IGBC targets 10 billion sft green building base by 2022

The Indian Green Building Council has introduced rating systems for schools, mass rapid transport projects and also launched a coffee table book

The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has set an ambitious target of achieving 10 billion sft of green building base in the country by 2022.

Prem C Jain, chairman of IGBC, said the target was achievable as the country had crossed the previously targeted 2 billion sft green building space by 2013, two years ahead of the schedule.

India now has a registered green building base of over 2.2 billion sft that has been achieved in 10 years.

Launching India's first 'Green New Buildings Rating Systems' today, Jain said the rating would address the local needs by adopting international benchmark standards. The new rating system comes against the backdrop of IGBC and US Green Building Council parting ways on the LEED certification programme.

Among the many reasons cited by Jain for the break-up were "the USGBC wanted all Indian green projects to be registered and decided by them, to which we did not see any justification". However, projects already approved for LEED will continue to be served in partnership with the USGBC.

He further said, "We have adopted this approach as we believe India could become the next big green building base in the world". IGBC has also created a portal to facilitate online interface on green building rating systems. "Review of proposals for setting up green factory, school, metro and township would now be completed within 30 days, said Jain.

IGBC on Thursday introduced rating systems covering schools, mass rapid transport projects besides a coffee table book on green buildings in India.