In recent years, India has witnessed a seismic shift in the architecture and construction industries. With climate change becoming a global concern, the emphasis on sustainable, eco-friendly commercial spaces has seen unexpected heights in India. Coupled with regulatory guidelines and corporate responsibility, the ‘green building’ trend across urban landscapes has been noticed. What catalyses this change? In this article, Chhaya Sharma, Founder and Principal Designer at Design ArTEC explores the essence of green buildings in commercial design and how it is a way forward in the country.
The Growing Demand for Sustainability
At the heart of this transition is a desire to combat environmental degradation. Urbanisation is rapidly increasing in India, exerting immense pressure on the use of natural resources. These are leading to tough challenges like air and water pollution, generation of waste, and loss of biodiversity. Increasingly, businesses have started realising the environmental footprint that they have left behind, emphasising the need for energy-efficient and eco-friendly infrastructures.
The policies developed by the Indian government, with global climatic goals have made green building practice more possible. These energy-saving measures, among others like the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications, inspire architects and developers to have sustainable construction methods for their projects.
The Economic Case for Green Buildings
While the environmental benefits of green buildings remain the same, what gains popularity among a broader range of people is their long-term economic viability. Green commercial spaces may attract a higher upfront investment in terms of sustainable materials and advanced technologies; however, they reap vast savings in the long term.
For instance, efficient lighting, HVAC, and water-saving appliances can help reduce utility costs by half. Other strategies, like natural ventilation and daylighting, reduce the reliance on artificial sources of energy. Moreover, green buildings are designed with renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic panels, which increase resource efficiency resulting in lower operating costs.
The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Sustainability has now become an imperative in the business environment of today. Green buildings can be effectively utilised by corporations to showcase their responsibility towards the environment. Additionally, there has been a rising trend wherein businesses are integrating green infrastructure with their CSR strategy. Commercial spaces can communicate to all of their clients, employees, and stakeholders the message of being responsible corporate citizens with a commitment to sustainable development with the help of green office spaces.
Health and Well-being: An Added Incentive
Another factor that is driving the green building movement is the increasing awareness of health and well-being in the workplace. Conventional buildings are found to expose people to chemical components, low-quality air, and lighting that can lead to health conditions and productivity loss.
With the idea of hydrated indoor environments and optimal ventilation, commercial spaces can have a productive environment. The developing nation focuses on wholesome health and is becoming more wellness-oriented in the post-pandemic era, opting for such green building initiatives for a better tomorrow.
A Future-Focused Approach
India is now at a crossroads while still walking the urbanisation journey. In this boom of cities, and with new commercial spaces, choices of today are going to decide the future of tomorrow’s skylines.
Green buildings solve environmental problems created through urbanisation which further reduces the consumption of energy while enhancing healthier living and working environments. Sustainable commercial spaces will thus play a very key role in driving that growth as being inclusive, environmentally responsible, and truly in step with the global sustainability goals.