IGBC Net Zero Building

The project was implemented in two Indian cities—Nashik and Trivandrum—as part of a flagship initiative aimed at supporting, We Mean Business’s objectives in the Built Environment. This initiative focused on accelerating the implementation of net zero carbon buildings within regional action hubs and strengthening cross-sector and multi-level coordination to drive market transformation. The project aimed to support the transition toward a healthier, greener built environment by providing actionable guidance on achieving optimized whole life carbon (WLC) outcomes.

This work contributed to the global narrative for inclusive market transformation, delivering social, economic, and environmental benefits through a combination of local and global interventions.

At the local level, the initiative facilitated demonstration projects and supported the development of viable local business models and financing mechanisms. These efforts were further reinforced by integrated policy development, including the formulation of net zero carbon building city action plans and national WLC roadmaps in two countries—India and Mexico—each involving a cohort of two cities. City selection was based on key criteria such as geographic and climate diversity (to ensure significant potential for energy and emissions reductions), political commitment, project team capacity (including a strong local presence), as well as the city’s potential for influence and replicability.

Duration: Feb 2024 – July 2025

Thematic Areas: Net Zero Carbon & Resilience, Whole Life Cycle Analysis, City Climate Action Plan

Funders and Supporters: We Mean Business Coalition (WMBC), World Green Building Council (WGBC)

The objective of this project is to create a baseline scenario on embodied emissions for buildings / built environment across different climatic zones in India and to create a roadmap to achieving net zero buildings incorporating GHG emissions across built environment value chain.

Key interventions:

1. 1. Establishing Baseline for Carbon Emissions :-

• Conduct data collection and analysis of carbon emissions from different building types in various regions of India.
• Use Life Cycle Assessment to calculate both operational and embodied carbon emissions.
• Collaborate with relevant government agencies, industry bodies, and research institutions to access existing data and gather primary data.
• Create a database of carbon emissions for different building types, which can serve as a reference for future assessments and policymaking.

1. 2. Creating a Roadmap for Achieving Net Zero Buildings :-

• Analyze the baseline data to identify the major sources of carbon emissions in buildings and assess the potential for reduction.
• Develop specific targets and timelines for achieving Net Zero carbon emissions in buildings, considering the different building types and regions.
• Formulate policy recommendations and strategies that incentivize and mandate the adoption of sustainable building practices, energy-efficient technologies, and renewable energy integration.
• Engage with policymakers, urban planners, architects, and construction industry stakeholders to ensure the feasibility and practicality of proposed strategies.
• Incorporate feedback and suggestions from various stakeholders to build a consensus around the roadmap.

1. 3. Raising Awareness Among Stakeholders :-

• Design and implement awareness campaigns targeting various stakeholders, including the public, building owners, developers, architects, and construction professionals.
• Utilize diverse communication channels such as social media, workshops, seminars, webinars, and media outreach to disseminate information on carbon emissions in buildings and the importance of sustainable practices.
• Engage with industry associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to amplify the message and involve them in awareness initiatives.

Duration : Oct 2023-July 2025

Thematic Areas : Baseline Emissions, Net Zero, Life Cycle Assessment

Funders and Supporters : SED Fund

The Asia Low Carbon Buildings Transition (ALCBT) Project seeks to significantly reduce GHG emissions by catalysing nationwide transitions towards low carbon buildings in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Project interventions addresses regulatory, capacity, and financing gaps that prevent large scale adoption of low carbon buildings (LCB) and build technical GHG emission reduction targets from building materials and operations, particularly from cooling.

The ALCBT project initiated in India while focusing on three states: Kerala, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Haryana. Two essential components of this ALCBT project are:

• Building Carbon Assessment Tool & Life Cycle Analysis
• Capacity Building

Building Carbon Assessment Tool & Life cycle Analysis

This project aims to establish a comprehensive baseline for carbon emissions in buildings, enabling us to develop effective strategies for emission reduction.

