High Performance Buildings (HPBs), Features, Importance

High Performance Buildings (HPBs) are buildings that are designed to be more efficient and sustainable than what is required by building codes. Check here Importance of High Performance Buildings (HPBs).

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In India, buildings contribute over 30% of national energy use and 20% of carbon emissions, as reported by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. As urbanisation accelerates, India risks exceeding global benchmarks for energy efficiency and carbon emissions in buildings. In such a scenario, HPBs offer resilience through adaptive, self-sufficient structures.

High Performance Buildings (HPBs)

HPBs are buildings that are designed to be more efficient and sustainable than what is required by building codes.
They are designed to use less energy for heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation.
HPBs also consider other factors, such as: Durability, Life-cycle performance, Occupant comfort and productivity.

Difference between Green Buildings & HPBs

Green Buildings: Focus on reducing environmental impact through certification programs assessing design intent and outcomes across categories like energy efficiency, water conservation, and materials sourcing.
High-Performance Buildings (HPBs): Aim for peak efficiency in all aspects, utilising advanced technologies and smart design strategies. They continuously track performance metrics to optimise resource use.

Features of HPBs

Sustainable design: These buildings are designed to be aesthetically pleasing, accessible, cost-effective, safe, and secure.
Energy efficiency: High-performance buildings are designed to use energy efficiently and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor air quality: These buildings are designed to improve indoor air quality and often include active ventilation. They use materials with lower amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Sustainable materials: High-performance buildings are made from sustainable materials, often recycled materials.
Thermal comfort: These buildings are designed to provide thermal comfort and appropriate humidity levels.
Optimal lighting and acoustics: These buildings are designed to have optimal lighting and acoustics.

Did You Know

Indira Paryavaran Bhavan in New Delhi is India’s first net zero energy building that has been constructed with the adoption of solar passive design and energy-efficient building materials.

Other Initiatives

GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment):
- It is a national rating tool that helps people assess the performance of their building against certain nationally acceptable benchmarks.
- It is developed by The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) with support from the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Lighting a Billion Lives (LaBL):
- It is an initiative that aims to provide clean and sustainable energy access to people across the world.
- It is also an initiative by TERI.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design):
- It is a green building rating system that provides a framework for creating efficient, healthy, and cost-saving buildings. It is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.
- It is developed by S. Green Building Council (USGBC).