The Government of Maharashtra, in the year 2016 made it mandatory for government buildings to own a green building certificate. The government explains ‘Green Building’ as a building fulfilling its duty while simultaneously reducing the negative impact of its existence on the environment. The green building creates a positive impact on the natural environment and climate. Since the year 2016, Pune has been hustling its existing buildings toward green buildings. The advancement of 37% in the green building certificates has been achieved in the past five years and has been possible through the Pune Green House Plan. It has had a significant impact on the real estate market, affecting the property rates in Pune.
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The Cost of a Green Building
A green building is necessary today if we wish to make it to our tomorrow. And it doesn’t cost much! An additional 2% of what it costs to erect a non-green building, and you smilingly save at least 40% of the energy. Some builders predict the cost to be 15% higher than a traditional building, with the return rate being 3-5 years. There could not be a myth bigger than this. However, the cost of a green building also depends upon the property rates in Pune, the design you opt for and the amount of green you are leaning into.
Twirl Your Existing Building into a Green Haven
A green building is not just cost-efficient but also beneficial for your health. It is well-known that air conditioners increase carbon in the air, depleting oxygen and making a person sluggish. Your humble abode can use the green initiative to keep you on your toes. An existing building can be turned into a green building by the following simple steps:
- Plant solar panels to save cost on the light.
- Replace traditional bulbs with LED bulbs
- Buy appliances with a minimum of a 3-star rating
- To ensure wastage of water is kept to the minimum, use sprinkler taps or sensor-driven taps.
- Red oxide can be used on the floors to keep them cooler, thus reducing the need for air conditioners.
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Pune’s Green House Plan
The buildings of Pune have decided to turn green and accelerate the growth of real estate. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an ecology-oriented building program that provides certificates to green buildings. Pune has over 197 certifications consisting of certified buildings and those registered with the LEED. The area covered by the green initiative is 14.4 million sq. ft. In the books of LEED, Pune stands at the Platinum level. This trend refuses to subside, and the government is playing its role to support the maximum. The Pune Municipal Corporation offers the aid of 3% on the green buildings listed as silver, 5% on the green buildings listed as gold, and 7% on the green buildings listed as platinum.
Suzlon One Earth is India’s first building to be LEED certified. The office of this wind-energy firm is set in Pune and acts as an inspiration for all the architecture. Spread over 10 acres, this green building is crafted by the Pune-based architecture Christopher Charles. He and his partner directed the ‘Office in the Garden’ concept and managed to power 100% of the building through renewable resources. The on-site hybrid turbines power 7% of the building, whereas the offsite turbines power the rest. The structure welcomes maximum daylight to reduce the consumption of artificial lights. It is a Zero Energy Project as there is a loss of any other building with the same certification that has achieved the same cost-efficiency. Suzlon One Earth is all about the green buildings, and so are we!
The Indian Green Building Council has estimated that certified green buildings are supposed to rise to 1 Lakh by the year 2025 as compared to an increasing number of 2,204. This green revolution will be most supported by stringent measures to regulate hidden costs and market failures.
