What is GRIHA rating in green commercial buildings?

GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) is India's national green building rating system, developed by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) in association with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. It evaluates buildings for sustainable site planning, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and indoor environment quality.

GRIHA Rating Scale

GRIHA is awarded on a star scale from 1 to 5, with 5 stars being the highest level of green building performance. A minimum of 50 points is required for 1-star rating, rising progressively to 5 stars for 90+ points.

GRIHA vs. LEED vs. IGBC

• GRIHA: National framework; government-endorsed; mandatory for government buildings above 500 sq mt.
• LEED: Global; US-developed; most recognised internationally.
• IGBC: Industry-led (CII); India-specific; widest adoption in Indian private sector.

GRIHA's government-backed mandate makes it an important rating system for public sector and institutional projects in India. Private developers building for corporate tenants may prefer LEED or IGBC for their stronger private sector market recognition but GRIHA is increasingly respected across all building types.