'Green' building features are gaining ground
Right from the raw materials to building design and interiors, the trend is increasingly visible
Today marks the third annual 'World Green Building Day' and green building councils around the globe will be commemorating the day with special events designed to raise the profile of green buildings.
Commenting on the relevance of green buildings in India given the current scenario, Shailesh Sanghvi, Director, Sanghvi Group of Companies and Secretary, MCHI Mira-Virar City, points out that with most of the country still left to be urbanized, green constructions pose a tremendous potential in a budding economy like ours.
"India has only begun to realize this pent up aptitude and is working towards enlarging its green foot print across sectors. The awareness about green buildings has grown substantially in the last decade because both government and homebuyers are now aware of the long-term benefits that come with it," he says.
Providing insights into aspects like the incremental cost and benefits for occupants, he explains, "Green buildings give comfort to its occupants, reduce waste sent to landfills, conserve energy and water, reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate healthy living. The start-up cost may be marginally higher than that of a normal project, but long term savings double in due course. Far-sighted costumers tend to opt for green-integrated projects more, as compared to those to whom the initial investment pinches."
According to Sukhpreet Singh, General Manager, Marketing, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd., paint also assumes great significance in Green buildings.
"Coating every nook and corner of a structure, paints play an indispensible role in green buildings. Until recently, only ordinary paints containing high concentrations of lead were made available in the Indian market. These paints released huge amounts of carbon-based air pollutants such as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that added to air pollution significantly. However now, sensing the need for sustainable living, green paints with low to zero VOC that not only cool interiors of homes built in hot tropical geographies but also help in curtailing carbon footprints are available," he says.
Elaborating on the qualities that an environment-friendly paint should have, he adds, "One of the prerequisites for an eco-friendly paint is that it should be safe and not harm people coming in contact with it. Even today, due to lack of awareness, most painters and end-consumers are put through the ordeal of tolerating the pungent odour and fumes that subsequently affects their health. An environment-friendly range should besides being odourless, have several other properties such as: excellent finish and smoothness, great sheen ,stain resistance, amazing range of colours and reduced health risks such as headaches, nausea, respiratory disorders, dizziness, chest congestion, lung irritation, burning sensation in the eyes, nose and throat etc."
According to him, technology in this segment has enabled more and more movement to safer water based products from solvent based products without compromising on performance. Even within water based products the presence of lead, VOC's and other toxic polluting constituents in paints and paint products precipitates an urgent need to re-look at the formulations and associated production processes. There is a marked shift towards solvent free, non-toxic and non-polluting paints
"Paints that have heat guard technology help reduce the temperature of the interiors by up to 5 degree Celsius as compared to normal exterior cement paints. They help occupants to lower interior temperatures as well as save electricity over a period of time," he shares.
Right from the raw materials to building design and interiors, the trend is increasingly visible
Today marks the third annual 'World Green Building Day' and green building councils around the globe will be commemorating the day with special events designed to raise the profile of green buildings.
Commenting on the relevance of green buildings in India given the current scenario, Shailesh Sanghvi, Director, Sanghvi Group of Companies and Secretary, MCHI Mira-Virar City, points out that with most of the country still left to be urbanized, green constructions pose a tremendous potential in a budding economy like ours.
"India has only begun to realize this pent up aptitude and is working towards enlarging its green foot print across sectors. The awareness about green buildings has grown substantially in the last decade because both government and homebuyers are now aware of the long-term benefits that come with it," he says.
Providing insights into aspects like the incremental cost and benefits for occupants, he explains, "Green buildings give comfort to its occupants, reduce waste sent to landfills, conserve energy and water, reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate healthy living. The start-up cost may be marginally higher than that of a normal project, but long term savings double in due course. Far-sighted costumers tend to opt for green-integrated projects more, as compared to those to whom the initial investment pinches."
According to Sukhpreet Singh, General Manager, Marketing, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd., paint also assumes great significance in Green buildings.
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"Coating every nook and corner of a structure, paints play an indispensible role in green buildings. Until recently, only ordinary paints containing high concentrations of lead were made available in the Indian market. These paints released huge amounts of carbon-based air pollutants such as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that added to air pollution significantly. However now, sensing the need for sustainable living, green paints with low to zero VOC that not only cool interiors of homes built in hot tropical geographies but also help in curtailing carbon footprints are available," he says.
Elaborating on the qualities that an environment-friendly paint should have, he adds, "One of the prerequisites for an eco-friendly paint is that it should be safe and not harm people coming in contact with it. Even today, due to lack of awareness, most painters and end-consumers are put through the ordeal of tolerating the pungent odour and fumes that subsequently affects their health. An environment-friendly range should besides being odourless, have several other properties such as: excellent finish and smoothness, great sheen ,stain resistance, amazing range of colours and reduced health risks such as headaches, nausea, respiratory disorders, dizziness, chest congestion, lung irritation, burning sensation in the eyes, nose and throat etc."
According to him, technology in this segment has enabled more and more movement to safer water based products from solvent based products without compromising on performance. Even within water based products the presence of lead, VOC's and other toxic polluting constituents in paints and paint products precipitates an urgent need to re-look at the formulations and associated production processes. There is a marked shift towards solvent free, non-toxic and non-polluting paints
"Paints that have heat guard technology help reduce the temperature of the interiors by up to 5 degree Celsius as compared to normal exterior cement paints. They help occupants to lower interior temperatures as well as save electricity over a period of time," he shares.
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