Green Practices Finally Making It Possible To Sustain Real Estate

In the last decade, India’s real estate sector has experienced tremendous growth. The number of constructions and developments coming up in different regions has been increasing at a fast rate. The growth is being felt in all sectors of the economy. These include hospitality, retail, residential, commercial, industrial and much more. Also, real estate development is taking place across major cities and towns in India at an astonishing pace. If the current trends are anything to go by,the real estate sector is not about to slow down. As a matter of fact, the growth being experienced in the sector is bound to increase much further.

The rapid growth and development of the sector comes as good news to developers, government, as well as the ordinary citizen. It means that the economy is becoming more vibrant and the future more promising. However, the industry in general is starting to place more emphasis on the green factor. It is no longer just about coming up with quality and sound structures, but also about taking care of the environment. The developers and other players are adopting measures that are going to ensure the development carries on in a responsible manner. The long-term sustainability of the environment is becoming a key concern in India.

A well-known fact is that rapid growth of the real estate sector takes a toll on the environment. The natural resources get depleted much faster, and also the rate of environmental destruction goes up. Such happenings paint a gloomy picture on the environment, especially in the coming future. In a bid to stop the destruction and also preserve the environment, real estate developers as well as other organizations are coming up with better and more effective designs and strategies. The practices are meant to introduce new ways of designing and developing buildings while still preserving the environment.

Dealing With Urbanization And Population Growth:

The population in India has been growing exponentially and masses are flocking to major cities and towns. This is influencing urbanization as the cities try to cope with the increasing number. One of the most affected sectors is real estate. The demand for housing is increasing faster than the supply. Developers have to work overtime to keep up with the demand. Previously, the developers were more concerned about providing affordable housing. It was all about looking for cheaper ways of building structures; for instance, sourcing for cheaper materials or using effective techniques.

The current trend is achieving the goal of providing good and affordable housing without harming the environment. The developers have to strike a balance between the rising demand and a sustainable ecology. Sustainable or responsible development also takes into account other factors. These include; minimal carbon emissions, reduced carbon footprint, reducing wastage, eradicating toxic by-products, conservation of energy and more. Reducing harmful substances that escape into the atmosphere or leach into the soil or drainage system is the only way to achieve a greener and cleaner environment. This will ensure that even the future generations will still enjoy the clean air we breathe in today.

On paper, achieving a green environment seems rather straightforward. However, in reality it is quite a challenge. In fact, many developers already have the plans well laid out. They have started minimizing the use of raw materials, adopting less energy intensive techniques, using degradable materials for construction, and also avoiding any toxic material. When it comes to conserving energy, they have embraced the use of renewable energy such as solar or wind energy. Also, the use of lightweight pipe fittings, radiant cooling, proper landscape, natural lighting is increasing. Such measures are leading to more sustainable and eco-friendly development.

Eco-Structures Is the New Trend:

Although real estate developers agreed on adopting Green Practices a few years ago, the uptake was rather slow. Nonetheless, this seems to be changing in the current times. More and more developers have made it part of their policies to construct structures that use minimal resources and conserve energy. The trend which seems to be rising as the days go by is bringing in a new wave of eco-structures. Developments in the metro regions are constructed using energy efficient techniques, and the raw materials used have a zero energy consumption rate. The materials used in the construction are also environmentally-friendly.

Developers are also reducing the amount of space wasted by using better architectural designs. The materials are also eco-friendly, lighter and consume minimal energy. This helps in conserving energy and also moderating the indoor atmosphere. This reduces the need to install or operate other devices that may consume energy. A properly constructed eco-home will depend on natural lighting, temperature and air to maintain the cool and comfortable ambiance. More homes are also being fitted with solar energy units as a standard feature. Seeing solar panels and solar water heaters on the roofs of many homes as well as commercial buildings in India is becoming norm.

The Green Construction Campaign:

The campaign for a greener environment as well as eco-structures is being pushed by several organizations and agencies. The goal is to create awareness of the importance of adopting and embracing green practices. The campaigners are drawn from all sectors both private as well as public. The most notable advocates in India include Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) and Indian Institute of Interior Designers (IIID). The groups and associations use different avenues to spread the word. These include tradeshows, seminars, campaigns, exhibitions, webinars and more.

Seeing more eco-homes and structures cropping up in India is certainly an indication of the industry moving towards the right direction. This indicates that companies as well as individuals are finally realizing the need to conserve the ecosystem. People are now able to not only live in more comfortable homes or work in better offices, but also conserve the energy. Minimal carbon emissions, lower carbon footprint, and less toxic by-products also means the environment will be conserved rather than being destroyed. Nonetheless, more needs to be done if the benefits of a greener and cleaner environment are to be realized fully.

Image Source: [freedigitalphotos.net]

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