People’s Awareness, Perceptions and Attitudes on Green Buildings: A Study in Bengaluru

Abstract

Buildings are accountable for nearly 40% of energy consumption in most countries, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions (World Council for Sustainable Development). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimated that by 2050, buildings are projected to emit 3800 megatonnes of carbon. Green buildings are designed to reduce the demand for non-renewable resources and make the best use of utilisation efficiency through reuse, recycling and enhancing the usage of renewable energy sources like the sun, water and wind and a healthy indoor environment. This present paper analyses people's perceptions/experiences living and working in green buildings (office spaces and individual houses), their knowledge and awareness about green buildings, experiences and views about green features in Bengaluru city. In addition, the paper also discusses the significance of the ecology-societal interface in promoting green buildings and building a resilient society through appropriate policy interventions. The methodology includes qualitative and quantitative data collection, covering surveys across 175 respondents (households and office spaces). The sample covered was representative of different categories like age groups and gender. Focused group discussions (FGDs) were also part of the survey. Our study showed that respondents (56%) are aware of the concept and features of green buildings, and 80% of the respondents living in green buildings have experienced positive benefits. In summation, people's experiences were good, and preferences to live/work in green buildings were apparent. However, since green buildings are not mandatory, there is no compulsion to adopt them. Further, there is a need for specific initiatives that aid access to finances to purchase green buildings, tax incentives, etc. Nevertheless, at large, green buildings are gaining significance, and implementing better policies can promote them even further, given the economic and environmental benefits and the threats of climate change.