Societies Going Green

Authored by Gaurav Bhalla, Managing Director, Enviro - facilities management wing of Vatika Group. With the real estate sector growing at a rapid scale in the country, it is substantially contributing to the economic growth of the nation as a whole. With its concept holding strong construction practices and well sustained designs, India has evolved to be the international map of green buildings, over the past decade, while also building a sustainable, liveable and healthier environment. While green concept was originally designed for commercial buildings, it has spread its reach across residential sectors and townships, expecting to attain a four-fold growth in the next few decades. This improvisation in buildings has helped address issues ranging from water efficiency, energy efficiency, and reduction in the use of fossil fuel, handling consumer waste and conserving natural resources. Since the residential sector is a significant consumer of these resources, it holds tremendous opportunities to also, efficiently use the same. However, recent developments in the facilities management plan have widened this scope further, contributing to socioeconomically productive societies. The majority of carbon dioxide emissions caused by buildings are created during the operating phase of existing buildings. In other words, the way a building is managed and maintained has a major impact on the environmental performance of the building. FM services play a central role in the environmental performance of a building and FM organizations can significantly support client organizations in their efforts to minimize their total environmental impact. The role of Facility Management in maintaining and functioning of Solar plants, STP’s, Rainwater harvesting, segregated waste disposal and vermi-compost pits for facilitating landscaping and horticulture with a careful use of available resources are some aspects that are now crucial to the core of societies. These aspects have resulted in rendering as much as 20-30% reduction in the energy cost and 30-50% reduction in the water requirement with an improved health and well being of occupants. While these aspects are met, addressing environmental issues and educating others on the same are some more primary roles played by integrated facilities management companies of India. This inculcation of FM has brought about an increase of 11% in the overall resource conservation at residential societies, while conspicuously teaching residents, the importance of green practices in the current times. This has made the residential sector, the leading change in green management with an added scope of future growth which may transform the way societies run in the current scenario. A green building transcribes into a healthier environment and better ecological balance. Though the initial cost of investment in these buildings is higher by 10-15% but in the long run low operational costs make them a viable option. And of course, the fact is we are a nation with limited resources and an ever-increasing population! We can’t solely rely on the Government to provide non-renewable resources forever. The faster we adopt Green, the higher our chances of living a better life. And considering the impact of the real estate sector on the environment, green buildings are the best way to go green. This is perhaps why there is an increasing governmental push for creating Green buildings, with incentives and subsidies for sustainable buildings. Moreover, the public is also becoming more concerned and aware about the future of the planet and is looking for Greener alternatives in all aspects of their lives. In fact, a lot of buyers are highly concerned and specifically check for the ‘green’ certificate before making an investment. With this in mind, real estate developers are finding newer ways to build and sell green developments. It is notable how these challenges will rise from inventive ways of thinking and transforming attitudes of people of all ages and also from all walks of life. With a surplus of residential sectors actualizing the importance of eco-friendly practices, adding back to the environment has become an inevitable norm. Residential sectors from India’s most polluted cities like Kanpur, Delhi, Faridabad and Lucknow are putting their best foot forward with integrating facility management to battle the current précis and make an impactful change. This wave of transfiguration is hoping to travel a long way and leave an impact on the way green societies are perceived, to transform the functional operations in the residential sector adding to 100% compliance with the environment.