micro climate within the house. Green buildings have more day lighting, ventilation and are energy and water efficient. Green buildings are different compared to other buildings in the very design, as minimum of 50% of the area, get day light. For energy efficiency, star rated motors, pumps, LED lighting is used and renewable energy generation is encouraged. The material used in a green building is high on recycled content and they have low embodied energy which makes the materials environ friendly and safe for living. Since green buildings focuses on water savings, water efficient fixtures are used in buildings, rain water is harvested, and treated water is used for plumbing, gardening and car washing. Because of these measures water consumption in green buildings is minimum by 30% less than compared to a normal building.

The Green Advantage:

Green buildings have better indoor air quality because of more ventilation and use of low voc paints. Since green buildings are power efficient they have reduced power bills. Reasonable monthly maintenance charges because of use of energy efficient equipments. Builders also have business advantage of getting incremental cost paid back in three to four years of time, towards the design and construction of these buildings. Moreover, 20% property tax concession can be availed by the builders.