A green building is one which uses less water, optimizes energy, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building. A building
is assessed based on its predicted performance over its entire lifecycle — inception through operation. The stages identified for evaluation are:
- Pre-construction: Intra- and inter-site issues like proximity to public transport, type of soil, kind of land, location, flora and fauna before construction activity starts, natural landscape and features
- Planning and construction: Issues of resource conservation and reduction in resource demand, resource utilization efficiency and recovery, reuse, and provisions for occupant health and wellbeing
- Prime resources considered are land, water, energy, air and green cover.
Operation and maintenance: Of building systems and processes, monitoring and recording of energy consumption, occupants’ health and well-being and issues that affect the global and local environment.
