New Delhi: India ranks first globally in LEED Zero certified green building projects surpassing the US and China, according to USGBC and GBCI. LEED Zero recognises projects that have reached net zero or net positive status in the categories of carbon, energy, water, or waste. In India, realty firm DLF and FMCG player ITC are leading in the LEED Zero green certification initiative.
The LEED Zero projects, including office spaces, hospitality facilities, retail malls, industrial manufacturing projects, and data canters, serve a mix of sectors.
US Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI) on Thursday (June 15) said in a statement that India has emerged as a top country with LEED Zero green building projects.
India has become a global leader in LEED Zero certifications, outperforming both the US and China, it added. India has 73 LEED Zero certified projects, comprising 45 per cent of the more than 150 total LEED Zero certifications.
Haryana and Tamil Nadu are leading the way in certifications. The US and China have the second and third most LEED Zero certifications, with 47 (30 per cent) and 15 (10 per cent) certifications, respectively. The statement said,
India-based real estate developer DLF is the leader globally in total LEED Zero certifications with 45 certifications, followed by ITC Group with 15 certifications
While the private sector is helping India make strides in net zero certifications, nearly one-third of all carbon emissions in India come from the building and construction sector, USGBC and GBCI pointed out.
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Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, managing director of Southeast Asia and Middle East for GBCI India said,
large emitters of carbon emissions, buildings play a significant role in helping us achieve our global climate goals.” India’s leadership position in LEED Zero projects reflects its commitment to sustainability and the adoption of innovative green building practices
Pradeep Aggarwal, Chairman of Signature Global, said,
Coming on the heels of both the government and industry bodies promoting sustainability in construction, it is anything but an affirmation of India’s march on green quotient.
Mohit Jain, Managing Director of Krisumi Corporation, stressed that sustainability has emerged as a new paradigm in the Indian real estate sector.
USGBC and GBCI said that the achievement is also in line with India’s ambitious target of achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2070.
A complement to LEED certification, LEED Zero recognises projects that have reached net zero or net positive status in the categories of carbon, energy, water, or waste.
To date, there are more than 35 million certified square feet of LEED Zero projects. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building programme, besides other activities.
Established in 2008, GBCI exclusively administers project certifications and professional credentials and certificates within the framework of the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating systems. It also manages other certifications.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
