The upgraded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 2011-'LEED 2011 for India' Rating System for Green Buildings was launched by union minister of new and renewable energy Dr Farooq Abdullah at the Green Building Congress 2011. The new rating comes into effect immediately, and marks a milestone in the green building movement in the country seeking to ensure energy efficiency and sustainable buildings.
Inaugurating the event, organized by the Indian Green Building Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Dr Abdullah urged the delegates from all over India and abroad to work together and develop new technologies and materials at lower prices so that green homes become accessible for the common man. He said that "The MNRE will be glad to cooperate with CII in further accelerating the green building movement in India."
Noting that there is international acceptance of the work being done in India, Dr Prem C Jain chairman IGBC stressed that much more needed to be done. He said that "Projected build for the year 2030 is 100 billion square feet, up from 20 billion square feet in 2005. We must do it the green way right from start."
Mr George Sandy Diehl chairman of American Architectural Foundation said that new solutions were coming out every day but energy consumption in buildings could be reduced by 50% by simply using known technologies.
Mr Jamshyd N Godrej, past president, CII and Chairman, CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, said that the green building movement needs to be seen in the context of the overall response to climate change and the challenges in energy security. Advocating the need for the co existence of different Rating Systems, he said the aim should be to enhance building efficiency and make every building a Green Building.
Earlier, welcoming the delegates, Mr Chandrajit Banerjee director general of CII asserted that the Green Building movement was a very important mission for CII.
Winners of the Green I Contest for school children, in which 2000 schools took part, and the Architectural Design Competition for Students, with over 300 design entries for a sustainable school, drew wide applause as the awards were given away by Dr Abdullah.
