The growth of India’s built environment has been unprecedented in recent years due to rapid urbanisation and infrastructure upgrades. From the ever-increasing number of residential complexes, commercial properties, and mixed-use projects to shopping centres, hotels, and more, all this large-scale development threatens to increase the already rising global warming levels. As a result, sustainability has become the critical need of the hour.
Buildings with green architecture make efficient use of resources and have a low carbon footprint. Thus, they help create more comfortable, healthier, and cleaner spaces for inhabitants. However, a structure doesn’t become ‘green’ simply through the addition of eco-friendly elements like rainwater harvesting systems, solar panels, or energy-efficient lighting. There are certain officially recognised green building certifications in India and worldwide that provide structured frameworks to measure a building’s energy performance.
IGBC, GRIHA, and LEED are the top certification systems for green architecture in India. Trusted architecture colleges in Mumbai, such as L.S. Raheja School of Architecture (LSRSA), teach students about these concepts as a part of their syllabus.
Read on to understand the meaning of each of these green building certifications in India, their benefits, differences, and more!
What is Green Building Certification?
Green building certification helps the concerned authorities formally assess the sustainability of a building’s construction, design, and operations. Based on the specific rating system, they may look at the following factors while performing this assessment:
- Sustainable site planning
- Innovation & environmental performance
- Building materials
- Sustainable transportation
- Energy efficiency
- Natural lighting & ventilation
- Indoor air quality
- Health & well-being of occupants
- Renewable energy
- Water conservation
- Waste management, etc.
Once a project decides to pursue a particular green architecture certification, it has to satisfy that system’s mandatory requirements. It can earn points or credits via the implementation of sustainable practices.
A green building certification shows that developers are committed to sustainable development. Moreover, it contributes to a safe and healthy environment for inhabitants, minimises energy consumption, and reduces the building’s operational costs.
1. IGBC (Indian Green Building Council)
The Indian Green Building Council (abbreviated as IGBC) is among the most renowned green building certifications in India. IGBC’s rating systems are specially formulated with Indian climate, construction practices, and national priorities at heart and apply to different types of buildings. Its green architecture certification programmes are voluntary, market-driven, and based on consensus. The best thing about IGBC is that it offers a vast array of rating systems for diverse project categories, such as:
- Residential buildings
- Existing buildings
- Townships
- New commercial buildings
- Factories
- Logistics parks & warehouses
- Campuses
- Schools
- Healthcare facilities
- Green homes
- Net-zero projects, etc.
In the case of residential projects, the IGBC Green Homes rating system focuses on the below areas:
- Site selection & planning
- Materials & resources
- Energy efficiency
- Indoor environmental quality
- Water conservation
- Innovation
In the case of commercial developments, the IGBC Green New Buildings rating system addresses the following areas:
- Sustainable design
- Materials and resources
- Energy efficiency
- Indoor environmental quality
- Water conservation
- Innovation
IGBC Certification Levels
Projects can achieve different green building certification levels as per the particular rating system under IGBC. For instance, IGBC Green Homes uses the following four levels, which represent increasing levels of sustainability performance:
- Certified: 50 to 59 points
- Silver: 60 to 69 points
- Gold: 70 to 79 points
- Platinum: 80 to 100 points
Note: The above figures are applicable only to IGBC Green Homes. The figures for other IGBC rating systems may vary.
Why Choose IGBC?
Since IGBC’s frameworks place Indian climatic conditions, national priorities, and building practices at the centre, they are especially relevant to Indian developers. Therefore, if one is a residential or commercial project developer in search of a sustainability framework that has been tailored to the Indian market, IGBC is a practical solution.
2. GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment)
Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (referred to as GRIHA) is India’s national green building rating system that enables sustainable design, construction, and operations. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) developed it with the backing of the Indian government’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The highlight of this green architecture certification system is that it is designed to suit India’s diverse climatic conditions, environmental priorities, and construction practices.
GRIHA evaluates how sustainable a building is at each stage of its lifecycle, from the design and construction to the post-completion and operational phases. Activities like site visits, documentation, technical evaluation, and performance verification are a part of this assessment process.
