833 million sq ft building space in India LEED-rated, says US council

US Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced that 833 million square feet of building space in India is using LEED certification rating and the momentum to go green is gathering pace.

LEED refers to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The new study, ‘LEED in Motion: India’, was released on Thursday and details the impact that green buildings have had on the Indian economy and its buildings, homes and communities.

Contributing factors The report provides an account of the factors that have led to nearly 2,000 buildings participating in the rating system in the Indian subcontinent. Mahesh Ramanujam, Chief Operating Officer, USGBC, said in a statement, “LEED’s success in India can be attributed to a number of factors, especially the widespread recognition by Indian business leaders and government officials that India’s rapid economic growth must be accompanied by a substantial investment in sustainable infrastructure.”

The LEED-rated buildings are cost effective and save money.

The rating is used in corporate offices, retail locations, software technology parks, hospitals, government buildings, factories, airports, hotels, homes and financial institutions across India to manage the performance of their buildings. And the rating system has been adopted by major Indian companies such as Infosys and ITC Limited.

These green buildings are designed and constructed as better buildings. The LEED-certified green buildings cost less to operate and reduce energy and water bills by as much as 40 per cent.

Cost-effective The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) located in Hyderabad has been instrumental in mobilising the green building movement in India and helping establish LEED as a key driver for market transformation.

USGBC and IGBC continue their collaboration in advancing the uptake of green buildings in India.