Section 1 –

Sustainable Site
Planning
Total weightage of the section: 12 points
 CRITERION 1 CRITERION 3

Green Design to mitigate

Infrastructure UHIE

Criteria
List
CRITERION 2

Low Impact Design

 Criterion -1
Green Infrastructure Maximum Points: 5
Partly Mandatory
 Intent
• The intent of this criterion is to ensure that the site complies with the relevant
master plan/local development plans and guidelines.
• This makes sure that the necessary compliance requirements for the building
projects, along with the applicable building regulatory requirements are
adhered to.
• Additionally, it emphasizes on enhancing natural biodiversity through
preservation and plantation of native vegetation.
• This criterion further intends to assess proximity to different nodal transport
and amenities to manage last mile connectivity as well as reduce dependence
on personal motorized vehicles.
• It also incentivizes land use optimization which a pressing concern in densely
populated urban areas.
 Appraisal - 1.1.1 - Mandatory

• Ensure that the site plan is in conformity with the development plan/master plan/
Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI)
guidelines.
• This should comply with the provisions of eco-sensitive zone regulations, coastal
zone regulations, heritage areas (identified in the master plan or issued separately as
specific guidelines), water body zones (in such zones, no construction is permitted in
the water-spread and buffer belt of minimum 30 m around the FTL), various hazard-
prone area regulations, and others if the site falls under any such area.
• Further, any other relevant legal approval pertaining to the project for clearance from
the necessary government authority has to be compliant.
Pre-Sanction stage
Approvals from local body/development
authority
Land-use plan approval
Approval for change in land use
NOC for construction/augmentation
Relaxation in respect of density/ground
coverage/FAR/ setbacks/height
Approval from the Airport Authority of India
NOC (legal document) is required for height
clearance (from Airports Authority of India)
NOC from a coastal zone management authority
Sanction stage
Local body approval
Approval from National Monument Authority/
Archaeological Survey of India
Approval from Tree Authority
Committee/Forest Committee
The list mentioned above is exhaustive and projects must submit all the documents which are relevant to the site.
Approval from Heritage Conservation Committee
Approval from Railway Authority/Port
Trust/Defence
Approval from road-owning agency (MCGM,
PWD, NHAI)
Approval from Traffic and Coordination
Department (Municipal)
Approval from the chief fire officer/Fire NOC
Approval from the chief controller of explosives
Approval from the chief inspector of factories
Environmental clearance from the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Approval from Heritage Conservation
Committee/ Appropriate Authority
Approval from the Survey and Valuation
Department
Approval from the Central Vista Committee
Approval from either DMRC or its equivalent
Approval from either DUAC or its equivalent
Building permit stage
Approval from local body/development
authority
Approval from power distributing/supply agency
Approval from water supply agency
Approval from storm water/drainage/sewerage
department
Construction stage
Approval from Central Ground Water Authority
Intimation to location authority
Plinth level notice
Completion stage
Completion-cum-occupancy certificate from
local body
Approval/NOC required from the lift inspector
 Compliance Documents

Submit all relevant approvals, sanctions, and clearances to demonstrate conformity to local development
1.2.1
plans/master plan to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal 1.1.1.
 Sample Documentation

Relevant sanction
plans
 Appraisal - 1.1.2 - Mandatory

Demonstrate that the project team implements tree preservation measures as per the
alternatives mentioned below:

Alternative 1: Ensure that no existing mature tree on-site is cut.

Alternative 2: Transplant existing mature trees (if required) within the site and ensure
that they survive. Unsuccessful transplantation attempts will not be counted.
Alternative 3: Plant three trees for every one tree cut of the same native/naturalized
species.
Alternative 4: Adopt any combination of the previously mentioned alternatives.

Note: Only native/naturalized species should be planted. Potted plants cannot be used to demonstrate
compliance with Appraisal 1.1.2.
 Appraisal - 1.1.2 contd…

Applicability Check:
If there are no existing mature trees on-site, the project is exempted from
Appraisal 1.1.2.

