Top 10 green buildings in India
Tarun RahejaSr. Research Analyst99acres.com57197 Dec 24, 2018
With the concept of green buildings gaining prominence in India, developers are now focusing on
developing structures that are eco-friendly and use energy-efficient techniques.
Depleting natural resources, rapid industrialisation and urbanisation have led to a negative impact on
the environment. Eco-friendly buildings that are energy efficient and use water management
techniques are the need of the hour. Some developers have succeeded in creating such buildings.
Which are India’s top 10 green buildings?
ITC Green Centre, Gurgaon
Spread across a sprawling 1,80,000 sq ft, the ITC Green Centre has set a benchmark for green
buildings in India. Located in Sector-32, Gurgaon, the building has been awarded the Platinum Green
Building rating by USGBC-LEED (Green Building Council-Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design), making it the first corporate house in India to bag this award.
The building is designed keeping in mind the highest environmental standards. It is made up of
bricks and concrete comprising of fly-ash and is equipped with high-efficiency equipment that
reduces 53 percent energy consumption over a conventional building and 40 percent potable water
requirements. Zero water discharge, solar thermal technology, stormwater management system,
reflective high-albedo roof paint, minimal exterior lighting and separate smoking rooms with exhaust
system are some of the other features of the building.
Suzlon One Earth, Pune
With a capacity to accommodate 2300 people, ‘One Earth’ is another building that has received
Platinum certification of LEED. The building is built using low energy materials thus, reducing
carbon footprint. 90 percent of the occupied space of the building has access to natural daylight.
While the exterior of the building uses renewable energy-based LED street lighting reducing
approximately 25 percent of the total power. The ventilation system consists of jet fans that save 50
percent energy by periodically pushing out stale air and bringing in the fresh air.
Patni (i-GATE) Knowledge Center, Noida
Awarded with the prestigious LEED Platinum rating, Patni Knowledge Centre is next on the list of
green buildings in India. Located in suburban Noida and built over 4,60,000 sq ft, the building’s
depth is designed in such a way that it captures daylight for 75 percent of the occupied interiors.
About 50 percent of the area is reserved for open green space. In addition to this, the campus follows
the efficient water management practices like rainwater harvesting, solar water heating and drip
irrigation. 100 percent sewage is treated and the recycled water is used for the purpose of cooling the
tower makeup, gardening and flushing.
Olympia Tech Park, Chennai
Located in the heart of Chennai (Guindy), the Olympia Tech Park has become one of the biggest and
most sought after IT parks in Chennai. The tech park houses MNCs that operates day and night
which is why energy-saving features and the eco-friendly environment becomes a necessity. Rated as
one of the largest gold LEED rating buildings in the world, the building makes use of energy and
water saving techniques (rainwater harvesting) and recycling and to attain zero per cent discharge.
The dual plumbing line of the building which helps in treating greywater is used for flushing or in
irrigation.
Infinity Benchmark, Kolkata
Next on the list is Infinity Benchmark, another LEED Platinum level certified green building which
covers an area of 5,60,000 square feet and is spread over 20 stories. The air quality inside the
building is maintained by CO2 monitoring sensors and intelligent humidification controls. External
walls of the building are made of brick wall block while the roof has under deck thick polyurethane
foam for better insulation. An environment-friendly technique like the use of electric cars within the
complex is used along with energy-efficient equipment and waste water recycling system.
CRISIL House, Mumbai
With 14 gardens inside the complex, CRISIL House is rated as one of the greenest commercial
complexes in India. The interiors of the building are made up of recycled construction material while
the atrium at the center of the building allows natural light to seep in covering 70 percent of the work
area. At night, energy efficient artificial lighting is used thus, reducing the carbon footprint. The
natural lighting technique has helped reduce power consumption by 40 percent.
Indira Paryavaran Bhawan:
Located in Jor Bagh, New Delhi, this eight-storey structure has been given a platinum rating by
LEED and a 5-star rating by The Energy and Research Institute’s GRIHA (Green Rating for
Integrated Habitat Assessment). The building uses Geothermal heat exchange system to reduce the
power required to run air conditioners and recycles all its water thereby reducing water demand by
over 50 percent.
ITC Maurya Hotel, New Delhi
The ITC Maurya is the world’s first and largest LEED Platinum rated hotel to use Parabolic solar
concentrators. The magnificent building has been awarded the ‘Best Eco-Friendly Hotel’ at India’s
National Tourism Awards and recycles almost 99 percent of its solid waste (by means of recycling
programs or composting). Over 30 percent of food and beverages used are locally sourced -
harvested and processed within a radius of 160 km. Another distinguishing feature of the building is
that it uses low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints.
Infosys, Hyderabad
Winner of the UK’s prestigious Ashden Awards, also known as the ‘Green Oscars,’ Infosys has
given a new high to energy efficiency as the world knows it. The software giant’s 460 acre Pocharam
campus in Hyderabad has become a laboratory to test construction technologies. Three of its
Software Development Blocks (SDB) 1, 2 and 3 are LEED Platinum rated.
Buildings in the campus are constructed along with the passive design principles such as minimising
heat and glare, strategically situated windows, white-painted roofs and radiant cooling technology
(pumping cold water through pipes embedded in concrete). The building uses efficient building
envelope (that includes high-performance glazing, ample shading, radiant cooling, etc), energy
efficient lighting and HVAC (Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system to achieve energy
efficiency.
Cisco Building, Bangalore
Cisco’s B-16 office in Bangalore has been awarded the LEED Platinum ID + C (Interior Design and
Construction) certification by the USGBC for scoring 96 out of 110 total points. The campus sources
more than 70,00,000 Kwh of green power per annum and recycles 100 percent of waste water. It has
a high-performance glazing and energy-efficient HVAC design and uses recycled materials and
rapidly renewable materials for construction. Ventilation and temperature controls enable occupants
(approximately 51 percent) to adjust temperatures according to their preferences.
Which was the first LEED Platinum rated green building in India?
Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Building, Hyderabad
At the time of its opening in 2004, the CII building was the first LEED Platinum rated green building
in the world outside of the United States. It is also India’s first LEED certified building (being rated
in October, 2003). The building is an embodiment of modern construction prowess with 55 percent
of the 20,000 square foot structure being covered by a green roof in addition to having performance
windows, biological water treatment ponds and wind towers. Around 90 percent of the building does
not require artificial lighting during daytime while 20 percent of the building’s total energy
requirements are generated by solar panels. Additionally, the building recycles 100 percent of
wastewater making it a zero water discharge building.
With more and more buildings going green, India is on the fast track to reduce its carbon footprint
and, in the process, saving on operational costs and well as contributing to human health. Building
green is one of the solutions to contain global warming and surging sea levels. Sans doubt, it is the
future of global construction.
