Green rating must for government buildings
In a landmark decision, the Union government has made it mandatory for all new buildings of the public sector undertakings and the government to seek new green rating norms in an effort to ensure energy efficiency and tackle climate change threats. Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah said at the GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) function that buildings would have to comply with the requirement of at least 3-star rating under the GRIHA scheme. Efforts would be, however, made for higher rating by such buildings subject to the site condition, as western rating systems were not suited for Indian climate. Under the GRIHA scheme, buildings would be rated by technical expertise from TERI, which is headed by R.K. Pachauri. The aim of a green building design was to minimize the demand for non-renewable sources and maximize its utilization.