To exempt the project from Appraisal 1.1.2, please submit the following:
• Site survey plan along with Google Earth images of the site over a span of the
last 10 years.
Online Calculator of new and existing trees
A Site area (sq m) 5,000 From Project
Summary sheet
B Are there any existing mature trees on site YES
Number of existing mature trees on site prior to
C 20
construction
Number of existing mature trees preserved on
D 20
site
Fed by Client
E Number of existing mature trees cut on site 5
Number of new trees planted of native/
F 15
naturalized species (in the ratio of 1:3)
Number of trees transplanted successfully on
G 10
site
H Number of trees as per GRIHA requirement 30 = (C - E)+(E * 3)

Total number of trees preserved using a = (D + F + G)

I 45
combination of strategies
Does the project meet the GRIHA tree = (YES if I > H)
J YES
preservation threshold (Mandatory)
 Appraisal - 1.1.3 - 2 Points

Ensure that a minimum of one tree for every 80 m2 of land/site area (within GRIHA project
boundary) is planted and maintained in order to increase vegetation on-site. The existing
preserved mature trees within the site premises should be considered in the calculation.
Online Calculator of number of trees
A Site area (sq m) 5,000 From Project Summary
sheet

Number of new trees planted of native/

B 45 From Appraisal 1.1.2
naturalized species

Number of trees as per GRIHA = A / 80

C ~ 63
requirement

Does the project meet the GRIHA tree

D NO
plantation threshold = YES if B > C

E Points awarded - = 1 if D = YES

 Compliance documents for
appraisals 1.1.2 and 1.1.3

Submit a site survey plan and a landscape plan (.dwg format) with legends mentioning species and
1.2.2 highlighting (in different colour coding/layer) the existing trees that have been transplanted, cut, and/or
preserved/protected as well as new plantation to demonstrate compliance with Appraisals 1.1.2 and 1.1.3

1.2.3 Submit letter from local governing body permitting cutting of trees on site

1.2.4 Submit purchase orders highlighting full quantities of new plantation to demonstrate compliance with
Appraisals 1.1.2 and 1.1.3

Submit calculations for the number of new and existed preserved trees on the GRIHA online portal to
1.2.5
demonstrate compliance with Appraisal 1.1.3.
 Sample
Documentation

Survey Plan
 Sample
Documentation

Landscape plan
 Sample
Documentation

Purchase orders of
trees
 Appraisal - 1.1.4 - 1 Point

Ensure that per-capita gross area threshold is maintained as prescribed in the table
below for optimum land utilization.

Healthcare Hospitality Institutional Office Residential Retail Transit

Facility Terminal
(per bed)
Min. 100 35 4 5 12.5 3 0.6
Max - 60 8 10 50 6 1.5

Note:
• Gross area includes all circulation areas, service areas, toilets, etc., but excludes basement and parking areas
within the site premises.
• The building occupancy is assumed to be at full design capacity and should include floating population as per
building typology.
Building Typology Habitable areas Circulation areas Toilets/washrooms

Healthcare Facility Consultation and treatment rooms including all All corridors, lift lobbies, All including those in
(per bed) departments, wards, labs and pharmacies. holding and waiting areas. waiting and holding areas.

Hospitality Guest rooms, recreation areas excluding Reception areas, lobbies All including toilets and
restaurants and dining spaces. and corridors common areas
Institutional All vocational areas including classrooms, libraries, All corridors, lift lobbies
assembly areas and excluding recreational, fitness and waiting areas
and, lab areas, etc.,
Office All habitable areas such as cubicles, conference/ All Reception, corridors, All including toilets in
meeting rooms, VC rooms etc and excluding pantry, lift lobbies, and waiting waiting areas
storage rooms etc. areas
Residential All habitable spaces excluding kitchen, pantry and All Reception, corridors, All including toilets in
storage spaces lift lobbies, and waiting common areas
areas
Retail All retail shops excluding temporary shops/ pop-up All circulation corridors All including toilets in
stores and excluding dining/ restaurant areas, and lift lobbies, and common areas
Cinema halls waiting areas
Transit Terminal All habitable areas including congregation, retail, All circulation corridors All including toilets in
F&B, ticketing, security areas etc. and lift lobbies common areas

Note: Storage areas, service areas, AHUs, balconies and terraces to be excluded from the calculation
 Appraisal - 1.1.4 contd…
There are different measures to optimize land use, some of which are firmly integrated
into the sanction and approval processes in India such as Floor Space Index (FSI) or
Floor Area Ratio (FAR).

