Green construction is getting popular by the day. Today, green buildings covering 67 million sq ft are being constructed all over the country, up from the 20,000 sq ft in 2003, according to the CII-Godrej Green Building Council, Hyderabad. The figure is expected to be one billion sq ft by 2014.

The green building movement is expected to get a fillip with the construction of the residential complex for 2010 Commonwealth Games, which will be a certified green building. It?s being developed by Emmar-MGF.

As on date, over 320 green building projects?both commercial and residential?spread over 240 million sq ft have been registered with the council. The number of LEED certified buildings stands at 30.

Developed by the US Green Building Council, LEED or the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a green building rating system, which has standards for environmentally sustainable construction.

Says Perm Chand Jain, chairman, IGBC, ?The green building movement in the country is well poised to grow exponentially and offer both tangible and intangible benefits to builders and end users.? The IGBC has a target of 1,000 LEED certified buildings by 2010.

Green buildings are costlier than conventional buildings because builders typically factors in the extra costs incurred in procuring eco-friendly material, glazed glass, twin flow toilets, solar paneling etc. In the longer run, green buildings prove cheaper, though. Explains Jain, ?Green buildings are 3-20% costlier to construct, but it gets paid back in 3-7 years.?

While every 20,000 sq ft of a centrally air-conditioned shopping mall or commercial complex consumes about 150-160 units of power per hour, green buildings consume about 30-50% less energy and 30-70% less water with the help of eco-friendly material, better design and maintenance and waste disposal, resulting in reduction of operating costs for such buildings.

Little wonder, discerning customers are keen on green buildings. Says Parveen Jain, chairman, Tulip Infratech, ?With green buildings already commanding a rental premium of 3-5% and a better valuation in the west, Indian builders too are joining the bandwagon. Going green is an in thing today. Every customer asks how green are you?? In fact, he has launched Rs 300-crore green residential townships?Tulip Ace and Tulip Petals?in Gurgaon, near Delhi.

Green buildings also helpful in the fight against climate change. Says Varun Pahwa, vice-president, business development, Dessicant Rotors International, ?Buildings are energy-guzzlers and account for 30-40% of global energy use. It means improving energy efficiency itself can help reduce global warming.?

There are other benefits, too. He adds, ?It not only cut one?s power bill by as much as 50%, but also improves employee productivity by 12-15%. What is needed is a mix of suitable government regulations, greater use of energy saving technologies and a change in outlook.?

Builders like the Hiranandani Group, K Raheja Corp, Tulip Infratech and RMZ have already taken the cue and are leading in setting benchmarks in laying the foundations of green buildings. Other builders are also following their example.