Key corporates are setting the pace Wipro, Microsoft, Cognizant, ABN AMRO, TCS and other international and domestic corporate occupiers have either developed, or are developing, energy efficient office spaces or large-scale campuses: • LEED certification norms are being implemented to manage Wipro’s building   infrastructure as part of Wipro’s EcoEye charter (their ecological sustainability   program). • Microsoft has decided to adopt green building techniques to renovate or   construct new buildings in India. • Other occupiers such as Infosys, Computer Associates and Oracle are also   planning to develop green office spaces to leverage the financial and   environmental benefits that they provide. Other sectors such as manufacturing, education, hospital and hotels are also demanding green spaces. Examples include: • Motorola and Modine Thermal Systems’ factories are operating out of LEED   certified green buildings. • ITC has developed ITC Royal Gardenia, which is a LEED Platinum rated   building. • Lavasa Hotels has developed Hotel Fortune Select Dasve, which is a LEED   Silver rated building. • Educational Institutes such as Hyderabad Institute of Technology and   Management in Hyderabad, and Rane Institute for Employee Development   in Chennai are operating out of LEED certified green buildings. • Kohinoor Group has developed Kohinoor Hospital in Mumbai, which is   a LEED Platinum rated building. Major developers commit to a green future In the small (but growing) demand for green building space, regional and national developers in India have responded with an array of new projects. Construction of new green spaces for office buildings, residential units and retail malls is currently underway in cities throughout the country.     K. Raheja Corp. Office   Mumbai, India The beginnings of a mindset shift can be observed with major players such as national developer K. Raheja Corp. committing to make all new projects LEED certified. Similarly, the national State Bank of India, is offering a Green Home Loan Scheme with lower interest rates to support green residential projects. What has India done to be greener? Some noteworthy steps have been taken by central and state authorities in India to support the environment and to help minimise the impact that the real estate industry has upon it. • The state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka are   planning to develop their own green building byelaws. • The Bureau of Indian Standards has developed the Energy Conservation   Building Code (ECBC) which, along with numerous other new policies by the   Government of India, will support energy efficiency. • The Prime Minister of India has released the NAPCC (National Action Plan on   Climate Change), which reinforces the objectives of sustainable development   and will shape India’s future development policy. • India’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry has undertaken 24 initiatives    related to climate change. • The government has proposed to develop all of its new buildings as energy   efficient spaces. India as a climate change deal maker At the recent Copenhagen Summit (COP 15), India was hailed a deal-maker, a country that takes global climate change issues seriously. As a developing nation, India insisted that carbon commitment pledges remain voluntary, instead of being subject to international enforcement. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry is confident that India can not only meet its pledge of cutting carbon emissions by 20-25 % by 2020 over 2005 levels, it can improve upon it. These initiatives clearly indicate that India is on its way to integrated sustainable development. Case study - Vimta labs     Vimta Labs Headquarter    Hyderabad, India Vimta Labs, a leading contract research and testing organisation in India, has been providing support to clients in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries across the globe since 1984. With a staff of over 750 professionals, including nearly 500 scientists across various disciplines of life sciences, the organisation offers testing and contract research services in several fields which include: • Clinical and pre-clinical studies • Clinical reference • Analytical testing • Advanced molecular biology • Environmental studies Although headquartered in Hyderabad, Vimta Labs has a pan-India reach, with offices and laboratories in 4 states and 8 cities. The organisation is committed to the principles of sustainable development. Safety, health and environment are priority areas for the firm, which has implemented important green initiatives such as recycling waste water, minimising energy consumption and reducing potable water usage.  In January 2010, Vimta Labs achieved LEED Gold certification through the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for a pre-clinical laboratory, which is located within their 11 acre, 210,000 sq ft life sciences campus in Shameerpet, Hyderabad. With Vimta Lab’s commitment to environmental protection, the concepts of sustainable design suitable for its building type and location were considered from the initial stages of the project. As the building was to be a clinical testing facility, there were challenges for green building concepts, including limited flexibility in design and budget. The proposed design for the project would also increase the energy load of the building, so with the assistance of Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, Vimta Labs put in place measures to save energy and water, and reduce waste in the building (see table below).

    Vimta Labs' Path to LEED Gold

Sustainable Sites

·         Buses were provided as mass transport for the employees as the alternative to public transport. ·         Plug points were provided as alternate refueling options for vehicles. ·         Heat island effect was minimized by reduction of paved areas. 60% of the site was covered by green belt. ·         Canopy trees were planted in the parking area to reduce the heat radiation from the paved area. ·         Solar reflective paints were used on the roof to reduce heat island effect in the building.

Saving Potable Water

·         Potable water usage has been reduced by almost 40% in the building due to high efficiency plumbing fixtures. ·         Waste water treated in the sewerage treatment plant is used for irrigation purposes. ·         Rain water harvesting was also implemented in the site which provided water for irrigation and flushing purposes.

Saving Energy

·         Energy efficient interior lighting, energy efficient HVAC and chillers, and solar water heaters were used to reduce energy consumption. ·         A triple glazing process was used on the building to reduce the heat intake considerably.

Effective Resource Utilization

·         Best practices in solid waste management were used for waste segregation. 95% of the construction waste was diverted from the site efficiently. ·         There was increased use of recycled and refurbished materials in the building. 50% of the materials were sourced from within 500 miles from the project site to support the local economy and minimize transportation costs.

Enhanced Indoor Air Quality

·         Walls were provided with air gaps to control indoor climate ·         CO2 censors were used to monitor and enhance the indoor air quality. ·         Low VOC paints and MERV –17 filters used to improve indoor air quality. ·         Ventilation rates were increased by 30%.

Energy Saving Parameters at Vimta Labs

Green Achievements at Vimta Labs Energy savings 22 1/2 % Potable Water conservation 40 % Resource Reuse 6% Materials with recycle content 12% Source: Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj-Energy & Sustainability Services