• Maintains the ratio of open space to built space

Benefits of FSI • Maintains the skyline of the city
• Ensures a good development of the project

• Poor predictor of physical form

• With less F.S.I values, implementation of the
Limitations of FSI practice of accommodating the ever increasing
population suffers

Note: The gross area per capita of building occupancy is a more human centric approach which encapsulates the need for
space and land optimization based on building function and occupancy data.
 Calculations
Fed by GRIHA = YES if C is
B/A within GRIHA
From project summary sheet client thresholds
thresholds

Per Capita
Building Building Building Total habitable Built-up area Does the building meet
name typology occupancy (A) built up area (B) (sq.m.) (C) Min Max the GRIHA threshold?

Building B Hospitality 110.25 5000 45.4 35 60 YES

Building C Retail 600 3000 5.0 3 6 YES
Healthcare
Building D facility 8400 5000 0.6 100 - NO

Building E Institutional 705 5000 7.1 4 8 YES

Building F Offices 2100 5000 2.4 5 10 NO

Building G Transit terminal 765 5000 6.5 0.6 1.5 NO

Building H Mixed Use 11500 5000 0.4 4 8 NO

Points attained under

Not met = 1 (point) if all the buildings meet GRIHA
Appraisal 1.1.4
thresholds
 Compliance Documents

1.2.6 Submit occupancy calculations on the GRIHA online portal to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal
1.1.4.

Submit floor plans (in .dwg format) and area calculations indicating habitable areas considered for per
1.2.7
capita gross area calculation to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal 1.1.4.
 Sample Documentation

Floor plans for

habitable area
calculation
 Appraisal - 1.1.5 - 2 Points

Ensure that the average distance of at least 5 basic public amenities/services as per the
building typology (defined on the next slides) from the main entrance of the project, is
less than the GRIHA base case as per the table below.

Thresholds for average distance of basic services from the main entrance of
the project
Reduction from base case (x) Points
10% ≤ x < 25% 1
x ≥ 25% 2

Note:
• Radial distances are not acceptable, walking distance has to be calculated.
• GRIHA base case has been predefined in the Proximity to Amenities calculator (600m for all amenities)
 Appraisal - 1.1.5 cont.…
Building typology
Amenities Healthcare Transit
Hospitality Institutional Office Residential Retail
facility terminal
Health care
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
facility
Education ✓ ✓
Socio-cultural ✓ ✓
Distribution ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Sports and
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
recreation
Public transit ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Banking
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
facilities
Religious
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
facilities
Public service
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
offices
 Appraisal - 1.1.5 cont.…
Categories of Sub-categories of amenities/services
amenities/services
Health care facility Pharmacy, dispensary, general hospital, other health care facility, old age home,
orphanage/children’s centre, crèche, day-care centre, etc.
Education Pre-primary school, primary school, secondary school, higher secondary school, college,
school for the differently abled, vocational training centre, university, technical education
centre, polytechnic college, etc.
Socio-cultural Anganwadi, community centre, exhibition-cum-fair ground, auditorium, music, dance and
drama centre/meditation and spiritual centre, movie theatre, etc.
Distribution LPG warehouse including booking office, permanent milk and fruit and vegetable booth,
general/grocery stores, fuel filling and service station, food courts, restaurants, pharmacy
etc.
Sports and recreation Community recreational club, parks/playgrounds, sports/fitness centre, etc.
Public transit Bus stands, metro station, other public transit stations
Banking facilities ATMs, banks, etc.
Religious facilities Church, mosque, temple, sanctorum, etc.
Public service offices Post office, telephone exchange, fire station, disaster management station, public library,
social welfare centre, public grievance centre, etc.
 Compliance Documents
Submit Google Map images highlighting the walking distances to each basic amenity from the main
1.2.8 entrance of the project along with date-stamped photographs of services/amenities as marked in the
Google Map images to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal 1.1.5.

