15-01-2013, 02:28 PM
Green Building Council (IGBC)
Green Building Council.pdf (Size: 2.85 MB / Downloads: 147)
Foreword from the IGBC
The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health and
productivity. Breakthroughs in building science, technology and operations are now available to
designers, builders, operators and owners who want to build green and maximize both economic and
environmental performance.
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) is coordinating the establishment and evolution of a
national consensus effort to provide the industry with tools necessary to design, build and operate
buildings that deliver high performance inside and out. The Council members work together to
develop industry standards, design & construction practices & guidelines, operating practices &
guidelines, policy positions & educational tools that support the adoption of sustainable design and
building practices. Members also forge strategic alliances with key industry and research
organizations, Central government agencies and state & local governments to transform the built
environment. As the leading organization that represents the entire building industry on environmental
building matters, the Council’s unique perspective and collective power provides our members with
enormous opportunity to effect change in the way buildings are designed, built, operated and maintained.
IGBC Membership
The council’s greatest strength is the diversity of our membership. The IGBC is a consensus notfor-
profit organization representing the entire building industry, consisting of over 1140 companies and
organisations. Since its inception in 2001, the IGBC has played a vital role in providing a leadership
forum and a unique, integrating force for the building industry. The Council
programs are:
Committee – Based
The heart of this effective coalition is our committee structure in which volunteer members design
strategies that are implemented by IGBC staff and expert consultants. Our committees provide a
forum for members to resolve differences, build alliances and forge cooperative solutions for
influencing change in all sectors of the building industry
Member – Driven
The council’s membership is open and balanced and provides a comprehensive platform for
carrying out important programs and activities. We target the issues identified by our members as the
highest priority. We conduct an annual review of achievements that allows us to set policy, revise
strategies and devise work plans based on members needs
Consensus – Focused
We work together to promote green buildings and in doing so, we help foster greater economic vitality
and environmental health at lower costs. The various industry segments bridge ideological gaps to
develop balanced policies that benefit the entire industry.
Introduction
I. Why Make your Building Green?
The environmental impact of the building design, construction and operation industry is significant.
Buildings annually consume more than 20% of the electricity used in India.
Development shifts land usage away from natural, biologically-diverse habitats to hardscape that is
impervious and devoid of biodiversity. The far reaching influence of the built environment necessitates
action to reduce its impact.
Green building practices can substantially reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts and
improve existing unsustainable design, construction and operational practices. As an added
benefit, green design measures reduce operating costs, enhance building marketability, increase
worker productivity and reduce potential liability resulting from indoor air quality problems.
Studies of workers in green buildings reported productivity gains of up to 16%, including
reductions in absenteeism and improved work quality, based on “people- friendly” green design.
In other words, green building design has environmental, economic and social elements that benefit
all building stakeholders, including owners, occupants and the general public.
I
LEED Green Building Rating System
A. History of LEED in India
Following the formation of the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) in 2001, the membership
quickly realised that one of the priorities for the sustainable building industry was to have a
system to define and measure “green buildings”.
Since the CII-Godrej GBC achieved the prestigious LEED rating for its own centre at
Hyderabad in 2003, the Green building movement has gained tremendous momentum. The
Platinum rating awarded for this building sparked off considerable enthusiasm in the country.
From a humble beginning of 20,000 sq.ft of green footprint in the country in the year 2003, to a
staggering 600 million sq.ft by end 2010, green buildings are well poised to reach stellar heights.
Today a variety of LEED rated green building projects are coming up in the country – hotels,
exhibition centers, hospitals, educational institutions, laboratories, IT parks, airports, government
buildings and corporate offices.
The IGBC set up the LEED 2011 for India Core Committee to focus on indigenising the LEED rating
to suit the Indian context. The composition of the committee included architects, engineers,
building owners, developers, manufacturers and industry representatives. This cross section of people
and professions added a richness and depth both to the process and to the ultimate product.
The first LEED India rating programme, referred to as LEED India Version 1.0, was launched during
the Green Building Congress Conference in October 2006. The latest rating system is now called the
LEED 2011 for India - New Commercial Construction and Major Renovations or LEED 2011 for
India - NC.