GRIHA
NEWSLETTER
 
April, 2021
 
 
         
Mr. Sanjay Seth, CEO GRIHA Council
 
As we come to the close of the financial year 2020-21, it gives me great pleasure to announce that despite the pandemic, GRIHA Council is closing the year on a positive note, having met and exceeded the goals we had set for ourselves. Now, we look forward to embracing the coming year with the launch of multiple upgraded rating variants and enhanced online offerings intended to ensure that green building knowledge is available to students and professionals across the length and breadth of the country.

Although GRIHA v2019 is now up and running, we have also decided to continue with registrations for v2015 by popular demand, and we intend to have both variants available in parallel until such time that market confidence in the upgraded GRIHA requirements allows a complete shift to v2019.

In the coming days, we at GRIHA are also eagerly looking forward to the GRIHA Consultant’s Meet. As we move closer to the year 2030, we must lay emphasis on collaborating and working together towards knowledge exchange, sharing of ideas and strengthening research at a global level. In the time that has elapsed since the last such event, GRIHA Council has achieved several key milestones and fostered partnerships with multiple stakeholders, both national and international. With the upcoming meet, we look forward to working toward continued growth and greater impact.
 
  The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated GRIHA rated building
 
The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan unveiling the “Four Star” rating under GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) at Centre of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB) in Mohali, Punjab.

Later in the day, Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the “Advanced High Resolution Microscopy Facility” at the National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) campus, Mohali, Punjab. He also unveiled a “Four Star” rating under GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) at Centre for Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB) campus, Mohali, Punjab. In an interaction with Staff and students of NABI & CIAB, the minister said enthusiasm and zeal are important attributes of a scientist. He further said that research should not be confined to the laboratories and a new, proactive and innovative approach is needed to bring it to the masses.
 
  3rd GRIHA Consultant’s Meet
 
All progressive organizations look forward to learning from the rich experience of stakeholders and taking regular feedback on the initiatives being planned. The last consultants meet held on 1st October, 2019 by GRIHA Council was attended by 40 participants.

This time, the 3rd GRIHA Consultants meet will be held on 16th April, 2021 from 11:00 hrs - 13:00 hrs (online). The meet will provide a platform for GRIHA Council to brief the consultants on its past achievements as well as upcoming initiatives and for consultants to share their experience on the rating process and how it may be improved.

All consultants are encouraged to register and participate in the meet online to strengthen the green building movement in a collaborative. The joining link for the event will be shared with all registered consultants 1-2 days prior.
 
  Registration open for GRIHA V.2015 and GRIHA V.2019
 
  Green Industrial Incentives by Government of Tamil Nadu
 
Tamil Nadu industrial policy was prepared government of Tamil Nadu in which Industries undertaking GRIHA rating shall be eligible for a 25% subsidy on the cost of setting up environmental protection infrastructure.
 
  E-course on GRIHA Version 2019
 
  GRIHA Five Star Final Rating awarded to ITC Mud Fort, Bengaluru
 
The project has demonstrated 31% reduction in energy consumption compared to GRIHA benchmark. 60% of building water demand has been reduced by installing low flow plumbing fixtures and 59% of water savings was achieved in landscape water requirement through use of highly efficient drip irrigation system. Total fresh water demand of the building is reduced by 89% because of circulation of recycled waste water for various building activities. Furthermore, 68.5% of the habitable spaces are day lit and meet the daylight factors prescribed by the National Building Code of India. Solar water heater of 6.5 kL capacity is installed in the building which has a saving potential of 47677 kWh per year amounting to 73% savings as against conventional energy consumption.
 
  New products have been enlisted in the GRIHA product catalogue
Company name:Asian Granito India Ltd.
Product name:Vitrified tiles (Royal, Delux, Golden, Classic, Pearl, Light, Delux light, Delux dark, Opal, Tuffguard) and Ceramic tiles (Plain, Printed, Impression, Royal Plain, Golden print, Italian, Rustic, Tuffgaurd, Pocelanto, Satin Matt, Lustre)
Product typology:Flooring
Company name:Gujarat Guardian Limited
Product name:External glazing – SGU (Guardian® SunGuard® Solar Plus (Blue 27; Green 27; Grey 27; Neutral 27) and External glazing – DGU (Guardian® SunGuard® DS (Neutral 30; Green 30; Aquamarine 35; Green 40; Neutral 50)
Product typology:Fly-ash bricks/AAC Blocks
  Editor's choice
 
India's urban water crisis: Cities at risk of running out of water
By 2050, at least 30 Indian cities will face a grave water risk, according to the WWF. The problems range from poor management of water sources, contaminated supplies, leaky distribution networks and vast volumes of untreated wastewater being poured into India's rivers.