Submit calculations for average distance travelled to basic amenities on the GRIHA online portal to
1.2.9
demonstrate compliance with Appraisal 1.1.5.
Sample Documentation

Google map images and photographs

 Online Calculator of average distance traveled
Distance from
Facilities Services project site (m) Remarks
Enter value only if NONE of the buildings are a
Healthcare Pharmacy - Healthcare facility.
Enter value only if NONE of the buildings are a
Healthcare, Institutional,Transit terminal, Office
Education Primary school 500 or a Retail facilty.
Enter value only if NONE of the buildings are a
Healthcare, Institutional,Transit terminal, Office
Socio Cultural Community centre - or a Retail facilty.
Permanent Milk, Fruit & Enter value only if NONE of the buildings are a
Distribution Vegetable Booth - Retail facility.
Enter value only if NONE of the buildings are a
Sports & Recreation Parks/ Play-grounds - Hospitality or a Retail facility.
Public transit Metro station -
Informal Transport Stand E-rickshaw 250
Banking Facilities ATMs -
Religious Facilities Sanctoriums 500
Public service Offices Public Library 500
Additional Amenities -
Reduction from base case 38
Points awarded NA
 Appraisal - 1.1.6 - 1 Point

Adopt any one measure from the list, as given below, to promote sustainable transportation within
the site premises.
• Provide at least four designated number of parking spaces for informal modes of transport within
the site premises.
• NMT/ E-vehicle facility:
o Part A - Provide Non-motorised transport (NMT )1 vehicle facility with at least 5% of the total
4-wheeler parking space designated to them on site along with charging facility for E-
vehicles2 and adequate signage.
o Part B - Additionally , provide designated vehicular tracks for NMT and E-vehicles3.
• Provide bicycle users with at least 5% of the total 4-wheeler parking space designated to them
along with changing rooms, showers, lockers within the site premises with adequate signage.
Note:
1 NMTs refers to manually operated small-wheeled transport (skates, skateboards, push scooters and hand carts) and

wheelchair travel.
2 E-vehicles here refer to electric cars, scooters, electric ride-able and personal light electric vehicle such as electric

skateboards, kick scooters, self-balancing unicycles and Segway.

3 Designated vehicular tracks for NMT vehicles are required only for sites with an area > 50,000 sq.m
 Calculation for sustainable mode of transport
Site area 30000 From project summary sheet
Informal transport
Select from dropdown list
Which strategy is the project team opting for parking provision
Number of motorized 2- wheeler parking within project site 10
Number of 4- wheeler parking within project site 20
Area of each 4- wheeler parking (sq m) 12.5
Total area provided for 4-wheeler parking (sq.m) 250
Strategy 1 Number of informal transport parking within project site 0
Number of NMT/ E-vehicle parking and charging facility
within project site 5
Fed by
Strategy 2 Total area of NMT/ E-vehicle parking (sq m) 20 client
Designated vehicular tracks provided for NMT/ E-vehicles
(only for site area> 50,000 sq m) YES
Number of Bicycle parking within project site 20
Total area of bicycle parking (sq m) 28.8
Strategy 3
Changing room, shower, locker facilities provided on site for
bicycle users YES

= 1 (point) if the project meets GRIHA

Points awarded 1 thresholds
 Compliance Documents

1.2.10 Submit calculations for percentage of sustainable modes of transport provided on site to demonstrate compliance
with Appraisal 1.1.6

Submit date-stamped photographs of sustainable modes of transport provided on site to demonstrate compliance
1.2.11
with Appraisal 1.1.6.

In case of informal mode of transport, submit a site plan (.dwg format) highlighting the location of designated
1.2.12 parking spaces provided within the site premises to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal 1.1.6.

