Certified Sustainable Buildings
LEED, GRIHA, IGBC and all major third party certifications for buildings and products. Get recognition and endorsement for enhanced green features.
Express Interest:
HI-TECH AND LOW-TECH DESIGN OPTIMIZATION:
CONSULT
* Comfort including thermal, visual and acoustic
* Performance including energy, water, materials, and similar
CERTIFY
* Certification of any green building rating system is done as per choice and use.
* We can recommend as well
MEASURE
* Measure and verify the on-ground results of implementing green building strategies through our design and build services.
An Eco-friendly System
For far too long we have had to live in sub-standard buildings and there has been no method to get our expectations met with regard to the quality of built spaces.
For any item purchased, one expects performance, delight and betterment of our lifestyle. So why not expect something similar from buildings? After all, they are quite expensive in the first place but don’t come with any performance or comfort warranties.
Why not take charge and make your building eco friendly? Some essentials one can expect built spaces to deliver are:
DESIGN, COMFORT & PERFORMANCE
for their occupants and owners. This has to be the minimum guarantee.
It is possible to create better spaces by the use of eco friendly technologies that are rigorously tested for their effectiveness. Success is measured both on the drawing board and post construction. Using innovative ranking and third-party certification systems, the impact of green building measures is quantified.
Such spaces create savings in electricity and water bills. Other features include: designer spaces, better health and wellness of occupants, maximization of comfort and use of latest materials and technologies.
There’s finally a system for us to get our expectations met as one enjoys the savings and features of sustainable architecture long after the initial investment has paid for itself.
Advantage: Certified
Certifying a building according to an established framework of principles and requirements by a third party ensures that there is a common baseline for understanding the "green-ness" of a project. During building design, we incorporate many technical advances to enhance the sustainability of projects. Quantitative analysis presented through clear graphics and computer simulation results goes a long way to confidently justify such design features to other stakeholders.
Certification Process
There are several stages to the certification process. Below is the process we follow for optimization of the project and delivery of services:
Stage 1 (Feasibility): The project is examined through a checklist framework to arrive at the current status. The current efforts of the design team and on-ground realities are analyzed to create a baseline.
Stage 2 (Goal Setting): The appropriate certification level and target setting takes place. At this stage, the missing links are identified and a business case is made for selected strategies to be implemented in the project. The minimum requirements and aspirations are defined. The Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) are documented (or updated) at this stage to set the performance goals for the project.
Stage 3 (Guidance): Detailed guidance is provided to the design, construction or operations team for the implementation of selected strategies. Hand-holding and support is provided by our award winning team for various aspects of design and execution. Policies are created, all design and engineering calculations are vetted. Feedback and improvements are communicated to all team members to ensure fit and ease of application.
Stage 4 (Documentation): All works done for the project are neatly documented as per requirements and necessary formats of the certification body. These are supplemented by proofs of implementation and measurement of results obtained at the ground level. Site visits and audits are arranged and certification body reviews are used for completing the final application. Certification is done upon approval.
Sustainability
Sustainability is the need of the hour. With the global realization of this fact, there is also a sense of urgency to deploy sustainable means of living. But while the intention is good, much is still left to chance, or to regulation - awaiting social approval that enables end users to make a change to the way we lead our lives. After all, sustainability is a lifestyle - one that we shouldn't be reluctant to switch to.
Green Building: Working Definition
A sustainable or green building focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during the building’s lifecycle, through better design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal.
Key Features of a Green Building
- Sustainable
- Durable/Adaptable
- Resource efficient
- Building beyond the codes
- Built for the occupant
- Centered around a whole systems approach
Benefits of Green Building
Buildings fundamentally impact people’s lives and the health of the planet. Buildings use one significant part of total energy and water, and transform land that provides valuable ecological services. Atmospheric emissions from the use of energy lead to acid rain, ground-level ozone, smog, and global climate change.
General Benefits
The local and global environment benefits from protecting air quality, water quality, and overall biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Economic benefits are experienced in building operations, asset value, worker productivity, and the local economy.
Occupants benefit from health and safety features. This also relates to risk management and economics.
Community and municipal benefits include: lessened demand for large-scale infrastructure such as landfills, water supply, stormwater sewers, and their related development and operational costs; and decreased transportation development and maintenance burden (roads) and increased economic performance of mass transit systems.
Economic Benefits
Green Building projects that are well integrated and are comprehensive in scope can result in lower or neutral project development costs. Integrated design can use the payback from some strategies to pay for others.
Energy-efficient building envelopes can reduce equipment needs – downsizing some equipment, such as chillers, or eliminating equipment. Using pervious paving and other runoff prevention strategies can reduce the size and cost of storm water management structures.
