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(Last updated: 27 May 2011)
Trends and opportunities
The market
An initiative of the Confederation of Indian Industry-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre (CII-Godrej GBC), the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has a vision to facilitate the country to emerge as one of the global players in green buildings by 2015.
IGBC has the unique distinction of pioneering and spearheading the green building movement in India. The concerted eff orts of all the stakeholders that began 10 years ago are bearing fruit and India is now placed on the international map for green buildings. Today, India has 1,002 registered green building projects with a footprint of over 627 million sq ft. These buildings are spread across the five climatic zones of the country.
India has experienced significant growth in the building sector and construction is one of the largest economic activities in the country today. As the sector grows, preserving the environment poses a plethora of challenges, while at the same time it presents an opportunity for various stakeholders. The resource demand in buildings has also been growing over the years and there is an urgent need to minimise the use of resources without sacrificing the overall growth and development of the sector.
Green buildings can have tremendous benefits – both tangible and intangible. Tangible benefits include reduction in water and energy consumption from day one of occupancy. The energy savings could range from 20 to 30 per cent and water savings around 30 to 50 per cent. The construction sector therefore needs to play a responsible role towards preservation of the environment.
Launch of LEED 2011 for India
A major milestone for the Indian green building movement was the launch of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 2011 for India by IGBC on 24 February 2011 in New Delhi.
Based on the international LEED platform, this new version of the rating has been indigenised and christened ‘LEED 2011 for India’. It has been developed with extensive participation of the various stakeholders in the Indian building sector. The new rating system came into effect in April 2011. IGBC also gives an option to ongoing projects registered under LEED India new construction 2007 to transit to LEED 2011 for India, if they so desire.
Green Building Congress
To reach out to a wider cross section of the community, IGBC conducts various outreach programs, which includes IGBC’s flagship event on green buildings – the Green Building Congress. It is held in a different city every year with an aim to educate, inform and network the latest updates, technological innovations, emerging concepts and technologies. The next congress is to be held on 19-23 October 2011 in New Delhi.
IGBC has a strong association with the Australian Green Building Council (AGBC) and Austrade. Australian participation in the Green Building has increased to 25 companies and partner country status in 2010 over six companies participating in 2007.
Opportunities
IGBC plays a catalytic role in demonstrating that ‘green’ makes business sense. A whole range of green products have been introduced by the green movement. Tremendous potential exists for materials and equipment such as:
- building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV)
- heat resistive paints
- fly ash blocks
- insulation materials
- high efficiency chillers
- variable frequency drives
- high efficiency cooling towers
- building management systems
- lighting controls
Eco-friendly technologies such as solar air conditioning, wind towers, geothermal system, earth tunnel cooling, etc., integrated with developing townships can cut down energy requirements sizeably. The market potential for green building products and technologies is estimated to grow to US$100 billion by 2015.
Green buildings will redefine the way buildings are constructed across the globe. Increased awareness and focus on sustainability has brought into focus the need to foster and promote such buildings.
Since its introduction in 2001, the green building concept has emerged as a useful tool in designing sustainable buildings. The steady increase in green building projects is a clear signal that they are here to stay and are all set to redefine the way buildings are constructed. The early foray in green buildings has placed India in a leading position and the movement is well poised to reach greater heights in the nation.
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