The Hindu Business Line : Rating system for green buildings

A RATING system for green buildings based on the US LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) is being drawn up, according to Mr C.N. Raghavendran, Partner, C.R. Narayana Rao Architects and Engineers and Co-Chairman of the LEED India committee.

The rating system, LEED India, would be ready in six to eight months, he said.

The Indian version would stick to the basics of the US LEED as drawn up by the US Green Building Council, but would be more in tune with Indian conditions, he said.

The first of these would be a greater focus on use and conservation of water.

Any effort to recycle or conserve water would be recognised. Some countries like Israel even give a tax rebate if less water is used, he said.

The buildings would have to install Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) and recycle water for use in gardens, water-cooled air-conditioning systems and for flushing toilets.

Another point on which the Indian system would differ from the US rating system would be on power.

Buildings would have to save energy taking into account the varied climate zones in the country, Mr Raghavendran said.

Once ready, the rating system would be presented to the stakeholders for their reaction. The US experience is a lesson to us, he said.

Initially most US builders felt that cost would go up but later realised that the life cycle cost of the building by way of maintenance and sustainability was low.

He said the awareness on green buildings was high in the builder community.

Almost 80 new buildings in Chennai are going in for the LEED certification.

Mr Raghavendran said an office tower designed by his firm, recently won the 2005 Intelligent Building of the Year international award, given by the Intelligent Community Forum, a New York based think tank.

The firm has bagged an IT (information technology) park project in Mauritius called the Rosebelle Park, Mr Raghavendran said.

In Chennai, the firm has to its credit many IT buildings including the Tidel Park.

In the mid 1990s the firm had designed most of the sports stadiums in the city.

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