Energy- and water-efficient buildings have been able to reduce their operating costs
Environmental Benefits
Energy
- 20% to 50% reduction in energy consumption
- Monitoring of end use & sub-metering
- Constant evaluation and improvement of building operating systems
- Commissioning of building services
- Refrigerant management
- Harnessing renewable energy sources
- Emissions reduction reporting
Water
- Up to 50% reduction in potable water consumption
- Water efficient fixtures
- Recycling of waste water for reuse on site
- Efficient irrigation systems
- Native species, less turf area
- Recovery & storage of rainwater
Waste
- Efficient Waste Management strategies:
- Waste stream audits
- Discarding ongoing consumables
- Discarding durable goods
- During facility alterations / additions
- Solid Waste Management Policy
- Segregation at source
- Less waste entering landfills: up to 90% of construction waste recycled
Social and Occupant Benefits
Comfort & Health
- Gains in employee productivity
- Post-occupancy evaluation surveys
- Improved indoor environment
- Lower VOC exposure
- Less mold
- Less airborne particle contamination
- Less pollutants causing eye, nose, skin irritation, headache, fatigue
- Improved general cleanliness & maintenance
Key Areas of Evaluation
Design, Construction, Operations & Maintenance
- Energy Efficiency
- Water Efficiency
- Waste Management
- Materials Management
- Site Planning
- Indoor /Outdoor Environmental Quality
- Artificial /Day Lighting
- Acoustics
- Passive Design
- Renewable Energy
Role of Technology
- Use of simulations and computer models for predicting:
- energy consumption and
- daylight availability, etc.
- GIS for:
- urban planning,
- maintenance of infrastructure services,
- demographics,
- vegetation, etc.
- Community emergency response and communication systems
- Use of energy management systems and ICT
- GPS tracking of community vehicles including buses, etc.
Need For Destination Branding
Green Building Certification.
Sustainable certification programs, such as LEED® are an example of destination brands. Research indicates destination branding is important because it enhances the image of a destination among visitors and aids Destination Management Organizations (DMO) in measuring success. The logo adopted or created by a destination is central to branding; consider the McDonald’s Golden arches or Nike’s swoosh.
Logos are used to identify the company, product or place which helps raise consumer awareness. Additionally, logos are “one of the main vehicles for communicating image”. Logos provide a distinctive image, ideally one that is easily recognizable. These visual cues can enhance a destination’s reputation and serve as a market advantage.
Destination logos provide a brand image and identity, which is important to have in place prior to visitors arriving so they can influence visitor choice behavior. This occurs when the logo connects in a positive manner with the target audience by “positively symbolizing the anticipated visitor experience”.
Clients are increasingly integrating sustainability branding and adoption as prerequisites to bid for their business through their Requests for Proposals. Documents such as the LEED® rating system from USGBC are finding their way as questionnaires included by clients looking for a sustainable facility. Green building certification that is internationally recognized makes them at ease with the business that they award, as well as rings home with the end users.
Measuring the Green Quotient
The Process
- Benchmarking with similar buildings and communities
- Evaluating available metrics: rating systems
- Finally, going beyond codes and leading by example
Goals of Benchmarking & Certification
- National and Global benchmarking of design and construction
- Roadmap for buildings to:
- use less energy, water and natural resources
- improve the indoor environment
- uncover operating inefficiencies
- Incorporating current best practices
- Demonstrated commitment to environment, occupant health & well-being
Assessment Framework
Relevant Codes & Standards
- Energy Conservation Building Code of India
- National Building Code of India
- SP41: Handbook on Functional Requirements of Buildings (other than industrial buildings)
- National Lighting Code of India
- CPHEEO Manual on Water Supply & Treatment
- CPHEEO Manual on Sewerage & Sewage Treatment
- CPHEEO Manual on Solid Waste
- ASHRAE 90.1 (Energy)
- ASHRAE 62.1 (Ventilation)
- ASHRAE 55 (Thermal Comfort)
- ASHRAE 189.1 (Green)
- Others, as applicable.
What is the nature of your project?
Green Building
Sustainability Reporting
Skill Development
GHG & De-Carbonization
How Are You Linked To The Project?
Green Buildings
Residential, Commercial, Institutional, Interiors
Get national and global certifications for the sustainable practices followed for the design, construction and operations of your buildings.
Building Owner
Unit Owner
Architect
Developer
Research & Innovation
The culture of research has been the backbone of our innovative solutions for clients. To provide a set of comprehensive solutions, experts spend a portion of their time in vetting technical details and in presenting their research at leading national and international platforms. We also participate as experts on panel discussions and as advisors to important government and corporate programmes – presenting unbiased and scientific research on key areas of interest.
Some of our past work has been on the following topics:
- Urban heat island effect
- Cool Roofs
- Net zero buildings: energy, water, waste
- Water use optimization methods
- De-desertification of arid lands
- Phase changing materials
- Occupant comfort
- Acoustics for building typologies
- Others
Innovation is a key result area and is seen as an essential part of our strategic consulting business. In the rapidly changing world environment, both literally and for building science, we have taken upon ourselves to keep abreast with the latest and greatest and to adapt them to our indigenous needs.
Market and policy trends have shown an exponentially increased preference towards certified buildings from: Buyers, Renters and Government Bodies.
GRIHA
Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Council
LEED
US Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI)
Indian Green Building Council
Bureau of Energy Efficiency
Ministry of Power, Government of India
OUR CLIENTS
Service Areas
ESG and GHG Emissions Management
ESG: Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Management
GHG: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management
Green Buildings and Decarbonization
Reducing the carbon footprint of our built environment starts from the design and construction of buildings, but extends for the majority of the lifecycle into the operations and its associated energy consumption.
CSR and Environmental Sustainability
Corporates looking to grow responsibly and in harmony with the environment can work with the Ecoinch Responsible Growth Foundation to implement projects to this effect.
Carbon Accounting & Sustainability Reporting
Convey the efforts of your Company’s sustainability efforts to stakeholders through a detailed report of actions through industry vetted reporting standards used internationally.
What gets measured, gets corrected. Quantifying the carbon emissions through GHG Inventorization and accounting of activities increasing an organization’s carbon footprint is the first step towards its reduction.