In case of NMT vehicles, submit the calculation for percentage of parking space designated for NMT on site to
1.2.13
demonstrate compliance with Appraisal 1.1.6.
 Compliance Documents

1.2.14 Submit a site plan (.dwg format) highlighting the location of designated parking spaces provided and charging
points for E-vehicles to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal 1.1.6, Strategy 2, Part A.

1.2.15 Submit a site plan (.dwg format) highlighting dedicated vehicular tracks for NMT on site to demonstrate compliance
with Appraisal 1.1.6, Strategy 2, Part B.

In case bicycle usage is promoted on site, submit the building floor plans (.dwg format) highlighting changing spaces,
1.2.16 showers, and lockers for bicycle users within the project premises. Also, submit a site plan (.dwg format) highlighting
the location of designated parking spaces provided for the bicycle users to demonstrate compliance with Appraisal
1.1.6
Photographs of sustainable modes of transport
 Sample Documentation

For informal mode of

transport - Site plan
 Sample Documentation

Part A – Parking plan

highlighting space for
e-vehicles
 Sample Documentation

Site plan highlighting

the location of
designated parking
spaces and
Building floor plans
highlighting changing
spaces, showers,
lockers for bicycle
users within the
project premises
 Criterion -2
Low Impact Design Maximum Points: 5
Partly Mandatory
 Intent

The intent of this criterion is to promote design strategies that enable the project
to factor in ways by which natural site features (topographical/microclimatic) can
be protected and/or incorporated into the project design.
 Appraisal - 2.1.1 - 5 Points

Demonstrate reduction in environmental impact by adoption of various low- impact

planning and design strategies as per Table 1.4. Different strategies are listed for
reference under Section 2.3 -Details to Appraisals.

Number of strategies adopted Points

2 (with at least 1 passive strategy) 1
3 (with at least 2 passive strategies) 3
5 (with at least 3 passive strategies) 5
 Overview of Appraisal

Solar design
• Orientation and design of windows

strategies
• Internal zoning/layout of the floor plate
• Access for Solar PV installation
Wind design
strategies

• Cross ventilation in naturally

ventilated/mixed-mode ventilation spaces
• Provision of courtyard
Daylighting
strategies

• Vegetative cover to control glare

• Light Shelf
• Glass covered Atrium
 Overview of Appraisal

Site Preservation and

• Site planning according to contours

other strategies
• Undisturbed areas on site
• Cavity Wall
• Earth Berming
• Passive evaporative cooling structure like rooftop ponds, green roof
• Air Lock to prevent heat loss

• Earth Air Tunnel

Active strategies

• (Active) Evaporative cooling

• Desiccant cooling system
• Solar air conditioning
• Tri-generation (waste-to-heat)
• Radiant cooling system
• Ground source heat pump (GSHP)
 Solar Design Strategy
Strategy: Control annual Heat Gain through orientation and design of windows

Intent:
Orientation of fenestration and annual solar movement dictate the solar heat ingress in a building.
Through climate responsive design the amount of insolation entering regularly in occupied spaces
may be optimized in order to reduce energy consumption for heating or cooling.

Analysis / Calculation:
Submit analysis demonstrating that the heat gain through windows in design case is lesser than the
GRIHA base case in summer and greater in winter (in relevant climatic zones).
Formula: Insolation x Window area of specific orientation.
(In the base case, the total window area to be equally distributed on all orientations.)

Outcome:
Demonstrate compliance using insolation calculator for summer (April to September) and winter
(October to March) months. Windows should be located along the southern and northern facades
with adequate provision for shading to prevent heat gain. Well shaded windows on the southern
façade can enable passive heating in winter and shaded day lit spaces in summer.
 Wind Design Strategy
Strategy: Courtyard (Only applicable for Naturally ventilated and mixed- mode spaces)

Introduction:
Courtyards have been incorporated for centuries in the design of traditional buildings in tropical
countries. Due to incident solar radiation in a courtyard, the air gets warmer and rises, powering
ventilation by creating an area of low pressure that draws in air through the surrounding habitable
spaces.

