Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Recently, India has overtaken the US and China in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) net zero certification.
- The LEED rating system provides a framework for healthy, efficient, low-carbon based and cost-effective green buildings.
- It is a globally recognized certification system. It is called U.S. Developed by the Green Building Council. It is administered by the Green Business Certification Corporation.
- Under this, buildings are recognized at four certification levels. These are the four levels – Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. LEED India program is administered by the Indian Green Building Council (GBC).
- LEED Zero is a complement to LEED certification. It recognizes projects that have achieved net zero or net positive status in the categories of carbon, energy, water or waste. There are 73 LEED Zero certified projects in India. This is 45% of the total of over 150 LEED Zero certifications.
- About a third of India’s total carbon emissions come from the building and other construction sector. Haryana and Tamil Nadu are the leading states in certification. India’s DLF Group is a global leader in overall Lead Zero certification.
- The Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) is India’s own green building rating system. The system has been jointly developed by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
- GRIHA is a five star rating system. Its rating is valid for a period of 5 years.
Other initiatives for green building in India –
- IGBC Rating Systems,
- Energy Conservation Building Code prepared by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE);
- BEE rating system for commercial buildings etc.
Source – Business Standard
