With climate change causing concern at the global level, there is a growing realisation that collective responsibility is required from the governments, the industry and the public to ensure that climate does not cross the tipping point the point of no return from devastating changes in Earth.

Construction is one of the most important activities that affects the immediate environment directly and causes rise in temperatures globally.

The green building concept may be just one of the means to help nature continue its balancing act. Perhaps, the next decade will be a deciding phase in changing people’s attitude towards going green.

A movement in Kochi, called Green I, has initiated awareness classes for architects and the public. And now, the onus is on the builders to follow it up.

The concept of green building is a design approach to construction that enables the occupants of the building to save water and energy. The construction and maintenance costs are low. The concept may sound only economically beneficial, but it has direct and indirect effects on the health of the occupants, the building and the environment.

Energy efficiency is the keyword in construction circles now. But are the builders aware of their role in promoting the Green Building concept? A large majority is either ignorant or does not want to be part of what they would like to call the “green mumbo-jumbo.”

Mandatory

Lalichan Zacharias, architect, main promoter of Green I in Kochi, says that in the U.S., building rules mandatorily follow the green building concept. Here, a beginning has been made with hotels and hospitals implementing at least 30 per cent of the green building concepts to achieve their star ratings, he said.

The Union government is also in the process of creating awareness among architects. Nearly 20 programmes are scheduled across the country to create awareness of the green building certification process. The Kerala chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects will conduct one of the programmes in Thrissur.

Green I have started a training programme for architects. As part of this, 18 architects were given a week’s training at Auroville in Puducherry, Mr. Zacharias says. The practice is to implement green building concept in design with available resources. Maybe, in another two-three years, architects and builders together will be going for the green building concept. The public may also join the movement. Only then will it be a success, Zacharias says.

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