Analysis / Calculation:
Submit CFD analysis. Refer to APPENDIX 1B: FOR VENTILATION STUDIES for CFD Analysis
methodology and documentation requirements.
Demonstrate that thermal comfort is being achieved by ensuring wind speed compliance in
accordance with ‘Table 9 Desirable Wind Speeds (m/s) for Thermal Comfort Conditions (PART 8
BUILDING SERVICES — SECTION 1 LIGHTING AND NATURAL VENTILATION - NBC 2016)’.

Outcome:
Demonstrate that airflow in accordance with ventilation requirements are achieved in interior
spaces.
 Daylight Strategy
Strategy: Light shelf

Introduction:
Light shelves usually refer to horizontal surfaces mounted inside a building. These interior light
shelves divide windows between the viewable portion and the part that lets in additional natural light,
bouncing it upward and reflecting it off the ceiling to aid in deeper penetration of daylight in
habitable interior spaces

Analysis/calculation:
Submit plan, elevations, and sections in .dwg format to demonstrate the incorporation of light shelves
in the design. Ensure effectiveness using the following formula:
dext lightshelf ,max <= 1.5 × hclerestory

Outcome:
Demonstrate daylight enhancement through the addition of light shelves in the proposed design
exterior shelf interior shelf ceiling.
 Site preservation and other strategies
Strategy: Site planning according to contours. (Can be attempted by sites with contours slopes equal
to or greater than 1:4 to minimize cut and fill at site)

Introduction:
The key to minimizing construction costs on a contoured site involves reducing the volume of
earthworks required to level the site through cut and fill and optimizing the number of engineered
retaining walls required. This may be achieved by adopting a design at the initial stage that takes into
account the contours of the site. Although some cut and fill may be unavoidable, extensive alteration
of existing properties such as the natural drainage patterns of the site can be avoided by designing in
response to the existing site topographical features and minimizing the need for extensive excavation.

Analysis/calculation:
Submit design drawings, site management plans, and a narrative indicating how site responsive
designs have been adopted on a contoured site.

Outcome:
Demonstrate that site planning has been done with minimal disturbance to existing site contours
 Site preservation and other strategies
Strategy: Passive evaporative cooling structure like such as rooftop ponds, and green roof, etc.

Introduction:
A rooftop pond stores water above the roof in order to insulate the building interiors. At night, the
exposed water surface loses a significant amount of heat by radiation to the night sky. Similarly, a
green or living roof is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted
over a waterproofing membrane. In addition to providing insulation and possibly providing habitats
for indigenous fauna, such roofs help to lower urban air temperatures and mitigate the heat island
effect.

Analysis/calculation:
Submit drawings indicating the inclusion of a green roof / rooftop pond in the building design. Submit
heat gain analysis to demonstrate the cooling effect of roof pond.

Outcome:
Demonstrate the design of an effective green roof / roof pond or similar element.
 Active Design Strategy
Introduction:
ASHRAE defines radiant systems as temperature-controlled
surfaces where 50% or more of the design heat transfer takes
place by thermal radiation. Radiant cooling systems work by
circulating chilled water through a network of polymer pipes
installed in floors, walls or ceilings, cooling these surfaces
and causing them to evenly absorb heat. Radiant cooling
works best when integrated with a downsized forced-air
system to meet the building’s fresh air requirements.

Analysis / Calculation:
Submit a design basis report, simulations and specifications
of the radiant cooling system indicating how thermal
comfort conditions are intended to be met.

Outcome:
Demonstrate the design of a radiant cooling system.
 Compliance Documents
Submit analysis along with calculations/simulation reports with input and output files to demonstrate
2.2.1 compliance with low-impact design strategies as mentioned in Section 2.3, Details to appraisals of Volume
II.

Submit drawings/schematics (.dwg format) highlighting the integration of the low-impact design strategies
2.2.2
into the building design/site planning.

