GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) is India’s TERI-administered green-building rating system, with v2019 being the current version. Of GRIHA’s 31 criteria, Criterion 14 (Energy Performance) and Criterion 15 (Renewable Energy) carry the most points (12 + 5 = 17 of 100 total) and align directly with MEP design.
This guide covers GRIHA Criterion 14 + 15, the points structure, and how Indian projects typically capture maximum points.
Criterion 14: Energy Performance Index (EPI) — 12 points
GRIHA computes EPI in kWh/m²/year (annual energy use divided by gross floor area) and compares against benchmark by occupancy:
| Building type | Benchmark EPI |
|---|---|
| Office | 110 kWh/m²/yr |
| Hotel (3-5 star) | 220 |
| Hospital | 200 |
| Retail mall | 200 |
| Education | 70 |
| Residential apartment | 30-50 |
Points awarded based on % below benchmark:
| EPI reduction vs benchmark | GRIHA points |
|---|---|
| 5% | 1 |
| 10% | 2 |
| 15% | 4 |
| 20% | 6 |
| 25% | 8 |
| 30% | 10 |
| 35% | 12 |
Maximum: 12 points at 35% reduction. For Indian commercial offices, achieving 35% reduction (i.e., EPI ~ 70 kWh/m²/yr) is achievable with: ECBC + LED + DCV + free cooling + ERV + on-site PV.
For Indian sustainability rating bodies, 35% reduction is also the typical IGBC v3 target — same building can apply for both certifications.
Criterion 15: On-site Renewable Energy — 5 points
| On-site renewable as % of building energy | GRIHA points |
|---|---|
| 1% | 1 |
| 2.5% | 2 |
| 5% | 3 |
| 7.5% | 4 |
| 10% | 5 |
Most commonly achieved through rooftop solar PV. For 10% offset on a 1,200 MWh/year office, ~250 kWp PV is required — typically feasible on roof areas of 5,000+ m² buildings.
What GRIHA awards beyond LEED/IGBC
GRIHA explicitly awards:
- Construction-phase energy (Criterion 6) — site office, equipment, water-pumping
- Daylight + ventilation (Criterion 13) — passive design that reduces operational energy
- Material embodied energy (Criterion 17, 18) — local sourcing reduces transport energy
- Operational training (Criterion 31) — facility manager training to maintain efficiency
These add 5-10 indirect EE-related points beyond Criterion 14 + 15.
Typical 35% EPI reduction strategy (10,000 m² office, Bangalore)
Baseline EPI = 110 kWh/m²/yr. Target: 71.5 kWh/m²/yr (35% reduction).
| Strategy | Reduction |
|---|---|
| LED + occupancy sensors | 8% |
| DCV with 30% lockout | 6% |
| ERV (75/70%) on OA | 7% |
| Free cooling (Bangalore 4,500 hrs/yr) | 12% |
| Chiller IPLV upgrade (5.5 → 7.0+) | 4% |
| VFDs throughout | 3% |
| **Combined (with diminishing returns)** | **~36-40%** |
Plus 6% on-site PV (Criterion 15 = 3-4 points), the total achievable EPI is ~65 kWh/m²/yr — well below the 35% target.
GRIHA points captured:
- Criterion 14 at 40% reduction: 12 points (max)
- Criterion 15 at 6% renewable: 3-4 points
- Combined EE: 15-16 of 17 available
Plus other categories: typical building can target 65-75 GRIHA points, qualifying for 4-star (51-60) or 5-star (61-75) ratings.
GRIHA vs IGBC vs LEED — pick one for India
| Aspect | GRIHA v2019 | IGBC v3 | LEED v4.1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | TERI / India | CII / India | USGBC / US |
| Indian climate calibration | Yes | Yes | Less (uses ASHRAE) |
| Cost | Most affordable | Mid | Most expensive |
| Recognition for export-bound corporate clients | Less | Mid | Highest |
| Project documentation effort | Mid | Mid | Highest |
| Government incentive for residential | Some | None | None |
For purely Indian-market projects (private sector), IGBC v3 is most common. For government/PSU projects, GRIHA is preferred. For multinational tenants, LEED v4.1 is required. Some projects pursue all three; many pursue IGBC + LEED (skipping GRIHA).
Five common GRIHA EE design mistakes
1. Computing EPI without ECBC envelope baseline. GRIHA assumes ECBC 2017 envelope; ignoring this in proposed model loses points.
2. Free-cooling hours not credited. Bangalore/Pune projects miss 1,000+ hours of free cooling = ~10% of annual cooling = ~5% of total EPI.
3. PV sized to 1% only. 1% gives 1 point; 6% gives 4 points. Marginal cost difference is huge for the points captured.
4. Forgetting commissioning. Criterion 31 requires demonstrable facility-manager training — often skipped, costs 1 point.
5. No commissioning plan in submittal. Without it, EPI claims are not verified post-occupancy → audit may reduce points.
Quick checklist
- [ ] EPI baseline benchmarked against GRIHA building type
- [ ] Proposed-case modeled with LED + DCV + ERV + free cooling + DOAS (as applicable)
- [ ] On-site renewable sized for at least 5% (3 GRIHA points)
- [ ] Annual energy consumption profile per occupancy
- [ ] Commissioning plan in submittal documentation
- [ ] Daylight + ventilation calc supports passive-design points
- [ ] Material embodied energy (local sourcing) documented
- [ ] FM training plan included
References: GRIHA v2019 Rating System; ECBC 2017; NBC 2016 Pt 11; TERI Implementation Manual; BEE compliance documentation.
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