IGBC Sustainable Building

This collaborative research project titled “Improving sustainability of urban areas, buildings, and workplaces in India”, was undertaken under the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) 2018 - 2021 between Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Confederation of Danish Industry (DI). The SPA project has been undertaken in two phases. Establishment of intangible benefits made up the first phase of SPA i.e., SPA 1. The study identified the role of green buildings in Indian business environment and mapped the impact of sustainable workspaces and business practices on the business and overall environment. A framework was developed that defines the relationship between workspace design, business performance, employee well-being in Indian business scenario. The goal of this project was to enhance productivity, physical health and well-being of occupants and employees as well as contribute to resource efficiency and reduction in adverse environmental impacts. Multiple sources of evidence have been used to achieve the first phase goal. The SPA – 1 phase analyzed select twelve case studies from Ahmedabad and around to understand and map the linkages between workspace design, sustainable practices, employee well-bring and business advantage.

In the first phase, the project identified the various direct and indirect benefits of integrating sustainability in workplace design and operations. The project in SPA – 1 employed various tools and methods to arrive at the framework, including a detailed review of literature, questionnaire-based survey in the case studies, detailed interviews with the leadership of the selected case studies, workshops with senior management of these organizations and extensive dissemination activities. The project outcome indicated that sustainability in select cases is driven by three forces; one, where sustainability is ingrained in the company philosophy; second, where sustainability affects the brand value and market positioning thrusts greater action towards integrating sustainability; and third is the technology and compliance driven manifestation of sustainable practices. While these benefits were mapped in the SPA – 1, their quantification is important to be able to measure the performance of individual business on a common benchmark and to showcase the benefits as a comprehensive business case to the large group of stakeholders including companies, employees, clients, etc.

In the SPA – 2, the project intends to focus on developing a methodology and a tool to quantify the four identified intangible benefits, namely productivity, health & well-being, brand value and asset value that can help companies reap the benefits of attracting better employees, greater efficiency, and reduced operating cost. This tool and model will help to spearhead the next big wave of change-making buildings healthier and greener for those of us who inhabit them. It focuses on how the physical built environment supports human health, productivity, well-being, and comfort, while also promoting a better work environment and enhanced business performance.

Duration: 2018-2025

Thematic Areas: Life Cycle Assessment, Green Building, Health and Well-being

Funders and Supporters: Confederation of Danish Industry (DI).

Preparation and conduct of 6 lectures within the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency with energy auditing, climate change and environment protection for the Bangladesh Air Force – Shaheen English Medium College

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency is one of the priority areas of German Development Cooperation in Bangladesh. The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programme (REEEP II) is a bilateral technical cooperation project between German and Bangladesh Government, supported by the Bangladesh Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) and implemented by the GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). One of the objectives of REEEP II is to increase the awareness of the society on sustainable use of energy. As part of this, GIZ through the REEEP II project is collaborating with the Bangladesh Air Force – Shaheen English Medium College (hereafter BAF-SEMC) in implementing several Energy Efficiency & Conservation Awareness (EECA) events to be implemented at the BAF-SEMC.

The objective of this assignment is to develop and conduct a series of online/virtual lectures for students of BAF-SEMC to improve their awareness/knowledge of EECA, specifically to:

• Raise awareness concerning energy efficiency and energy conservation measures including renewable energy among students and other involved parties.
• Evaluate dissemination potential to reach more students and involved society members in terms of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Awareness
• Support indirectly in achieving the target set by the Government of Bangladesh in energy efficiency & conservation (20% primary energy consumption reduction by 2030)

Duration : 2021-2022

Thematic Areas : Energy Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy.

Funders and Supporters : Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit ( GIZ India)