2.2.3 Submit the narrative and date-stamped photographs of the strategies implemented
 Criterion -3
Design to Mitigate UHIE Maximum Points: 2
 Intent

The intent of this criterion is to ensure incorporation of design strategies that will
aid in the reduction of UHIE.
 Appraisal - 3.1.1 - 2 Points

Demonstrate the temperature reduction (in °C) from the GRIHA base case as per the
alternatives mentioned below. -2 Points
Alternative 1

Demonstrate temperature reduction in the predicted hourly average air temperature

(°C) from the GRIHA base case by performing calculations using GRIHA UHIE calculator
as per Following table.

Reduction in Predicted Hourly Average Air Points

Temperature (°C)
1.5°C ≤ base case 1
2.5°C ≤ base case 2
 Appraisal - 3.1.1 - 2 Points

Demonstrate the temperature reduction (in °C) from the GRIHA base case as per the
alternatives mentioned below. -2 Points
Alternative 2

Demonstrate that the difference in peak air temperature has been achieved through
dynamic UHIE simulation from the GRIHA base case as per Following table.

Reduction in Predicted Hourly Average Air Points

Temperature (°C)
1°C ≤ base case 1
2°C ≤ base case 2
Strategies to mitigate UHIE
 Alternative 1
Design Case
Input Data Output
Predicted Hourly
Pre-fed Hourly Average Air temperature Average Air
values on any reference day (⁰C) 24 Temperature (⁰C) 24.40
Daily Average Solar Radiation
(W/m2) 300
Hard paved area in % 50
Average height to building floor
area ratio 2
Fed by Total Wall surface area (m2) 25000
client
Green area 25.00
Sky view factor (between 0 to 1) 0.6
Average surface albedo (0-1) 0.5

Reduction in Peak Hourly

temperature from base case: 1.70
 Alternative 1
Base Case (Backend)
Input Data Output

Predicted Hourly Calculated on

Hourly Average Air temperature Average Air GRIHA online
on any reference day (⁰C) From met. data Temperature (⁰C) portal
Daily Average Solar Radiation
(W/m2) From met. data
Hard paved area (with in 50m As per site
radius) in % conditions*
Average height to building floor As per site
area ratio conditions*
As per site
Total Wall surface area (m2) conditions*
As per site
Green area % conditions*
Sky view factor (between 0 to 1) Calculated* * To be cross checked with submitted
As per manufacturer documentation.
Average surface albedo (0-1) specifications*
 Important Definitions
Annual Hourly Average Air temperature on any reference day (⁰C): It is the average of hourly air temperature
taken for the reference day in any typical season. This average must be for the sunshine hours (for example,
morning 6:00 am to evening 6:00 pm) and must be taken for 21st March. For example, the ambient average
daytime temperature for Delhi is 24.6°C, Mumbai is 26.7°C, and Bengaluru is 27.3°C, etc.

Annual (daytime) average solar radiation (W/m2): The average of annual solar radiation for the location for the
daytime hours.

Hard paved area in percentage: This is the total percentage of hard paved area (building footprint as well as paved
area) in the GRIHA virtual boundary.

Average height-to-building area ratio: The average height-to-building area ratio represents the thermal mass in
the environment and it refers to the ratio of average of heights of all buildings (in the GRIHA virtual boundary) to
the total of the building footprint areas of all the buildings (in the GRIHA virtual boundary).

Total wall surface area (m2): This is the total wall surface area of all the buildings including both glazing and
opaque surfaces that fall in the GRIHA virtual boundary.

Green area: The green area refers to the green density in the area and is calculated by adding the canopy areas of
all the trees on site.

Albedo: Solar reflectance, or albedo, is the percentage of solar energy reflected by a surface. This value can lie
between 0-1 (a perfect black body will have an albedo of 0 and a perfect white body will have an albedo of 1.
 Sky View Factor
Sky view factor: SVF is the extent of sky observed from a point as a proportion of the total possible sky
hemisphere. Its value would vary between 0 and 1 based on the extent of sky visible at the point of observation,
1 being the sky is visible at the fullest extent and 0 being the least. Once we have the heights of the buildings
and the width of road, the SVF can be calculated using the formula given below.

