Indian Green Building Codes Sustainability Guidelines: Assocham Gem
Indian Green Building Codes Sustainability Guidelines: Assocham Gem
ASSOCHAM GEM
CONTENTS
GEM Sustainability Certification Rating Program (GEM) is based upon BEE ECBC 2017 and NBC
2016. Through this initiative, ASSOCHAM has started certifying Sustainability Rating to Housing,
Commercial Offices, Hotels, Colleges, Universities, Hospitals, Schools, Factory buildings and related
developments. All existing, under construction or upcoming projects can register for GEM
certification rating program.
Key benefits of the certification –
1. Review of all design documents such as Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Landscape by Sustainability experts for further
value addition from green building perspective.
2. Energy and water efficient building design that will reduce the energy and water consumption of the building.
3. Design of a building that will utilize maximum daylight, fresh air and provide healthy environment to the building occupants.
4. Sustainability Certification rating will give additional marketing mileage to the projects over other conventional buildings
GEM Sustainability Certification Rating has been organized into
Thirty Principles that are fundamental to a more sustainable
development. These Principles include –
Principle 2: Fire and Life Safety in Sustainable Buildings Aim: Ensure Fire and Life Safety in Sustainable Buildings ESSENTIAL
per National Building Codes 2016 (Part 4) and
requirements prescribed by local competent for the
authority.
Principle 3: Construction Management Best Practices Aim: Minimize hazardous effects of construction on ESSENTIAL
existing soil conditions, existing trees, microclimate and
drainage system and follow best management practices
during construction and post occupancy for the control
of soil erosion from project site.
Principle 5: Propagating Passive Design Strategies Aim: Implement Passive Design Strategies to reduce the 5 points
consumption of energy, water and natural resources.
Principle 6: Landscape Best Practices Aim: Maximize natural landscape area and plant native/ 4 points
adaptive/ drought tolerant flora onsite.
Principle requirements:
a) Residential projects:
i. At least 10% of site area (1 point)
OR
At least 15% of site area (2 points)
Principle 7: Preserve and Plant Trees Onsite Aim: Onsite preservation of developed trees and 2 points
plantation of more native/ adaptive trees.
Principle 8: High Albedo Materials - Roof and Non-roof Aim: Use high albedo materials on exposed roof and non- 6 points
roof hardscape areas to reduce the heat island effect as
well as cooling energy consumption.
Principle 9: Rainwater Harvesting – Recharge and/ or Aim: Utilize collected rainwater within the premises of the 4 points
Reuse building to reduce post occupancy water demand and/ or
recharge the aquifers
Requirements:
1. Install a suitably designed rain water storage system
and/ or recharge pit to cater to roof and non-roof
rain water.
2. Store and/ or recharge at least 30% of daily rain
water collected from all surfaces. (Essential)
3. Store and/ or recharge more than 60% of daily rain
water collected from all surfaces. (2 points)
4. Store and/ or recharge more than 90% of daily rain
water collected from all surfaces. (4 points)
5. Use the stored rain water for landscape/ flushing/
domestic applications as applicable.
6. If any competent government authority says that the
ground water table is high and ground water
recharging is not required, then the project shall
provide a storage system to cater to rain water from
roof surfaces only and reuse it for landscape/
flushing/ domestic applications as applicable.
(essential + 4 points)
7. Quality of rain water should meet the standards of
landscape/ flushing/ domestic use as applicable.
PRINCIPLE AIM POINTS
Principle 10: Install Low Flow Water Fixtures Aim: Project should install low flow water fixtures to 7 points
reduce the demand of potable as well as non-potable
water.
Requirements:
1. Install efficient water fixtures with flow rates not more
than the values listed below: (1 point for each product)
I. Water Closets should be dual flush type with flush
rates 4.6 LPF and 2.6 LPF
II. Health Faucets = 6.5 LPM at a design pressure of 3
bar
III. Kitchen Sink Faucets = 4.5 LPM at a design pressure
of 3 bar
IV. Wash Basin Faucets = 4.5 LPM at a design pressure
of 3 bar
V. Showers (all types) = 6.5 LPM at a design pressure
of 3 bar
VI. Urinals = 1.5 LPF
2. Install sensor based water fixtures (sink/ basin faucets/
urinals) with above flow rates in the common area
applications. (1 point)
All other water fixtures that are intended to fill the bucket
and/ or bath tub can be excluded from above requirements.
PRINCIPLE AIM POINTS
Principle 11: On-site Treatment of Grey and Black Aim: Implement strategies for onsite treatment of Grey 6 points
Water and Reuse for Flushing and Black water and reduce the potable water demand
for flushing.
Requirements:
1. Install on-site waste water treatment system and treat
entire grey and black water from the project. Quality of
treated water must meet the norms of Central/ State
Pollution Control Board (CPCB/ SPCB) as applicable. (2
points)
2. Provide dual plumbing in all toilets for flushing in all
tenant spaces, residential units and common area
toilets as applicable. (2 points)
3. Use treated water for flushing such that at least 75% of
total flushing water demand is fulfilled by the treated
water. (1 point)
OR
If more than 95% of total flushing water demand shall
be fulfilled by the treated water (2 points)
Principle 12: Irrigation Best Practices Aim: Use irrigation best practices to reduce the landscape 3 points
water demand.
Principle requirements:
1. Use treated water/ rain water for landscape to
reduce at least 50% of total landscape water
demand (1 point)
OR
Principle 13: Measurement of Energy and Water Aim: Project should install meters to measure Energy and 6 points
Consumption Water consumptions of the project on daily/monthly
basis.
