Step by step procedure to comply to GRIHA criteria 3: Design to mitigate UHIE

The Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) is a rating system for sustainable buildings in India. The system is designed to evaluate buildings based on their environmental performance and promote sustainable practices in the building sector. GRIHA Criterion 3 is one of the key criteria in the rating system that evaluates the open area requirement of a building.

The open area requirement is an essential aspect of sustainable building design as it plays a vital role in reducing the heat island effect, improving air quality, and providing natural light and ventilation to buildings. GRIHA Criterion 3 evaluates the treated open area requirement of a building, which includes soft paving, paved area with high solar reflective index (SRI), vegetated roofs, trees, and terrace gardens.

Let’s take an example to understand how the GRIHA Criterion 3 works. Suppose a building is constructed on a site area of 56,757.21 square meters, and the landscape area of the site is 23,472.58 square meters. The net site area available for construction is 33,284.63 square meters.

According to the GRIHA Criterion 3, the building should treat a certain percentage of the net site area for the open area requirement. The treated area includes soft paving, paved area with high SRI, vegetated roofs, trees, and terrace gardens. Let’s assume that the total treated area of the building is 17,000 square meters, which includes 6,200 square meters of soft paving, 4,750 square meters of paved area with vegetated roofs/trees/solar panels, and 6,050 square meters of building roof area under terrace gardens/high SRI finishes/China mosaic.

To calculate the percentage of the treated area, we need to divide the total treated area by the net site area and multiply it by 100. In this case, the percentage of treated area would be:

Percentage treated area = (Total treated area / Net site area) x 100 Percentage treated area = (17,000 / 33,284.63) x 100 Percentage treated area = 51.07%

As per the GRIHA Criterion 3, the building should treat at least 50% of the net site area. In this example, the building has treated 51.07% of the net site area, which meets the GRIHA requirements.

The open area requirement of GRIHA Criterion 3 is essential for sustainable building design. It helps to reduce the environmental impact of buildings and promote sustainable practices in the construction industry. By treating the open area, buildings can reduce the heat island effect, improve air quality, and provide natural light and ventilation to occupants.

In conclusion, GRIHA Criterion 3 plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable building design in India. Building designers and developers must adhere to the GRIHA requirements to ensure that their buildings are environmentally friendly and sustainable. By incorporating open area treatments, buildings can enhance their environmental performance, reduce their carbon footprint, and contribute to a more sustainable future.