SVF = cos (arctan (Height/W))

SVFs should be calculated for two directions that must be perpendicular to each other. The average of the two
should be considered for the calculation. In case of multiple buildings adjacent to the building of interest, the
closest building to be considered for SVF calculation. The average of all SVFs to be considered as input in the
calculator.
Alternative 1
Sample Plan
 Alternative 1
Sample Elevation

SVF1 = cos (arctan(H/W) = cos{arctan[20 /41.4]} = 0.84

SVF2 = cos (arctan(H/W) = cos{arctan[30/20]} = 0.96
SVFavg= Average(SVF1+ SVF2) = 0.9
 Alternative 1
The following guidelines must be followed while using the GRIHA UHIE calculator:

• The analysis is to be carried out for 21st March.

• Green area of 0%, surface albedo of 1, and hard paved area of 100% can be considered in the
base case.
• All other parameters, i.e. hourly average air temperature on any reference day (°C), daily average
solar radiation (W/m²), average height-to-building ratio, total wall surface area (m²), and Sky
view factor (SVF) will remain the same in the base case and design case.
• SVF for stand-alone buildings with no surrounding buildings up to a radius of 100 m can be
assumed to be 1. All buildings in the immediate surroundings of the project within a 50 m radius
have to be considered in the calculation of SVF. The example, as shown earlier, can be referred
for the calculation.
• All buildings within the GRIHA virtual boundary have to be considered in the calculation of wall
area, SVF, albedo, and average height-to-building ratio.
• For projects with site area > 5000 m2, UHIE analysis has to be done for at least 3 areas of interest
on- site.
 Alternative 1
Selection of areas of interest:
• For sites that are > 5000 sq m-
o The entire site area may be considered
OR
o Sub-sites, each of which include different
buildings scattered on site and
surrounding hard-paved and landscaped
area. Radius of each sub-site can be 50 sq m
• For sites that are > 5000 sq m-
o The entire site area may be considered
 Alternative 2
Alternative 2: UHIE simulations

• The following guidelines must be followed while performing UHIE simulations:

• The analysis is to be carried out for 21st March, 9:00 am to 12:00 am (midnight); however, the
simulation results have to be shown for only 3:00 pm (daytime UHIE) and 9:00 pm (night time`
UHIE).
• Modelling has to be carried out for both the base case and the design case.
• Surface albedo of 1 and hard paved area of 100% can be considered in the base case. All other
parameters, that is, hourly average air temperature on any reference day (°C), daily average solar
radiation (W/m²), wind speed and direction, average height-to-building ratio, total wall surface
area (m²), and SVF will remain the same in the base case and the design case.
• All geographical terrain > 3 m height must be modelled in addition to any surrounding water
features.
• ‘Simple forcing’ can be used for the purpose of this simulation.
Sample UHIE simulation- Alternative 2
 Compliance Documents
3.2.1 Submit a site plan (.dwg format) with legends, mentioning the building heights and external surface finishes such as
soft paved/covered with high SRI paints/shaded by trees/vegetated pergolas/solar panels.

3.2.2 Submit purchase orders reflecting full quantities of high SRI paints/tiles, solar panels, and so on.

Submit the technical specifications/brochures of high SRI paints/tiles, solar panels, and so on to demonstrate
3.2.3 compliance with Appraisal 3.1.1.
OR
Submit a valid GRIHA Product Catalogue certificate as applicable for the products used.

3.2.4 Upload date-stamped photographs with the description of the measures implemented within the site premises

3.2.5 Submit calculations using the GRIHA UHIE calculator to demonstrate compliance with Alternative 1.

3.2.6 Submit a simulation report (along with input and output files) to demonstrate compliance with Alternative 2
Sample Documentation

Site plan
Sample Documentation

Site Section
 Sample
Documentation

Purchase order of high

albedo material
 Sample
Documentation

Technical specification
sheet of high albedo
material
THANK YOU!