GRIHA Focuses on Sustainable Residential Buildings

The question asks for a system that improves thermal comfort and reduces energy use in residential buildings.

Understanding GRIHA

GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) is India's primary rating system for green buildings. Its framework evaluates various aspects of building design, construction, and operation to minimize environmental impact and enhance occupant well-being. Key goals include:

• Reducing energy consumption through efficient design and technology.
• Improving indoor environmental quality, including thermal comfort.
• Promoting resource conservation (water, materials).
• Minimizing waste generation.

GRIHA explicitly targets improvements in thermal comfort and energy efficiency, making it the most suitable answer for residential buildings.

Evaluating Other Options

• ECBC - Residential 2017: The Energy Conservation Building Code focuses specifically on energy efficiency standards for new commercial buildings and, in its residential version, sets minimum requirements for energy performance. While relevant to energy use, GRIHA offers a broader assessment including comfort.
• BEE: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is a statutory body that promotes energy efficiency and conservation in India. It is an organization, not a specific building assessment system like GRIHA.
• Building byelaws: These are local regulations governing construction practices, primarily focusing on safety, health, and zoning, rather than specific energy efficiency or thermal comfort goals.

Therefore, GRIHA is the system among the options provided that most comprehensively addresses both improving thermal comfort and reducing energy use in residential buildings as part of a holistic sustainability approach.