CLIMATE CHANGE, GREEN

BUILDINGS AND INDIA

Climate change is a global threat and action must be taken at multiple locations
across the globe to minimize the contribution to climate change. Action is required
everywhere especially given the fact the communities that contribute the least are
the most vulnerable to the impacts of the same. Also these communities are least
equipped to take mitigation and adaptation measures.

Worldwide, buildings use 32 per cent of the world's resources in construction. They
are responsible for around 40 per cent of global energy use and generate up to 30
per cent of global GHG emissions. Given the rapid development especially in the
developing world, building sector is going to be key source both in the creation and
operation phase of the building. Taking this into consideration and the fact that
efficiencies can be gained in this sector, the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) has stated that “no other sector has such a high potential for
drastic emission reductions”, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) has identified that buildings offer some of the most cost effective and
expedient ways to reduce GHG emissions.

G REEN B UILDINGS
The building sector has enormous untapped potential for emissions reduction and
presents the least cost abatement opportunity. It is important to support energy
efficiency and emission reduction programmes in the building sector by recognizing
them as a Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) and reforming the
Clean Development Mechanism to improve energy efficiency and reduce correlating
GHG emissions at the lowest average CO2 abatement cost relative to other sectors.
Green buildings achieve this and also do more than deliver a smaller carbon
footprint. Green Buildings can deliver rapid and cost-effective reductions to
emissions and energy consumption – with a significant percentage realising positive
returns to the global economy.

S CENARIO IN I NDIA
The construction industry in India has been growing at an astounding rate of 10%
per annum over the last ten years. As of August 2010, a total of 703 green building
projects across the six climatic zones of the country covering over 438 million sqft
are registered with India GBC, of which 112 green buildings have been certified.
2
In 2009, there was close to 200 million m of built office space. This number is
2
expected to grow even further by over 70% by the year 2030 (890 million m ). If the
Energy Conservation Building Code were to be fully implemented, the overall energy
consumption from new commercial buildings could be reduced by 25-40%. Even in
the existing commercial buildings, retrofitting to standards can reduce the energy
consumption figure by around 25%.

R EFERENCE
 A World Green Building Council Special Report, September 2010. The report is
published by World Green Building Council for World Green Building Week, 20-
26 September 2010
 UNEP, 2007 Assessment of policy instruments for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions from buildings
 Construction Industry Development Council, India. India Country Report, 2005-
06
 Architectural Curriculum in India (2008) Background Paper (Draft). Available at:
http://www.eco3.org/downloads/007-Education%20Curriculum/
Architecture%20Curriculum%20Background%20Paper.pdf
 Hong, W., Chiang, M., Shapiro, R., Clifford, M. (2007) Building Energy Efficiency:
Why Green Buildings Are Key to Asia’s Future Asia Business Council, Hong Kong
 Agenya’s analysis

A BOUT U S
Agneya Carbon Ventures came into existence with the purpose of “To help our
clients in understanding, establishing sound Environment Management Systems,
and pursuing sustainable business solutions through our various services to abate
direct and indirect impact on ecological balance.”

We have worked with companies across sectors enabling them to create carbon
accounting, monitoring and reporting systems. We have expertise in the areas of
carbon accounting and management, energy management systems,
voluntary/compliance carbon markets, environment management and sustainability
and carbon branding.

To know more about us, please visit http://www.agenya.in

To schedule a meeting or a discussion with us, do reach us on

Kedar - +91-9665407848 – kedar@agneya.in

Indrajeet - +91-9028788430 – indrajeet@agneya.in