Under the aegis of Confederation of Indian Industry, Karnataka experts in the field spoke about the growing response to setting up Green Buildings in the country at a daylong seminar on energy efficiency in building design and construction.

Program led by CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, participants from a cross section of the industry highlighted the importance of environment friendly buildings, designs and materials. These, they pointed out, went a long way in ensuring a healthy, pollution free environment besides reducing the energy bill substantially. In this context, they detailed the advantages of smart energy management in buildings, application of solar photovoltaic system, high performance windows, heat resistant paints and the designing of energy efficient buildings using simulation tools. Encouraged by CII's efforts, which are also preparing a rating system for Green Homes, in addition to taking up a pilot project to put up ten such structures, the banks too are getting involved.

According to Mr Raghupathy, GBC, CII, India is one of the leaders in promoting Green Buildings coming close behind the US, Australia and Canada, even though it was a late starter in 2004. He said that by 2012,India could have over 2000 Green Buildings against the 164, which had already been set up across the country. As the concept was catching up, even the builders had become conscious of the need to provide environment friendly buildings. This was evident from the fact that more and more developers were going in for Green Buildings which, despite being costlier by five to ten percent, were generating a positive response from the customers.

Mr B Shivalingaiah, Managing Director, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited, underlined the need for energy conservation, including greater use of solar water heaters. In his keynote address, he highlighted the importance of substituting normal bulbs with CFL which besides proving energy efficient, were cost effective in the long run as well. He also added that it was necessary to have a blend of the modern and the traditional while constructing new buildings. Merely aping western methods and technology would not prove effective in promoting environment friendly measures.

Mr S Ananthanarayanan, Past Chairman, CII, Southern Region said that as growth became a by word, the requirement for energy would go up substantially. Yet, it also proved that there was no escaping energy conservation. and cities like Bangalore, which were witnessing massive construction, were proving to be energy guzzlers. Which is why, it was necessary to strike a balance. 

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