Critical Review of Sustainable Built Environment Policies and Rating Mechanisms in India

Abstract

“Sustainable development is a myth if it isn't paired with efficient urbanisation and the best planning for critical and optimal resource use. The ongoing degradation of the environment has been largely attributed to rapid urbanisation and industrialization. There is already a deliberate restriction on industrial growth due to the presence of obvious obstacles. Urbanization cannot, however, be completely suppressed in order to support the green movement, and vice versa. The goal to include significant market actors and legislative incentives has started to have an impact among the various initiatives the Indian government has taken to increase energy efficiency and the sustainability of the built environment. Since the advent of GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment), IGBC (Indian Green Building Council), and BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency), the main actors have disagreed over the best ratings, creating a confusing view due to the numerous regulatory indexes and boundaries. There is a considerable margin of error because many governments' rules, ratings, and other systems for maintaining the energy efficiency of the built environment are incompatible. The involvement of sufficiently empowered local entities becomes essential for the effective implementation of these programmes. This cannot be accomplished without first looking at how current laws and frameworks affect how much energy is used and how well-built environments, which includes both residential and commercial structures, perform.”