Government Policies: A Key Catalyst For Sustainable Building Practices

Newsletter July 2023

Monthly Highlights

Green Month initiative at Jilha Parishad Primary School

SI and VK:e had a wonderful opportunity to partner with CapitaLand for their Green Month initiative at Jilha Parishad Primary School in Bhoirwadi, Pune on 30th June 2023. The initiative was aimed at spreading awareness about global warming, climate change, and the importance of resource conservation, coinciding with Environmental Day 2023. Amol Umbarje, Kanchan Sidhaye, Rutugandha Parasnis, and Poorva Kulkarni explained the concept of global warming to the children in their native language, Marathi, using illustrations. As part of the event, a drawing competition was organized and open to all students. The top five participants were selected and awarded for their artistic skills. Another activity called 'Waste to Best' was also conducted, where materials that would have otherwise been discarded were creatively transformed into usable products. A tree-plantation drive was organized, with active participation from the school faculty. The initiative received support from Tribal Mensa, an organization dedicated to identifying and nurturing gifted children among tribal populations in India. CapitaLand Hope Foundation, which focuses on supporting the shelter, education, and healthcare needs of underprivileged children, played a crucial role in rebuilding Jilha Parishad Primary School and continues to support it through various initiatives. The event raised awareness about environmental issues, engaged the students through creative activities, and fostered community involvement in sustainability efforts.

VK:e at CII GreenCo Summit '23

VK:e was a proud participant of the 12th edition of the CII GreenCo Summit, aimed to bring together businesses and industry leaders committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility to share their experiences, insights and best practices. Focus areas of the conference included net zero transition, circular economy, ESG and more. The panelist presented case studies and solutions that included a wide variety of industry expertise.

Key takeaways from the summit includes:

• Importance of setting ambitious sustainability goals

• Need to invest in new and greener technologies to achieve goals.

• Importance of collaboration between businesses and governments to address sustainability challenges.

VK:e Featured Projects

Vrukshaveli Awarded IGBC Gold Certification

Vrukshaveli, an SK Fortune Group venture located on Law College Road, Pune, has achieved GOLD rating under the IGBC Green Homes Version 3 rating system. The green features of the project includes 15% site area covered with landscape comprising of native & adaptive plant species, universal design features, EV charging provided for 33% of total parking, 35% water savings achieved by low flow plumbing fittings, common area lighting and hot water requirement in the project catered by renewable energy and use of CII Green Pro certified materials.

What's Trending

Centre Invites Suggestions On Draft Green Credit Programme Implementation Rules 2023

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has recently notified the draft Green Credit Programme (GCP) implementation rules for 2023. The GCP is a market-based mechanism that aims to incentivize voluntary environmental actions by companies, individuals, and local bodies. Under the GCP, entities can earn green credits for undertaking activities that have a positive impact on the environment. These credits can then be traded on a proposed domestic market platform. The GCP covers a wide range of activities, including tree plantation, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, waste management, air pollution reduction, and mangrove conservation. The GCP is a significant step forward in India's efforts to promote sustainable development. It provides a new incentive for businesses and individuals to take action to protect the environment.

However, there are some concerns about the GCP. Some experts worry that the market-based mechanism could lead to greenwashing, where companies make false or exaggerated claims about their environmental credentials. Another concern is that the GCP may not be effective in achieving urgent emissions reductions. The allocation of resources for monitoring and fraud prevention could also divert resources away from more transformative efforts directed by the government. Despite these concerns, the GCP is a promising new initiative. It is important to carefully assess and implement the GCP, and to address the concerns that have been raised.

The following are some of the key areas that need to be addressed in order to ensure the success of the GCP:

The methodology and standards for calculating and issuing green credits need to be robust and transparent. This will help to prevent greenwashing and ensure that the credits have real environmental value.
There needs to be sufficient demand for green credits in order for the market to be viable. This could be achieved by encouraging businesses to purchase green credits to offset their emissions, or by requiring businesses to obtain a certain number of green credits in order to operate.
There needs to be effective monitoring and enforcement of the GCP in order to prevent fraud and ensure that the credits are being used for their intended purpose. If these issues can be addressed, the GCP has the potential to be a valuable tool for promoting sustainable development in India.

MoEFCC invites suggestions from the general public. The objections or suggestions can be filed within 60 days from the date of notification, which was issued on June 26th.

- Article contributed by Akila R., Environmental Analyst

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From the Editor's Desk

Government Policies: a Key Catalyst to Building Green

As the world grapples with the urgent need to address climate change and environmental degradation, sustainable building practices have emerged as a key solution to minimize the ecological footprint of the construction industry. By setting high standards for energy efficiency, providing financial incentives, endorsing green certifications, mandating renewable energy integration, and enforcing building codes, governments can empower the construction industry to embrace sustainability as a core principle.

Organizations like the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) have developed public policy frameworks that provide a roadmap for a successful transition to zero-carbon buildings in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. By incorporating sustainability into federal building projects, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aims to reduce resource consumption, minimize environmental impacts, and lead by example in advancing green building practices.

India needs to implement similar policy strategies to support state governments and private companies to meet its aim to reach Net-Zero emissions by 2070. Though the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) sets minimum energy performance standards, it is currently being implemented on a voluntary basis. McKinsey has proposed more than 100 decarbonization levers across key sectors, including buildings, and has modeled outcomes on India's net-zero journey. Increased awareness and enforcement of these measures can improve the effectiveness of codes and building practices in India.