At the heart of this initiative is the ALCBT Carbon Tool—a comprehensive, user-friendly, and adaptable digital platform designed to assess and manage carbon emissions from buildings throughout all stages of their lifecycle, from construction to demolition. The tool is being designed to serve a diverse range of stakeholders including architects, engineers, urban planners, policymakers, and financial institutions, offering actionable insights tailored to their roles.

The tool integrates advanced Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies and embeds Measurable, Reportable, and Verifiable (MRV) mechanisms to ensure accuracy and transparency. This approach addresses critical gaps in existing policies, technical capabilities, and financial frameworks, particularly in the context of rapidly urbanizing regions in Asia.

1. Current activities under the project include: :-

• Baseline data collection across selected residential and industrial buildings in Kerala, UP, and Haryana.
• Development and testing of the carbon assessment tool, including user interface design and backend LCA integration.
• Stakeholder consultations with government agencies, developers, and green building councils to ensure the tool aligns with national priorities and global climate commitments.
• Capacity-building efforts to train local practitioners in LCA methodologies and use of the tool.

The ALCBT project represents a pioneering effort in enabling data-driven, lifecycle-based carbon management in the building sector, supporting India’s broader decarbonization goals and contributing to global climate resilience.

Duration : 2024-Ongoing

Core Theme : Baselining, Whole Life Cycle Analysis, Embodied Carbon Emissions

Funders and Supporters : Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), The international climate initiative (IKI), HEAT

Capacity Building

The Asia Low-Carbon Building Transition (ALCBT) Project Consultancy Services is a transformative initiative designed to promote sustainable and low-carbon practices in the building sector.

The ALCBT project is being implemented in 5 Asian countries by a consortium of GGGI, HEAT International, Energy Efficiency Services Ltd. (EESL) and ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE). GGGI - the lead consortium partner, is interested in procuring the services of a Firm, including consortiums (hereinafter referred to as ‘Firm’), with experience in delivering large-scale comprehensive training programs related to decarbonization, energy efficiency or Demand Side Management (DSM) sectors in general and building sector in particular.

The project aims to deliver comprehensive training program on various aspects of low carbon building design and its transition to key stakeholder groups comprising building architects and design professionals; developers, contractors and owners; energy auditors; and ESCOs. These modules focus on equipping participants with the technical knowledge and practical skills required for implementing energy-efficient systems, sustainable materials, and green building technologies.

Duration : 2024 onwards

Thematic Areas : Sustainable Financing, Low Carbon Building Design, Net Zero

Funders and Supporters : The International Climate Initiative (IKI), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)

The project successfully established the carbon footprint and associated environmental and social impacts of commercial office buildings at the state level in Gujarat. It also contributed to building a foundational ecosystem to help the commercial building sector transition toward a net zero carbon future. The initiative supported India's broader commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070 by enabling targeted efforts to reduce emissions within the state's commercial building sector.

The project focused on a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment of commercial office buildings across Gujarat. This assessment provided a detailed estimate of the total and component-wise emissions associated with these buildings, serving as a crucial baseline for the state's climate strategy. It laid the groundwork for setting reduction targets and planning future mitigation actions.

The One Click LCA tool was employed to assess emissions across the full life cycle of commercial office buildings—including raw material extraction, transportation, processing, construction and installation, operation, maintenance, repair, and end-of-life stages such as demolition and disposal. Based on the results of this life cycle assessment, the project enabled the formulation of actionable strategies and policy recommendations for the state to reduce or offset greenhouse gas emissions from the commercial building sector.

Duration : 2022-2024

Thematic Areas : Carbon Footprint, Life Cycle Assessment, Baseline Emissions.

Funders and Supporters : Confederation of Danish Industry (DI)

This study aims to thoroughly examine the current status and projected growth of the building construction sector in Bihar over the next 50 years, with a focus on identifying opportunities for climate-resilient and low-carbon development. By analyzing existing building practices, regulatory frameworks, energy consumption, and carbon emissions, the study seeks to uncover strategic entry points for sustainable transformation. The ultimate objective is to develop a Low Carbon Roadmap that guides Bihar’s building sector toward achieving ‘Net Zero Carbon’ emissions by 2070. This roadmap will serve as a long-term strategic document, offering policy direction and technical guidance to help align the sector with national and global climate commitments. The study will also outline specific policy recommendations for relevant state departments, segmented into short-term (by 2030), medium-term (by 2040), and long-term (by 2050 and beyond) action plans that are both practical and achievable.

