Building Sense : Beyond the Green Facade of Sustainable Habitat

India is in a frenzy of construction. Buildings, townships and housing complexes are coming up at break-neck speed – and we’re still not there yet: a staggering two thirds of the buildings that will stand in India in 2030 are yet to be built!

How we choose to design these buildings and live can have a profound impact on our resource use and environment. We have begun setting the ‘green’ terms for construction and operation of buildings in India, but it remains a relatively new area of governance.

India needs appropriate regulations to benchmark energy and water use, minimise waste, and develop monitoring and compliance strategies. Also needed is a deeper public understanding of what works and what does not.