Real estate and conservation of environment

With the increasing concerns over global warming, India is in a position to work on its infrastructure so that it contributes least to the global warming in the future. Indian infrastructure is expected to multiply 5 times from 2005 to 2050. Two - thirds of the commercial and residential structures will come up post 2030. An emphasis on energy efficiency now, in these up coming structures can help conserve the remaining resources and energy for the future years. The key challenges faced by energy efficiency programmes are lack of information and awareness, economic and structural constraints.

The current environment policy is highly promoting energy efficiency. The execution of national and state level programmes will be the key determinants of its success. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency put forward Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) in 2007. The code gives guidelines for energy efficient designs and construction for buildings including the envelope, lighting, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems. The code a proper rating system plays a very crucial role. This is now carried out by two private building rating systems that work on the basis of ECBC - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA).

The voluntary status of ECBC has made it nearly insignificant. The developers give little importance to ECBC mainly because of three reasons (1) to cut their construction costs, (2) lack of expertise (3) ignorance. Enabling the energy efficient components is a little investment made to reap long term benefits.  

The ECBC has to be made mandatory for the building to be constructed now on so that energy is conserved.