In addition to strategic planning, the study will focus on building an enabling ecosystem for low-carbon development in Bihar’s building sector. This includes organizing targeted workshops and consultations with government officials, architects, developers, and other key stakeholders to build capacity and promote awareness about low-carbon construction practices. The initiative will also emphasize market transformation by encouraging sustainable production and consumption patterns, particularly through the adoption of energy-efficient materials and green building technologies. These efforts aim to stimulate the demand for low-carbon products and create a supportive market environment that facilitates the widespread uptake of sustainable building practices across the state. Collectively, these initiatives will contribute to Bihar’s transition toward a climate-resilient, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible construction sector.

Duration : 2021-2023

Thematic Areas : Low Carbon Buildings, Climate Resilient, Sustainable Consumption and Production.

Funders and Supporters : Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The main objective of this project is to facilitate transfer of technologies and services from Singapore to India to support Indian buildings in their journey towards achieving Net Zero Energy status, and to support relevant companies from Singapore establish their business in India.

1. Scope of Work

• Short listing of Singapore-based technology/service providers, from the long list to be identified/provided by ESG, that could support Indian buildings and built environment to achieve Net Zero energy.
• Reach-out to all the buildings and built environment aspiring to achieve Net Zero
• Organise webinars/workshops to promote the identified technologies and services amongst Indian corporates.
• Facilitate interactions between the selected Singaporean technology/service providers and
• End users in India (commercial and industrial building projects)
• Potential partners for business partnerships in India

Duration : 2023-2024

Thematic Areas : Net Zero Buildings, Energy Storage, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)

Funders and Supporters : Enterprise Singapore

With focus on UK’s and India’s commitment to Net Zero transition and India UK 2030 Roadmap, it is crucial for UK to take the leadership role in the Net Zero Built Environment. To achieve this, DBT in collaboration with Indian Green Building Council and UK innovation hubs (Innovate UK and Newable) developed ‘India-UK Net Zero Accelerator Programme.

The platform is a key vehicle for introducing innovative UK clean-tech solutions to the Indian market and to Indian business partners. The programme functions as a catalyst to expand research, innovation and business cooperation on new innovative energy technologies focusing on technologies supporting Net Zero Buildings and Built Environment. The programme results in technology transfer, knowledge exchange and innovation.

Played a catalyst role for the UK and India to take the leadership role in the Net Zero Built Environment by:

Facilitating workshops and related events to promote direct interactions between the UK companies and Indian end users / potential partners.

- Facilitating interactions between the UK companies and Indian potential partners and end users as per pre-agreed schedule, this could be combined or complemented with a possibility for interaction at various CII - IGBC annual events, based on need and interest.

Project Purpose

Collaborative Accelerator Programme: The establishment of the 'India-UK Net Zero Accelerator Programme' serves as a pivotal platform. It will facilitate the introduction of cutting-edge UK net zero solutions to the Indian market and local business partners.

Catalyst for Research and Innovation:The program acts as a catalyst, fostering the expansion of research, innovation, and business cooperation. The focus is on pioneering energy and carbon reduction technologies that support Net Zero Buildings and the broader Built Environment.

Concrete Technology Transfer: The anticipated outcomes include tangible technology transfer, bringing innovative solutions from the UK to India.

Knowledge Exchange: The program is designed to encourage knowledge exchange between the UK and Indian stakeholders, creating a collaborative ecosystem.

Contributions to Net Zero: The overall impact is expected to result in concrete contributions to the Net Zero transition, marked by sustainable practices and technological innovation within the Built Environment.

Duration : 2023-2024

Thematic Areas : Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, AI & IoT.

Funders and Supporters : United Kingdom - Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK-FCDO)