India’s building and construction industry currently works at the intersection of a diverse and fragmented value chain made of different actors with significant societal and environmental impacts. To keep their impacts in check, a Call for Action Event as part of the Decarbonisation Business Charter (DBC) a joint collaborative effort by WRI India, Alliance For an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), EcoCollab and Mahindra Lifespace Developers was held in Bengaluru. As part of the charter, stakeholder consultations were organized to identify key actions for the value chain across the building and construction sector. It outlines actions for architects, designers, developers, contractors, property owners, facility managers, material manufacturers, and industry bodies that will be imperative for the sector to transition towards a low-carbon pathway.
By adopting a value chain approach, the Decarbonisation Business Charter is a movement bringing together stakeholders across the entire lifecycle of buildings for collective effort in fostering sustainability and achieving a more ecologically responsible building and construction industry. The real estate sector in Bengaluru, like many other urban centers, faces several sustainability challenges. These issues are driven by rapid urbanization, population growth, and economic development in the city. The major issues are Waste Management - Inadequate waste management practices in construction sites and residential areas contribute to environmental pollution. Effective recycling and waste disposal systems are lacking in many parts of the city. As per the estimates, construction and demolition waste in Bangalore ranges from 3,500 to 4,100 tonnes per day.
With the fast paced growth of infrastructure in Bengaluru, the city is going to consume a huge amount of natural resources and will lead to higher embodied carbon from the building sector. The special address at the Call for Action event was delivered by Amarnath N, CEO, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL). While the keynote address was delivered by Jonas Brunschwig, Swissnex in India, Consulate General of Switzerland, Bangalore mentioned that this year Switzerland, India are celebrating 75 years of Indo Swiss friendship, this cooperation will continue on strong footing and we can build over the next 75 years.
The Senior Fellow ASHRAE, CEO - Sterling India, G C Modgil, provided a glimpse of real-world applications and success stories from their ongoing and finished projects across various building types, all achieving NetZero status. He further stated, “These projects showcase the cutting-edge technological innovations employed by Sterling India and highlight the pivotal role of smart building systems in optimizing energy utilization and reducing carbon emissions. From commercial structures to residential complexes, Sterling India is revolutionizing the construction industry by demonstrating that NetZero is not just a concept but a practical reality. Dive into their portfolio and gain valuable insights into the sustainable future of our built environment, where innovation meets environmental responsibility.”
Commenting on the Call for action event Dr. Manjunatha L R , Vice President - Direct Sales and Sustainability Initiatives, JSW Cement Limited said, Construction industry is responsible for about 40 percent of the energy consumption 30% of the Green House Gas emissions and 10% of the dust emission and air pollution world over. As we continuously aim for economic growth with infrastructure and housing developments for our ever-growing demands, reducing carbon footprint in constructions is the need of the hour. There is a need that stakeholder like architects, engineers and builders should adopt low carbon materials like blended cements, green steels, low carbon concretes and plasters in their constructions. This event will really bring all the stakeholders together on a single platform to discuss, analyze and implement actionable goals to decarbonize the building industry.
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