According to a new survey released by the US Green Building Council, 87 per cent of Indian green building professionals indicated that they anticipated the use of LEED in India to increase overall, with nine out of 10 industry senior executives in India anticipating that their LEED-related work would increase over the next five years.
The survey also found that more than two-thirds of respondents viewed LEED positively or very positively. Additionally, 70 per cent of survey respondents said they were willing and able to share useful data for the purposes of reporting building performance related to LEED-certified buildings.
“The recent survey shows how important it is for USGBC and its partners like TERI to commit to the Indian market to make LEED more pertinent to Indian conditions,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, Chief Operating Officer, USGBC, and President, Green Building Certification Institute. “We are very focused on 2015 and encouraging and growing the green movement here. As part of this effort, collecting data and using it in smart new ways is critical. We have also rolled out a platform that supports our data and outreach initiatives.”
USGBC has increased its presence in India, one of the top five markets in the world for LEED. This year USGBC established a new LEED hub in Delhi focused on business development and supporting LEED project teams in India. The hub is offering education, technical support and customer service. USGBC also formed a strategic partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute to accelerate the development of green, high-performing buildings across India and Southeast Asia.
“Through our partnerships, we will be able to address a greater portion of the market and affect transformation on a larger level,” added Ramanujam. “Green buildings and communities have the power to address a number of critical issues for India such as conserving natural resources, saving money on operating costs, increasing air quality and creating healthy indoor environments for occupants.”
Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director-General, TERI, said: “Several studies have estimated that most of the buildings projected to be standing in 2030 in India have yet to be built. The demand for energy, water and other inputs for these buildings and those that already exist will be staggering. Designing and constructing green buildings would ensure that India, and the world, do not get locked into a pattern of resource use intensity that would be unsustainable for a variety of reasons. TERI and USGBC share common goals in promoting green buildings round the world.”
The full survey details will be released on December 9, 2014, within USGBC’s next LEED in Motion report for India. The report features interviews and case studies with leaders like ITC Ltd, Infosys, Pathway Schools, Group 10 Technologies and leading sustainability and technical consultants