In the summer of 2019, Chennai’s reservoirs ran dry, forcing the government to truck in 10 million litres of water a day. For a city that gets an average of 1,400 mm of rainfall a year, more than twice what London receives, this was unprecedented. And not just Chennai, cities across India have been facing acute water shortages due to massive population growth and rapid, unplanned urbanisation. A 2018 study published in Nature projected that by 2050, Jaipur would have the second-highest water deficit in the world, with Chennai at #20. A 2020 report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) projected that 30 Indian cities would face a ‘grave water risk’ by 2050 due to sharp increases in population.
8 Ancient Indian Techniques We Must Bring Back to Build Sustainable Homes Today
Traditional architecture has evolved over generations in response to the local climate, topography, culture and context. It employs locally available natural materials and indigenous construction techniques. Hence, it is sustainable, cost-effective and has a strong aesthetic character.

To put it in the words of the Gandhi of Indian architecture, Laurie Baker — “Sometimes the local architecture is so beautiful and so apt that I feel it would be foolish and an affront to try and design in any other way.”

But did you know that many of the elements of traditional architecture can be easily reinterpreted and incorporated in the design of new homes?
TERI Advanced Oxidation Technology (TADOX) to treat textile and dyeing wastewater, achieve zero liquid discharge, and enhance water reuse: R&D-based policy recommendations
This policy brief dwells upon the current practices, policies, and programs and identifies gaps in 'Wastewater Treatment in Textile and Dyeing Industry'. It also explores how integration of TERI Advanced Oxidation Technology (TADOX), an advanced oxidation nanotechnology approach, could help achieve Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and enhance treated water-reuse efficiency in much more sustainable, affordable, and resource and energy-efficient manner.
  One Day Awareness program on GRIHA for green buildings
 
As a part of the MoU signed between GRIHA Council and Indian Institute of Architects, Northern Chapter, a virtual GRIHA awareness programme was organized on 6th March, 2021. The programme was designed to facilitate the members of IIA to develop an understanding of GRIHA and create awareness on general concepts and processes under GRIHA.

The programme commenced with a presentation on the major environmental challenges faced due to today’s building sector and the need to create green buildings. This was followed by an overview of GRIHA rating system and its variants, highlighting the intent of the sections and their criteria. Case studies under the GRIHA, SVAGRIHA and GRIHA EB variant were also presented by the representatives of the project team, to give the participants an insight on how projects have been benefitted by adopting GRIHA as a rating tool.

The programme was attended by more than 40 members of the IIA, Northern chapter and was very well received.
 
  GRIHA NASA Trophy 2020-21
 
The GRIHA Trophy architectural design competition is organized every year in collaboration with NASA. This year 2020-21, the Trophy brief required the student to design a sustainable affordable housing for EWS group. The design for a EWS dwelling typically comprises an all-weather single unit or a unit in a multi-storeyed super structure having a carpet area of up to 30 square meters per dwelling unit. The site is located in New Delhi.

Total 25 colleges from all over India submitted their entries for the competition. Out of these 10 entries were shortlisted for Jury. During the jury, students presented innovative design solutions for affordable housing. The designs demonstrated planning strategies as well as sustainability solutions stressing on low impact strategies. These strategies were substantiated with wind and energy analysis to inform the form and function of spaces. Student teams incorporated the various parameters of sustainability such as waste, water management, material selection and occupant comfort into their designs as well.

The panel of the jury included Ms. Shabnam Bassi (Secretary & Treasurer, GRIHA Council), Mr. Akash Deep (Senior Program Manager, GRIHA Council) and Ms. Swati Gupta (Manager, GRIHA Council). The Jury was conducted on 22nd March, 2021 on virtual platform.
 
  A MoU was signed between GRIHA Council and the IIFL Home Finance Ltd
 
Mr. Monu Ratra, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, IIFL HFL and Mr. Sanjay Seth, Chief Executive Officer, GRIHA Council signed the MoU on behalf of both the organizations on March 23, 2021. Recognizing the significance of sustainable development of building infrastructure, both parties will work towards collaborative promotion and implementation of green building concepts and its evaluation using the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) rating system pan India.

On the occasion, Mr. Monu Ratra, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, IIFL HFL expressed his delight on the newly forged partnership and was looking forward to working hand in hand with GRIHA Council to increase the footprint of GRIHA rated affordable housing projects in India.

This is the first time that GRIHA Council is being associated with an agency such as IIFL HFL, who provides home loans and mortgage loans enabling the construction and/or purchase of residential projects. This collaboration will be a transformative step towards scaling up the green affordable housing footprint as well as ensuring enhanced comforts to the end user.
 
  Women’s Day Celebration at GRIHA Council
 
GRIHA celebrated Women’s Day 2021 to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. GRIHA sets the precedent for women empowerment with women holding top positions in the organization and leading the team at large. The day was celebrated with much fanfare where both male and female employees came forth to express their opinions on gender equality and the role of women in personal and professional environments.
 
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