Pune: The advanced IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) Green Homes Rating System (Version 2.0) of CII was launched today by Mr Naresh Zurmure, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Gen.) Pune Municipal Corporation at CII's National Conference on Green Homes 2012.
 
The new Rating System comes into effect immediately and marks a milestone in the Green Building movement that seeks to ensure robust sustainable residential buildings in the country.
 
Delivering the special address at the inaugural session, Mr Naresh Zurmure underlined the need and importance to go Green and promote Green Homes in the country. He added that there is a growing need to reuse the natural resources efficiently, recycle the waste and renew our commitment towards the earth every day.
 
Briefing on the Green initiatives carried out by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Mr Naresh Zurmure said, owners would get 5% to 10% rebate on property tax for green projects.
 
He also added that, PMC is encouraging citizens to take up environment-friendly measures, including use of solar energy sources, vermi-composting and rainwater harvesting.
 
Mr Naresh Zurmure added that PMC in its efforts to increase green cover in the city has launched a project titled- Green Pune. This initiative encourages individuals, registered housing societies, public institutions, private schools and colleges to take up tree planting, he said.
 
Mr Lalit Kumar Jain, Chairman, IGBC Pune Chapter & President, CREDAI in his key note address said that the annual growth rate of Indian construction industry is far higher than the global average. He also said Indian construction industry is contributing significantly to the nation's GDP.
 
Adding further, he said that in the days to come, the building boom in India is going to accelerate significantly and promoting sustainability of our building industry is crucial to the economic, social and human development of our country.
 
Mr Lalit Kumar Jain informed about the MoU inked between CREDAI and IGBC which aims to strengthen the green building movement in India. He also stated that within the last one week in Pune, over 10 CREDAI members have registered 21 projects over 15 Million sq.ft with IGBC.
 
Mr V Suresh, Chairman, Conference on Green Homes &  Former CMD, HUDCO & Principal Executive Officer, HIRCO in his theme address said that, in the past 3-5 years, we have witnessed major growth in Indian building sector and is anticipated that the constructed space demand would rise from the current 20 Billion sq.ft to  100 Billion sq.ft, in next 20 years.
 
In this regard, he said it is our responsibility to build Green Homes incorporating sustainable features. Mr V Suresh underlined that a Green Home should adopt a holistic approach and address all key aspects related to site, water, energy, materials, indoor air quality & ventilation. This conference on Green Homes is one step in that direction, he said.
                                             
Mr Suresh informed that IGBC has achieved a major milestone by crossing One Billion sq.ft of registered building area. As on date, of the total 1,505 projects,         436 IGBC green home projects (2,96,000 dwelling units) amounting to a built-up area of over 443 million   sq. ft. have been registered, he said.
 
Mr J R Tanti, Vice-Chair, IGBC Pune Chapter, in his welcome address informed that recently the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra has In-Principle approved Priority Status for "Faster Environmental Clearance" for IGBC registered projects having built-up area of  20,000 sq.m and above from the Environment Department and other Municipalities.

Conference on Green Homes 2012 is organised in partnership with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India; Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) and Indian Institute of Architects (IIA).
 
The two-day conference will have sessions on:  towards green habitat, design aspects of eco friendly homes, Panel Discussion (Regulatory Framework for Green Homes), optimization of water in residential developments, landscape in green homes, enhancing quality of life in green homes, case studies, new and innovative approaches to green homes and energy efficiency & introduction to new technologies.