This Is What Developers Get For Constructing Green Buildings

Given the cost that green housing commands, most homebuyers prefer the comparatively conventional concrete homes. However, did you know there are incentives that are introduced to make green homes more popular among you?

• The Uttar Pradesh Housing and Urban Planning Department provides for free of cost five per cent additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for projects complying with 4 or 5 Star GRIHA rating. (GRIHA: Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment)

• The revised Haryana building bye-laws 2016 recognise green building measures by project and awards benefits of additional FAR up to 25 per cent by getting the building/site/project certified from GRIHA Council and achieve GRIHA rating as per sub 4 or adopting green norms. Additional FAR for all building users, except plotted residential. Extra FAR shall be given over and above the maximum permissible FAR.

• The government of West Bengal gives green campuses by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) a 10 per cent additional FAR Sanction of the building plan for construction of green homes and grant of additional FAR shall be allowed based on pre-certification by the agencies.

• The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) gives discounts on the premium charges payable to the corporation, as per the star rating awarded by GRIHA Council.

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing a programme on Development of Solar Cities wherein about 100 small townships/campuses both new and existing ones, duly notified/permitted by the concerned authorities being developed by the promoters/builders, SEZs/ industrial towns, Institutional campus etc. are proposed to be developed as green campus during the 12th five-year plan. The financial assistance is up to Rs 5 lakh for the preparation of a Master Plan and Development Project Report including the action plan for renewable energy installations, green campus development, awareness generation and training etc. is available.

• Sikkim has adopted GRIHA for all the Government and semi-Government structures. These shall conform to minimum 3 Stars GRIHA rating for propagating sustainable development in the state.

• The Jaipur Development Authority has notified that the buildings constructed on plot area more than 5,000 sq mt will be eligible for an additional five per cent FAR free of charge if they get 4 or 5-star rating from GRIHA.

• Noida and Greater Noida have incentivised GRIHA projects on a plot of more than 5000 sq mt and above with free of cost 5 per cent additional FAR for projects for complying with 4 or 5-star GRIHA rating.

• The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will get the following discounts on the premium amount of building permission charges, as per the level of rating awarded by GRIHA. Home buyers also have the benefit of a discount of 10 per cent once the construction is complete and handed over to the buyer.

• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has been providing financial assistance to green buildings certified by Accredited Rating Agencies including GRIHA by offering a concessional rate of interest, presently 50 basis points.

• Punjab's Department of Housing and Urban Development has notified that an additional five per cent FAR, free of charges shall be permissible to buildings that provide relevant certificates from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency or from GRIHA.

• The Ministry of Urban Development issues a notification for local authorities to incentivise and provide one to five per cent extra ground coverage and FAR for projects of more than 3,000 sq mt plot size on basis of GRIHA evaluation.

• The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India issued a memorandum to facilitate fast track environmental clearance for GRIHA pre-certified projects.