Following are the different areas that GRIHA may assess a project for:
- Sustainable site planning
- Sustainable materials
- Construction management
- Indoor environmental quality
- Energy efficiency
- Innovation
- Water conservation
- Solid waste management
- Comfort & well-being of occupants
- Performance monitoring
- Socio-economic strategies
GRIHA functions as a key benchmark to assess and encourage sustainable building design and operation within India’s green building framework. It complements other green rating systems in India like IGBC as well as international frameworks like LEED. Thus, it is one of the most reliable green building certifications in India that offers multiple pathways of pursuing sustainability to developers and building owners.
GRIHA Rating System
GRIHA’s rating system is point-based. The standard GRIHA rating uses a 100-point scale to assess projects. A project may receive anything from 1 to 5 stars depending on the percentage of points it achieves. The greater the percentage of points, the higher the star rating.
| GRIHA Star Rating | Points Achieved | Rating Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Star | 50 to 60 | Certified green building |
| 2 Stars | 61 to 70 | Higher level of green performance |
| 3 Stars | 71 to 80 | Strong green performance |
| 4 Stars | 81 to 90 | Very high green performance |
| 5 Stars | 91 to 100 | Highest GRIHA rating |
Note: Projects must obtain a minimum of 50 points to be eligible for GRIHA certification. While the above thresholds apply to the standard GRIHA rating, the thresholds for other GRIHA rating systems, such as GRIHA for Interior Spaces and GRIHA for Large Developments, vary.
Why Choose GRIHA?
If you want your building’s performance assessment to align with the Indian climatic, environmental, and regulatory considerations, GRIHA is an excellent choice of green architecture certification system. It looks beyond individual technologies at the building’s broader environmental performance. GRIHA encourages architects and project developers to integrate sustainable architecture features from the early planning stages itself instead of adding them post-construction as an after-thought.
3. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Created by the USGBC (short for U.S. Green Building Council), LEED is a globally recognised green building rating system. Unlike other green building certifications in India such as IGBC or GRIHA, LEED was not developed specifically or exclusively for our nation. This highly reputed green architecture certification system is an international framework with recognition in several countries, including India.
LEED evaluates the sustainability performance of buildings based on prerequisites and credits with respect to areas like energy, materials, waste, water, indoor environmental quality, etc. The Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) reviews and verifies projects for LEED compliance.
LEED has applications across different types of projects. Besides, it considers different building stages, such as construction, design, interiors, maintenance, and operations for evaluation.
It also implements regional considerations. For example, Indian projects can use alternative compliance paths and regional considerations specific to India, under the applicable LEED systems.
Note: LEED India is currently not a standalone version to register under. According to USGBC, older LEED India versions are among the systems that have been closed. Therefore, current projects should opt for a currently applicable LEED rating system and version.
LEED Certification Levels
Below are LEED’s four certification levels for green architecture assessment:
- Certified: 40 to 49 points
- Silver: 50 to 59 points
- Gold: 60 to 79 points
- Platinum: 80+ points
Why Choose LEED?
LEED is relevant for projects that seek globally recognised sustainability credentials. It is suitable for multinational companies, corporate offices, international investors, and projects for which international benchmarks of sustainable architecture matter.
What Are the Key Differences Among IGBC, GRIHA & LEED?
The following table shows the key differences among IGBC, GRIHA, and LEED at a glance:
| IGBC | GRIHA | LEED | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | India | India | USA |
| Main Organisation | Indian Green Building Council | GRIHA Council | U.S. Green Building Council |
| Primary Focus | Sustainable Buildings Across Multiple Indian Typologies | Indian environment and climatic context | International sustainability benchmarks |
| Assessment | Credits and mandatory requirements | Points and performance-based evaluation | Prerequisites and credits |
| Rating Format | Varies as per the programme | 1 to 5 stars | Certified to Platinum |
| Suitability | Diverse Indian projects | Projects seeking a framework with an Indian focus | Projects seeking global recognition |
The above comparison should help you understand how these three green building certifications in India differ from one another. IGBC is an India-centric system that features various programmes for different building types, while GRIHA is an Indian government-backed system that emphasises the nation’s diverse climatic conditions and environmental priorities. LEED, on the other hand, is a globally recognised certification system developed to meet international sustainability benchmarks and measure green building performance.
