Buying a Home? IGBC Green Building Ratings Can Help You Choose an Eco-Friendly Property

When purchasing products, booking hotels or choosing films, people often rely on ratings and reviews before making a decision. But what about buying a house, which involves a much bigger investment? The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), established by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Hyderabad in 2001, offers a recognised rating system to help homebuyers assess the environmental performance of buildings. Affiliated with the World Green Building Council, IGBC evaluates buildings based on their design, construction and maintenance practices. It offers four residential rating levels — Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum — based on measures such as water and energy conservation, rainwater harvesting, waste management, reduced pollution and the use of sustainable construction materials. Individual houses can also seek certification under its Green Homes category.

The four ratings reflect different levels of environmental performance. Certified is the basic level, awarded to buildings that meet essential green construction standards after evaluation; projects assessed only at the design stage may receive pre-certification. Silver recognises additional measures such as rainwater storage, water-efficient fixtures, local greenery, recycled materials and construction-waste management. Gold requires stronger systems for energy and water conservation, waste processing, cross-ventilation, improved indoor air quality and the use of low-VOC paints and adhesives. Platinum, the highest rating, is awarded to buildings with advanced sustainability features, including on-site solar or wind power, sewage treatment plants, solar water heating and rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo. According to the information provided, green buildings can save around 30% of water and up to 40% of electricity. They may also offer healthier living conditions and command higher property values and rental returns.