Noida crowned NCR's Green Capital in Griha survey

A recent survey conducted by Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), the national rating system for green buildings in India, has revealed that Noida has the highest number of Green buildings in the NCR region, occupying a mammoth 7, 64, 513 sqm, with Gurgaon and Faridabad grabbing the second and third spot with approx 5,80,962 sqm and 49,604 sqm area of Green buildings respectively.

Making the announcement, Rama Raman, chairman of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna expressway further revealed that about 60 percent of all under-construction projects in Noida were based on the Green concept and were shining examples of sustainable development which offered residents to experience smart living.

Raman further stressed that the time had come to build green not just for the incentives but as a sign of faith for the cause behind it as well. He reiterated that everyone had a role to play towards ensuring the intelligent use of resources, while stressing that the architect was the pivotal stakeholder and responsible for bringing this change in the building and construction industry.

With Green projects in the region eligible for an additional 5 percent Floor Area Ratio (FAR) announced recently by the Noida Authority, an increasing number of developers in the NCR belt are now coming up with new Green projects spanning the residential, commercial, retail and IT projects space.

In light of this, the Noida Authority has engaged the services of an external agency to evaluate and approve the design systems submitted by developers for proposed green projects in the city. As per the existing rules, only projects which are certified by credible agencies like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), GRIHA and Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) are considered eligible for green incentives.

Earlier this month the Noida Authority and GRIHA Council with support from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Architects Association Noida Zone (AANZ) and CREDAI had held a one-day awareness programme on 'Sustainable Habitats the GRIHA way'.

Key stakeholders at the programme deliberated upon the processes and mechanism to avail the GRIHA linked FAR being offered by NOIDA and Greater NOIDA towards design and construction of environment friendly buildings in the region.

The programme was graced by several important industry leaders from the region's real estate domain including: Rama Raman, chairman and CEO NOIDA, Manoj Rai, OSD, NOIDA, Leenu Sehgal, GM (Planning), Greater NOIDA, Getamber Anand, President, CREDAI and Atul Gupta, President AANZ.
 
The event was held in the background of the fact that NOIDA and Greater NOIDA have announced an additional FAR of 5 percent, at no cost for applicants that construct Green buildings through GRIHA and other approved rating systems. The objective was to mainstream the design and construction of Green buildings in the region.

Sharing his views on the increasing proliferation of green projects in the NCR region, P Sahel, vice chairman of Lotus Greens opined that both the government and people at large were more inclined towards sustainable development.

He further lauded the efforts undertaken by the Noida and Greater Noida Authority towards encouraging the concept of Green buildings and creating awareness on the need for energy efficient and sustainable buildings which would have a minimal impact on scarce natural resources and the environment.

According to R K Panpalia, MD, Wave Group, Noida offered great potential in transforming itself into a green city in the future. However he cautioned that developers have to stay committed to energy-efficient applications, renewable energy, rainwater harvesting and water recycling if the city was to achieve this distinction on its own merits.

On a national level, experts believe that a growing awareness among both home buyers and developers to build sustainable homes that are in sync with the environment, is responsible for the sharp spurt in the number of certified - Green Building projects across the country today.

As per recent IGBC estimates, with a Green footprint of approx 2bn sqft, India today ranks among the top nations with the highest number of IGBC-registered Green buildings.