Learning how to get GRIHA certification enables developers and housing societies to better prepare for their needs related to energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management. This blog explains what GRIHA Certification is, who qualifies for it, and what procedures need to be taken to apply for certification of new constructions as well as for existing buildings.
What is GRIHA Certification?
GRIHA stands for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment. It is India’s national rating system for green building certification, and it works like a report card on how a building uses energy, water and materials and how it handles waste. “Griha” means “home” in Sanskrit.
GRIHA was designed for India, so it takes local climate, geography and building practice into account. A building in humid Chennai and one in cold Shimla face different problems, and the rating is built to allow for that.
Projects are scored out of 100 points. Some criteria are mandatory, and the rest are optional. A project needs at least 25 points to earn a rating, and more points mean more stars, up to five.
For a society, GRIHA certification turns “we want to go green” into something you can measure. Reviewers check your documents and visit the site, so the star rating is backed by evidence that residents can see for themselves.
Who Runs GRIHA Certification?
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) developed the system, and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy adopted it as the national standard. Today, the GRIHA Council runs the ratings. It is an independent not-for-profit body that handles registration, reviews the documents and arranges site visits for every project that registers.
GRIHA Certification Eligibility for New Projects and Existing Gated Societies
The version you apply under depends on size and building type. Before you decide to get GRIHA certification, find which one fits your project.
Rules for new projects
- Residential projects need a built-up area above 5,000 sq. m, with at least 80% residential use.
- Non-residential projects need a built-up area above 2,500 sq. m, excluding parking and unpopulated basements.
- Smaller projects can apply for SVAGRIHA, a simpler version built by the GRIHA Council and TERI.
- Affordable housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) has its own version, GRIHA for Affordable Housing.
| Project type | General eligibility |
| Residential buildings | Built-up area above 5,000 sq. m, with at least 80% of the total built-up area used for residential purposes |
| Non-residential buildings | Built-up area above 2,500 sq. m |
| Smaller residential projects | May qualify for SVAGRIHA, subject to its applicable criteria |
| Smaller non-residential projects | May qualify for SVAGRIHA, subject to its applicable criteria |
| Affordable housing projects | Projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) may be eligible for GRIHA for Affordable Housing, subject to the applicable criteria. |
Eligible applicants may include developers, building owners, government organisations, educational institutions, hospitals and corporate offices.
Rules for existing societies
A society that is already built and running can apply under GRIHA for Existing Buildings. The building must have been in operation for more than a year, with a full year of continuous operations data. You also run an online feasibility check before registering.
This route suits most resident-managed societies, since the rating looks at how the building performs day-to-day.
How to Get GRIHA Certification: Step-by-Step Process
The process follows five stages. A GRIHA Accredited Professional or design consultant can walk your committee through each one.
Step 1: Check eligibility and hire a professional
Confirm that your project meets the size rules above. Then bring in a GRIHA Accredited Professional or a GRIHA design consultant to guide the design and paperwork.
Step 2: Register the project
Log in to the project section of the GRIHA Council portal and register under the right rating category. Pay the registration and review fees. The Council then conducts an orientation workshop for the entire project team to familiarise them with its expectations.
Step 3: Build the design and documents
Work passive solar design, water management, energy efficiency and sustainable materials into the plans. Prepare the compliance papers: architectural layouts, energy simulation reports and waste management plans. Existing societies prepare operations data instead.
Step 4: Submit documents for technical review
Upload everything to your online project panel. A panel of experts from the GRIHA Council does a preliminary evaluation, then a detailed review of the mandatory and optional criteria. The team gets a chance to fix any document that falls short.
Step 5: Site inspection and star rating
GRIHA officials visit the site to check that what was built matches what was claimed. New projects usually see a workshop and two site visits during construction, with a final visit after the second round of documents. Once everything checks out, the Council issues your star rating and certificate.
How are GRIHA points and star ratings decided?
GRIHA is a performance-based system. Points are earned by meeting the intent of each criterion, and some criteria are mandatory. A project needs at least 25 points to earn a rating, and more points mean more stars, up to five.
GRIHA Certification Cost, Timeline and Benefits
Registration and review fees start at about ₹3,74,000 for a 5,000 sq. m project and scale up for larger sites. Government taxes are added on top. Timing depends on your pace. According to the GRIHA help centre, document review usually takes about three weeks, and final evaluation takes about three more.
What does a society gain from a rating?
- Lower operating and maintenance costs, since rated existing buildings improve energy and water performance.
- Better visibility and market value for the property.
- Extra floor area in some states. Jammu and Kashmir, for example, allows up to 15% additional FAR for GRIHA-certified projects.
- Financial incentives under SUNREF India for projects reaching 4 or 5 stars in GRIHA for Affordable Housing pre-certification.
Simple Steps to Prepare for GRIHA Certification
Before you plan to get GRIHA certification for your own society, get your records in order.
- Pass a resolution at your general body meeting and appoint two or three people from your society to take up this task.
- Gather last year's electricity and water charges for common areas.
- Introduce garbage segregation and estimate the weight of each stream.
- Seal all the leakages and replace lights in common areas with LED lighting. Such small things reflect in the numbers.
- Take help from an expert consultant in the initial stages itself.
Manage Daily Operations with NoBrokerHood Society Management System
Preparing for GRIHA certification involves reviewing how a society manages its resources, maintenance and daily operations. Having access to past bills, payment records, resident complaints and community updates can help committees organise their work and find relevant information when reviewing expenses or planning improvements.
NoBrokerHood brings several routine society management tasks together on one platform. From tracking maintenance payments to managing complaints and recording visitor movement, it helps committees maintain organised records and coordinate with residents and security staff.
Key features include:
- Maintenance and Accounting Records: Keep maintenance bills, payment receipts, society accounts and previous transactions in one place.
- Complaint Management: Let residents report issues, including leaking taps or broken common-area lights, with photos. Committees can assign and track complaints through to resolution.
- Notices and Announcements: Share updates about general body meetings, waste segregation drives, water conservation and other community initiatives through the app.
- Visitor and Staff Tracking: Record entries by visitors, delivery personnel, water tanker operators and service vendors. Gate records help security staff track arrivals and departures, providing a dated record of site activity.
By keeping everyday operations and records organised, NoBrokerHood can help committees coordinate maintenance, communicate with residents and retrieve information when needed.