Requirements:
1. Provide following energy meters: (2 points for four meters, 3 points for
six meters)
a) Each tenant level/ residential unit level/ department level in case
of industrial projects as applicable
b) Interior common area lighting including stilt and basement parking
c) Interior common area air-conditioning (reception, club house,
gymnasium, games rooms etc.)
d) Separate meters for Interior lighting and HVAC applications for
industrial projects
e) Exterior area lighting (landscape, surface parking, driveways)
f) Onsite renewable energy system
g) Onsite waste water treatment system
h) Water pumping (both domestic and flushing water)
i) Lifts and elevators
2. Provide water meters on following water end usages: (2 points for three
meters, 3 points for five meters)
a. Domestic water
b. Flushing water
c. Irrigation water
d. Main municipal water
e. Bore well water
f. Solar hot water system
PRINCIPLE AIM POINTS
Principle 14: Post-occupancy Waste Management Aim: Implement a strategy for post-occupancy waste 4 points
collection, segregation and disposal
Requirements:
Principle 15: Onsite Conversion of Organic Waste Aim: Implement a strategy for conversion of organic 4 points
waste into a nutrient-rich, usable material to encourage
zero waste from project.
Requirements:
1. Provide separate waste bins for biodegradable and non
biodegradable wastes at each residential unit level/
tenant level or floor level as applicable
Principle 16: Amenities for fundamental needs and Aim: Encourage the developers to provide the amenities 6 points
daily commute for fundamental needs and develop the sites near to such
facilities.
Requirements:
Provide following facilities within the project site before the occupancy – (2 points for any four
facilities)
1. Common hall/ Break out room
2. Games room
3. Gymnasium
4. Swimming pool
5. Play ground for activity
6. Canteen
7. First aid facility
Develop the site near to the following facilities (within the site or 1 km pedestrian distance from the
main entrance of the site) - (2 points for any six facilities)
8. Pharmacy shop
9. Grocery store
10. Bakery
11. ATM/ Bank
12. Restaurant/ hotel
13. Barbershop/ beauty parlour
14. Public park/ Garden
15. Hardware and sanitary shop
Develop the site near to the following facilities (within 1.5 km distance from the main entrance of the
site) - (2 points for any two facilities)
16. School
17. College/ University
18. Hospital/ Clinic
19. Bus stop/ Auto stand
20. Metro station
21. Super Market/ Shopping Mall
22. Car/ Van pool/ Bus shuttle services provided for at least 20% of regular occupants by the project
owner/ developer
PRINCIPLE AIM POINTS
The code provides for energy efficient design for commercial building such that it reduces the use of energy without affecting the building
function, comfort, health or productivity of the occupants and with appropriate regard for economic considerations. The code eliminates
building design practices that lead to unnecessarily high building energy use and associated costs.
While the code has been developed at the central level, the state governments have the flexibility to modify ECBC to suit local or regional
needs and notify them for its enforcement.
BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY (BEE)
To create a market pull for energy efficient buildings, BEE developed a voluntary Star Rating Programme for commercial buildings which was
launched by Ministry of Power 2009 which is based on the actual performance of a building, in terms of energy usage in the building over its
area expressed in kWh/sq. Energy Star-rated buildings in India earn substantial benefits compared to non-green buildings; in particular 40%
greater energy efficiency compared to standard buildings and significant lower operations costs. Based on industry data, approximately 85%
of Energy-Star rated buildings use a system with energy management controls and 50% use lighting system motion sensors to qualify for the
Energy-Star certification
Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment was developed by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) and supported by Indian
government’s MNRE ((Ministry of New and Renewable Energy). It is also declared as India’s National Rating System for Green buildings in
2007. GRIHA adopts the five ‘R’ (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Reinvent) philosophy of sustainable development [8]. More than 330
projects throughout country of various scale and use are being built on GRIHA guidelines
IGBC is most popular rating system in India with over 2000 building registered for rating. IGBC is a rating tool for surveying building
performance according set criteria and standard norms. In the year 2000 the benchmarks for the IGBC (LEED India) Green Building Rating
System were created and final rating was released in 2003 and is as of now accessible for new and existing developments.
ISHRAE
The Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE), was founded in 1981 at New Delhi by a group of
eminent HVAC&R professionals. ISHRAE today has over 28,780 HVAC & R professionals and Student-members. ISHRAE operates from over 44
Chapters and sub Chapters spread all over India, with HQ in Delhi.
It is led by a team of elected officers, who are members of the Society, working on a voluntary basis, and collectively called the Board of
Governors.
ISHRAE Objectives :
● Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering and Related
Services.
● Continuing education of Members and other interested persons in the said sciences through Lectures, Workshops, Product
Presentations, Publications and Expositions.
● Rendition of career guidance and financial assistance to students of the said sciences.
● Encouragement of scientific research.
ISHRAE works in the National interest with various Govt. Ministries/Departments, e.g. in the development of Standards & drafting of NBC
for BIS, working on ECBC with BEE, with MoEF Ozone cell, on refrigerant gases. ISHRAE is a member & active supporter of National Centre
for Cold Chain development (NCCD) Ministry of Agriculture & works closely with NCCD on refrigeration.
ISHRAE is also working in close co-operation with other similar Societies & Organizations, both at national and international level, for the
promotion and development of issues like Sustainability, Green Buildings, Energy Efficiency, Environmental Responsibility, Indoor Air
Quality, Fire & Safety. Interaction with Think-tanks & NGOs like NRDC, CEEW, TERI, CSE & UN bodies like UNDP/UNEP is a regular feature.
ISHRAE is looked upon as a repository of technical knowledge in the HVAC&R & Building Industry field by peer Organizations & the Govt. of
India.
IEP
In January 2016, the Integrated Energy Policy (IEP) was formulated by GoI providing a roadmap to develop energy supply options and increased
exploitation of renewable energy sources. In addition, for promotion of Renewable Energy, Government has amended the National Tariff Policy
for electricity in January 2016.