IGBC pitches for more FAR sop to push green buildings

JAIPUR: When the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) holds its annual congress in Jaipur early next month, one of the top priorities would be to burst the myth that green buildings are exorbitantly expansive to build and own. IGBC has set a 10 billion sq ft of footprint by 2022, when India turns 75 and creating awareness among the builders’ community and businesses about the favourable economics and the need for sustainable development will be the key to achieve the target.

“It’s a fact that people think green buildings are expensive to build but this is actually a myth. The costs may look higher only by a couple of percentage points but in reality it is not. It all depends on designing and builders need to spend more time on drawing board which is not the case now,” said Anand Mishra, co-chairman of IGBC’s Jaipur chapter. Nevertheless, IGBC is pushing the state governments to offer incentives to builders to build green buildings and some states have already introduced relaxation in additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR).

“Jaipur Development Authority is offering an additional 5% FAR (Floor Area Ratio) for projects which are rated gold or above by IGBC. But we want that the government should provide 10% more FAR to platinum-rated building and 7% to gold-rated ones. Also, the incentives should be across the state. Several states like Punjab are now offering such incentives to promote green buildings,” said Jaimni Uberoi chairman, IGBC Jaipur Chapter.

India holds No. 2 position in the world in terms of largest registered green building footprint. This year, IGBC is hosting the World GBC’s board meeting and annual members meet from October 4-7 in the Pink City where 2000 participants from more than two dozen countries will attend the event. “CEOs and industry experts from over 25 to 30 Green Building Councils would attend the meetings,” V Suresh, chairman, IGBC policy and advocacy committee.

source- Times of India