Green Building Rating for Net Zero Energy Buildings unveiled!

India's first Green Building Rating System for Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) was recently launched by Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, at an event in Hyderabad, Telangana. <p></p> <p>NZEB is the first step toward implementing net zero (across water, energy, and waste) buildings in India. This is being done in collaboration with the World Green Building Council and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). </p> <p>Addressing the event on green solutions, Puri said, &quot;India's 4,500 cities and towns must all be green for India to grow in a sustainable fashion. The government, building sector and stakeholders must all work together to provide green solutions. By 2030, 40 per cent of our population will be living in cities, and by 2050, this will rise to 50 per cent. Therefore, it becomes imperative to plan and conceive these cities as green, right from the initial stages.&quot; </p> <p> Commenting on the importance of sustainable green development, <span style="font-weight: bold;">V Suresh, Chairman, IGBC</span>, said, &quot;IGBC has facilitated 6.33 billion sq ft of green footprint, which has put India tall among nations pursuing the sustainable development goals. </p> <p>The council would work to achieve 10 billion sq ft by 2022, when India turns 75. The council would further work on enabling the green building movement as a people's movement. IGBC is also working on training and capacity building, so as to have 10,000 green building professionals by 2022.&quot;</p> <p>Outlining CREDAI's role in India's green building movement, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jaxay Shah, National President, CREDAI</span>, said, &quot;We consider sustainable development as the core of our approach to housing and habitat. </p> <p>We have entered into a MoU with IGBC to accelerate advancing green building footprint in India. We will reach out to CREDAI members to promote the usage of IGBC-certified green materials and work on green affordable housing standards, at no cost to developers and occupants.&quot;</p>