Moneycontrol News

Increased awareness about green certification for buildings, cities, waste management, grid infrastructure, housing and policy interventions by the government such as affordable housing and the recent energy conservation building code (ECBC) launched by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), will help in enhancing the footprint of LEED registered and certified green buildings across the country by almost three times to 3.5 billion sq ft by 2020, says GBCI Managing Director Mili Mazumdar.

"At present, about 1.17 billion square feet of buildings are registered under LEED certification in India. This comprises about 2,500 buildings/projects," Green Building Certification Inc (GBCI) Managing Director i Mazumdar said, adding this green footprint will increase three times by 2020 to include larger developments such as cities, transit, affordable housing projects and smart infrastructure.

The GBCI India office was set up in 2015 and it certifies 2.2 million sq ft every day. In North India, the green footprint in about 75 million sq ft of projects and about 800 projects are with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a green building rating system. India ranks fourth globally for green building footprint. The US is at the first position, followed by China and Canada.

GBCI is beyond buildings and “we look at a sustainable habitat as a whole. This varied habitat is covered through different certification systems administered by GBCI,” she explains, adding that the task before GBCI is to regionalise all these rating systems.

GBCI administers PEER or performance excellence in energy renewal, comprehensive, consumer centric, data driven system for evaluation power system performance. Through PEER certification, power grids have an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage by differentiating their performance, documenting the value produced and demonstrating meaningful outcomes to accelerate transformation of the electricity sector in the marketplace.

GBCI has also partnered with DMRC to develop a LEED rating exclusively for transit systems and includes both stations and infrastructure (upcoming and existing). “We are currently doing a pilot for five stations but there is a plan to do about 125 existing stations. We will be taking this rating globally,” she says.

Later this year or early next year, GBCI is planning a rating system dedicated to residential buildings. Currently, a rating called EDGE owned by IFC is administered by GBCI. “The rating system is getting popular among affordable housing projects in Kolkata and Hyderabad and is perhaps the most inexpensive of all rating systems,” she says.

GBCI is a certification provider for EDGE in nearly 120 countries around the globe and the exclusive certification provider for EDGE in India.

It also administer TRUE zero waste certification, a programme for businesses to assess performance in reducing waste and maximizing resource efficiency. “This is currently active globally and we are in the process of introducing it in the Indian market,” she said.

Another rating it administers is called WELL Building Standard, an evidence-based standard, which sets performance requirements in seven categories: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.

GBCI also administers Parksmart in the US, formerly known as Green Garage Certification, the world’s only rating system that defines, measures and recognizes high-performing, sustainable garage. The parking rating is not yet active in India.

It is planning to hold its first GreenBuild show in India that is traditionally held in the US. This will be held in Mumbai from November 2 to November 5. “We are expecting a footfall of 10,000 at the event,” she says.

The event will also host the Women in Green Power Luncheon, an initiative for bringing together women leaders from across the country and building an international forum for highlighting women’s impact on sustainability.

"The aim of the event is to advance female leaders working in sustainability through academic, professional and personal development. It will also help develop a community of women to act as a support network, providing encouragement and fostering growth. Women in Green is a great platform for women to network and develop the skills necessary for leadership and success in the green industry," she says.