Buildings with a glass facade could be fatal for birds and the environment.
Story so far: Being one of the most developed cities in the country, Bengaluru has its fair share of high-rise buildings wrapped in glass facades. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) noted concerns about the environmental impact of glass facades of buildings in the city. The petitioner contended that such buildings reflect solar radiation to surrounding areas.
- The petitioner revealed that Karnataka’s State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) had issued two different environmental clearances for glass facades. In 2016, it restricted glass use by 40%, while in 2019, it redacted the stipulation.
- The statutory body directed SEIAA to present a detailed and scientific report on the matter. It further invited an explanation of the two contradictory clearances.
Why it matters? The petitioner submitted a host of evidence to the NGT to support his claim. According to the Indian Institute of Science, glass facade buildings raise energy consumption to more than ten times that of non-glass buildings. The excessive use of air conditioning further contributes to ozone depletion.
- The petitioner also spotlighted the plight of birds that crash into the illusory glass facade buildings. Per the Audubon report, 90,000 birds crash into buildings in New York every year.