Abhishek Sinha
Mumbai: The 23rd edition of the IGBC Green Building Congress 2025, Asia’s largest annual event on green buildings and the built environment, opened at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, innovators, and sustainability experts.
The inaugural session featured key leaders, including:
Jamshyd N. Godrej, Past President – CII & Chairman – CII Green Business Centre and CMD – Godrej & Boyce;
Vir S Advani, Deputy Chairman – CII Western Region & CMD – Blue Star;
Jeff Oatman, Chair – Asia Pacific Regional Network, WorldGBC;
B Thiagarajan, National Chairman – IGBC;
C Shekar Reddy, National Vice Chairman – IGBC.
India’s Green Building Growth Reaches 18,000+ Projects
Delivering the theme address, B Thiagarajan, National Chairman of IGBC, announced that India’s green building movement has now crossed 18,000 projects, covering 14.8 billion sq. ft of certified green space, marking a remarkable rise in sustainable built infrastructure nationwide.
He added that IGBC’s strategic focus areas—low-carbon cooling, green finance, and inclusive sustainability initiatives—are accelerating India’s journey toward a net-zero future.
Major Announcements and Launches
1. Launch of Green Hotels Rating System – Pilot Version
A key milestone was the unveiling of the Green Hotels Rating System (Pilot Version), designed to support India’s fast-growing hospitality industry as it transitions toward carbon-neutral, energy-efficient, and resource-conscious operations.
2. IGBC Green New Buildings Rating System – Version 4 Introduced
The advanced Version 4 of the IGBC Green New Buildings Rating System, chaired by Ramesh Nair, CEO – Mindspace Business Parks REIT, was officially released.
The updated framework includes next-generation focus areas such as:
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Embodied carbon accounting
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Zero-water discharge strategies
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Increased circularity of materials
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Demand-control ventilation
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Decarbonization pathways with GHG-linked incentives
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Stronger ESG integration
This marks a significant upgrade to India’s green building standards.
3. Automation Tool for Green Homes & Green Interiors
Strengthening technology-enabled governance, IGBC introduced a new Automation Tool for Green Homes and Green Interiors.
The platform streamlines the certification process through:
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Intuitive dashboards
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Automated compliance checks
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Standardized formats
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Faster submission and review cycles
This digital transformation is expected to make green certification more accessible and scalable.
4. India’s First Embodied Carbon Baseline Report Released
Another major highlight was the release of a landmark report titled:
“Embodied Carbon Emissions Baseline Estimation for Buildings in India.”
Developed in collaboration with the SED Fund, this study:
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Uses Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology
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Draws insights from 20 case-study partners
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Covers five key building typologies
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Maps variations across climate and seismic zones
It provides the first nationwide baseline for upfront embodied carbon in India’s buildings.
International Conference and Technology Expo
Day 1 also hosted the International Conference on Green Buildings & Built Environment, where global and Indian experts deliberated on:
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Climate-resilient urban planning
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Net-zero strategies
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Green financing models
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The future of sustainable construction
Parallel to the conference, the Green Building Products & Technologies Expo showcased cutting-edge solutions, including:
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Low-carbon construction materials
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High-performance HVAC technologies
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Renewable energy innovations
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Water-saving systems
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Circular construction tools and smart city solutions
Conclusion
The IGBC Green Building Congress 2025 marked a major leap in India’s sustainability roadmap, introducing progressive rating systems, technology platforms, and foundational carbon data frameworks. Together, these initiatives reinforce India’s commitment to sustainable, low-carbon infrastructure and its transition toward a net-zero future.
