| Existing buildings can be made green by efficient | | | | operating costs and better quality of life. |
| utilisation of water and light and using other | | | | The focus of the green building movement in India |
| energy-saving methods, says Dr Prem C Jain | | | | is currently on new buildings and various |
| With concern for environment degradation and | | | | organisations like the Indian Green Building Council |
| threat of global warming looming large, the | | | | (IGBC) and The Energy and Resources Institute |
| common man has become more conscious of his | | | | are likely to also actively promote green |
| contribution to the issue. | | | | renovation of existing buildings. One has to take |
| Buildings, one of the major contributors to energy | | | | the case of UK into account. Huge existing housing |
| consumption, provide great potential to reduce an | | | | stock there is a large consumer of energy. In |
| individual's carbon footprint. | | | | India, we are witnessing more people going green |
| Existing buildings can be made green by making | | | | every year and this trend is likely to escalate in |
| various renovation/ alterations to the building | | | | the coming years with a move towards |
| structure, replacing equipment and changing | | | | affordable s green buildings. |
| human behaviour. Installing more efficient lighting | | | | The green building movement has also been |
| and using natural daylight, using water-efficient | | | | focused on office buildings and we are already |
| fixtures like low-flush toilets and by adding | | | | seeing the inclusion of a variety of building |
| environmentally friendly finishes and furnishings | | | | typologies, including airports, exhibition centres and |
| also help. It may be possible in some cases to | | | | hospitals. |
| upgrade the building envelope by providing under | | | | Green building concepts focus on handling of |
| deck and external wall insulation. | | | | consumer waste, water efficiency, reduction in |
| Green building retrofit has its own challenges with | | | | fossil fuel use in commuting, energy efficiency and |
| initial costs being one of the biggest impediments. | | | | conserving natural resources leading to enhanced |
| Here, the government incentives can encourage | | | | occupant health, happiness and well-being. As |
| growth in green renovation through retrofit | | | | stated earlier, making various renovation/ |
| activity. | | | | alterations to buildings, using natural light, installing |
| Meanwhile, owners of existing buildings can be | | | | water-efficient fixtures and also making behavioral |
| motivated by lower lifecycle costs, higher return | | | | changes to make reuse and recycling of materials |
| on investment and improved f tenant satisfaction, | | | | and avoiding wastage of energy by being energy |
| whereas tenants can take the benefit e of lower | | | | conscious, will accomplish the objective. |