Sustainable Architecture vs Green Building Certification: The Distinction
Aspiring architects should know that sustainable architecture and green architecture certification are two different concepts though you may find some similarities between both.
Green certification helps with the formal assessment of a building’s environmental performance, whereas sustainable architecture can exist independently regardless of whether or not a project decides to pursue a green certification. Therefore, even if the project is not getting certified officially, architects can still include sustainability features in their plans like natural ventilation, daylight, eco-friendly materials, water conservation, space orientation, passive design, landscape strategies, etc.
So while green certification mainly assesses a structure’s environmental performance, sustainable architecture is a broader approach that takes into account its long-term environmental, economic, and social impact throughout its lifecycle.
Advantages of Green Certifications
Green certifications offer a host of advantages to a project beyond its environmental credentials, such as:
● Lower consumption of resources
Intelligent building design, energy-efficient systems, efficient HVAC systems, renewable energy reliance, water-saving fixtures, etc., can lead to lower consumption of resources.
● Improved experiences for inhabitants
Improved ventilation, natural light, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality can make spaces more comfortable and healthier for their inhabitants.
● Sense of environmental responsibility
Green certifications urge project developers and building owners to think about the environmental impact of construction, long-term building operations, resource consumption, etc.
● Stronger market positioning
A certified green project can set itself apart in a competitive real estate market wherein buyers and investors are growing increasingly eco-conscious.
● Long-term operational advantages
Despite the upfront investment or extra planning that green architecture features may require initially, efficient systems can reduce the overall operational and maintenance costs in the long run.
How Do You Choose From Among IGBC, GRIHA, and LEED?
Different green architecture certifications are suitable for different entities. Your choice of certification will depend on the project’s location, objectives, building type, development strategy, target occupants, or desired scope of recognition.
For example, IGBC may be a practical solution for an Indian residential developer due to its India-specific rating systems. GRIHA may be ideal for projects that seek assessment closely linked to the regional Indian climatic conditions. Commercial buildings or internationally oriented developments typically choose LEED certification as it is globally recognised.
However, developers must decide which green building certifications in India they want during the early planning stages of the project’s life cycle. It is easier to make decisions related to sustainability design features like building orientation, envelope, materials, water infrastructure, HVAC systems, landscaping, renewable energy use at that stage, rather than retrofitting later. It is more cost-effective too!
Why Knowledge of Sustainable Design & Green Certification is Important for Architecture Students
With the knowledge of sustainable design and green certification, architecture students understand how to build energy-efficient projects with low environmental impact to enhance occupant comfort. Studying about green certification frameworks like IGBC, GRIHA, and LEED acquaints them with critical practical concepts, such as climate-responsive design, sustainable materials, energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, etc.
Thanks to this essential knowledge, architecture students learn how to integrate sustainability features in a building right from the project’s planning stages itself. Students with such sustainability skills can stand out in the present market situation, wherein environmentally responsible buildings are in high demand. Thus, they can not only meet the current industry expectations, but also acquire the ability to create resilient communities through designs that balance aesthetics with environmental responsibility, functionality, and long-term performance.
If you are an aspiring architect who wishes to learn about sustainable design, green building certifications in India and across the globe, and other important concepts, Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch.) at L.S. Raheja School of Architecture (LSRSA), Bandra, is an excellent program. B.Arch. is a 5-year full-time undergraduate degree course affiliated to the University of Mumbai.
With an eminent faculty and state-of-the-art infrastructure, LSRSA is one of the most highly respected architecture institutes in Mumbai. It strives to impart world-class education in the fields of architecture and interior design through its holistic teaching approach that combines classroom sessions with ample practical training and industry exposure. Therefore, LSRSA transforms students into future-ready professionals who can enter the industry with confidence.
Conclusion
Green architecture certifications like IGBC, GRIHA, and LEED have made sustainability a more structured component of the Indian real estate and construction landscape. Get in touch with LSRSA for more information about our architecture course!
