The Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) is India’s leading green building certification system. With the latest version, GRIHA V2019, the framework for evaluating buildings has evolved significantly. In this article, we explore the key differences between GRIHA V2019 and earlier versions like GRIHA V3, the star rating system, and why GRIHA V2019 is the most widely used and beneficial version today.
What is GRIHA V2019?
GRIHA V2019 is the latest version of the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, designed to evaluate buildings based on sustainability, energy efficiency, and resource utilization. This version offers a more streamlined and holistic approach to building design, incorporating performance-based assessments, real-time monitoring, and updated national benchmarks for sustainable construction.
GRIHA Star Rating System: How Buildings are Evaluated
GRIHA’s star rating system is a point-based structure where projects are awarded points based on their adherence to sustainability criteria. The higher the points, the better the building’s environmental performance.
The GRIHA star ratings range as follows:
- 1-Star: Basic sustainability compliance.
- 2-Star: Moderate sustainability performance.
- 3-Star: Significant green building practices.
- 4-Star: Advanced sustainability features.
- 5-Star: Exemplary environmental performance.
Each rating reflects a building’s effort in energy efficiency, water management, waste reduction, and overall environmental impact.
In GRIHA V2019, the star rating system is determined based on the total points a project earns through compliance with various sustainability criteria. These criteria focus on areas like energy efficiency, water management, indoor environmental quality, and waste management. Here’s a breakdown of how points relate to the star rating system:
Star Rating System:
- 25-40 Percentile: 1-Star
- 41-55 Percentile: 2-Star
- 56-70 Percentile: 3-Star
- 71-85 Percentile: 4-Star
- 86+ Percentile: 5-Star
Number of Criteria and Sections:
GRIHA V2019 comprises 29 core criteria, categorized into 10 environmental sections, and an additional section for innovation. These sections cover various sustainability aspects, with specific criteria focusing on mandatory and optional appraisals. Each criterion contributes a certain number of points, and the total points across all criteria add up to a maximum of 100 points plus 5 bonus points for innovation .
Example of Criteria and Weightage:
- Energy Optimization: 18%
- Water Management: 16%
- Occupant Comfort: 12%
- Sustainable Building Materials: 12%
- Sustainable Site Planning: 12% .
The relation between points and star ranking allows flexibility, making it easier for projects to achieve higher levels of certification based on their sustainability performance.
Key Differences Between GRIHA V2019 and GRIHA V3
GRIHA V2019 introduces several updates over GRIHA V3, making it more practical and aligned with global sustainability standards.
- Performance-Based Approach
Unlike GRIHA V3, which had a more prescriptive nature, GRIHA V2019 focuses on real-time performance monitoring for energy, water, and waste efficiency, ensuring continuous compliance and improvement throughout a building’s lifecycle. - Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) of Materials
GRIHA V2019 integrates lifecycle assessment (LCA), assessing the environmental impact of construction materials from production to disposal. This ensures buildings are resource-efficient and have a lower carbon footprint. - Water Performance Index (WPI)
This version introduces the Water Performance Index (WPI) to manage water usage efficiently, aiming to reduce stress on municipal supply systems and conserve water resources. - Support for Cold Climates
For the first time, GRIHA V2019 includes benchmarks for cold climates, making it applicable to diverse geographic regions across India. - Incentivizing Net-Zero Buildings
GRIHA V2019 promotes net-zero energy and water buildings by offering incentives, encouraging projects to adopt sustainable solutions that go beyond basic compliance. - Changes in star ranking: GRIHA V3 required a minimum score of 50% for certification. It awarded one star to buildings achieving 50-60% of the points, two stars to those achieving 61-70%, three stars to those achieving 71-80%, and four stars to those achieving 81-90%. Buildings that scored 91-100% received the highest rating of five stars. However, GRIHA V2019 has replaced GRIHA V3, offering updated benchmarks and a more holistic approach to sustainability, making GRIHA V3 less widely used.
Why GRIHA V2019 is More Useful than Previous Versions
- Comprehensive Sustainability Metrics
The inclusion of advanced metrics like lifecycle assessment and the Water Performance Index makes GRIHA V2019 more efficient in optimizing resources compared to earlier versions like GRIHA V3. - Global Alignment
GRIHA V2019 aligns with international environmental standards, such as the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making it highly relevant in today’s global push for sustainability. - Performance Monitoring
The performance-based approach ensures buildings achieve real-time energy and water savings through metering and monitoring, which was less emphasized in GRIHA V3. - Simplified Certification Process
GRIHA V2019 simplifies the certification process, providing detailed manuals and a user-friendly interface, making it easier for project teams to implement green building practices.
Conclusion: The Future of Green Buildings in India
GRIHA V2019 is the most advanced version of India’s national green building certification system. It offers better performance monitoring, real-time resource efficiency. Also a user-friendly certification process that makes it more accessible for new and existing projects. With its holistic approach, GRIHA V2019 encourages innovation in building design and construction. So it is a vital tool for achieving India’s sustainability goals.
If you are considering a green building certification for your project, GRIHA V2019 should be your go-to choice for a future-ready, sustainable habitat.
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