Most trending green features a smart home can incorporate
Real Estate

Most trending green features a smart home can incorporate

Ideally, a green home designed holistically would address key parameters such as energy-efficiency, water reduction, sustainable materials and resources, site selection and indoor air quality. A green home with upgradation on technologies, automation and renewable energy sources is a smart home with IoT, BMS, automation, lighting sensors and renewable energy integrated with smartphone applications, allowing flexibility to occupants to verify energy and water savings in real time. Smart homes can be evaluated under IGBC Green Homes ratings system Ver 3.0, the latest edition launched in September this year.

S Raghupathy, Chair, Asia Pacific Network (APN) and Deputy Director General, CII, highlights the most trending green features a smart home can incorporate:

  • Daylighting: The best strategy to be energy-efficient in daytime is to have access to natural light in living spaces. This again depends on how the building is oriented and openings designed. This would allow energy savings of close to 60 per cent in lighting alone, when it is integrated with lighting sensors. These sensors form an important component of security, home control, energy-efficiency, automated lighting control, and other helpful systems. In spaces where daylighting from windows cannot penetrate, projects can make use of the ‘light pipe’ innovation.
  • Appliances: The use of LED lighting and star-rated appliances can help reduce energy consumption to a greater extent, as can the use of smart devices that regulate appliances and lights to minimise the amount of electricity they consume.
  • Temperature control: Computerised thermostats can minimise the carbon footprint; for instance, by allowing the regulation of temperature through a mobile device.
  • Going net-zero: These are projects that achieve 20-30 per cent energy savings by design over the energy benchmarks of Energy Conservation Building Code-R and meet the balance 70-80 per cent through on-site renewable energy systems to achieve self-sufficiency in energy without depending on the main grid. Simply put, the annual energy consumption of the project should completely be met through on-site renewable energy systems.
  • Metering and monitoring: Sub-metering of outdoor lighting, water pumping, EV charger, etc, can help analyse the electricity use pattern and further improve energy-efficiency. Building automation can help monitor the complete consumption pattern on one screen and make it easier for data accessibility and analysis. Smart water metering for every dwelling unit is the new trend in residential buildings.

- SERAPHINA D’SOUZA

Ideally, a green home designed holistically would address key parameters such as energy-efficiency, water reduction, sustainable materials and resources, site selection and indoor air quality. A green home with upgradation on technologies, automation and renewable energy sources is a smart home with IoT, BMS, automation, lighting sensors and renewable energy integrated with smartphone applications, allowing flexibility to occupants to verify energy and water savings in real time. Smart homes can be evaluated under IGBC Green Homes ratings system Ver 3.0, the latest edition launched in September this year. S Raghupathy, Chair, Asia Pacific Network (APN) and Deputy Director General, CII, highlights the most trending green features a smart home can incorporate: Daylighting: The best strategy to be energy-efficient in daytime is to have access to natural light in living spaces. This again depends on how the building is oriented and openings designed. This would allow energy savings of close to 60 per cent in lighting alone, when it is integrated with lighting sensors. These sensors form an important component of security, home control, energy-efficiency, automated lighting control, and other helpful systems. In spaces where daylighting from windows cannot penetrate, projects can make use of the ‘light pipe’ innovation. Appliances: The use of LED lighting and star-rated appliances can help reduce energy consumption to a greater extent, as can the use of smart devices that regulate appliances and lights to minimise the amount of electricity they consume. Temperature control: Computerised thermostats can minimise the carbon footprint; for instance, by allowing the regulation of temperature through a mobile device. Going net-zero: These are projects that achieve 20-30 per cent energy savings by design over the energy benchmarks of Energy Conservation Building Code-R and meet the balance 70-80 per cent through on-site renewable energy systems to achieve self-sufficiency in energy without depending on the main grid. Simply put, the annual energy consumption of the project should completely be met through on-site renewable energy systems. Metering and monitoring: Sub-metering of outdoor lighting, water pumping, EV charger, etc, can help analyse the electricity use pattern and further improve energy-efficiency. Building automation can help monitor the complete consumption pattern on one screen and make it easier for data accessibility and analysis. Smart water metering for every dwelling unit is the new trend in residential buildings. - SERAPHINA D’SOUZA

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Maharashtra Approves India’s First State-Level Infrastructure InvIT

In a pioneering move to advance infrastructure development and unlock capital for critical projects, the Maharashtra state government has approved the creation of the Maha InvIT (Maharashtra Infrastructure Investment Trust). With this step, Maharashtra becomes the first Indian state to launch its own Infrastructure Investment Trust.The Maha InvIT is designed to serve as a platform for mobilising funds from both private and public investors, offering them stable returns while enabling the state to fast-track the development of key infrastructure assets such as roads and bridges.Structured in li..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

NPG Reviews Key Road and Rail Projects to Boost Connectivity

The 92nd meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) was held in New Delhi to review major infrastructure proposals in the road and railway sectors. The session focused on promoting multimodal connectivity and improving logistics efficiency under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP).The NPG evaluated four key proposals — one from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and three from the Ministry of Railways (MoR). These projects were assessed for their integration with PM GatiShakti’s core tenets, including seamless multimodal infrastructure, last-mile connectivit..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Commerce Secretary’s Netherlands Visit Boosts Trade, Innovation Ties

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, visited the Netherlands from 24–26 April 2025 to advance bilateral trade, investment, and innovation cooperation. The visit marked a significant step in deepening India’s strategic economic partnership with the Netherlands, a key trade and technology partner in Europe.During the visit, Shri Barthwal held high-level meetings with Dutch officials, industry leaders, and institutional stakeholders, reinforcing the importance of India-Netherlands collaboration in areas including infrastructure, renewable ..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?