Since the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992, India has started its movement to mitigate Climate Change. India has voluntarily ratified the KYOTO PROTOCOL agreeing to reduce its overall Carbon emissions, thus taking the first step towards Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development.
In the last two decades, India has created an extensive Legislative Framework, initiating numerous policy measures and programmes to address growing impacts of development on the environment.India now recognizes the impact of the construction sector on the environment of the country. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification for the construction industry and the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) have placed the building industry sector under the purview of Environmental Planning and Design.
The Indian Government, both at national and local levels, has become more responsive towards environmental issues, demanding efforts towards Sustainability. Building Rating Systems like LEED, GRIHA and ECO-Housing have forayed into the building sector to review and mitigate environmental impacts of building development and provide a framework for evaluating sustainability credentials of any development. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has also introduced a Star Rating Scheme for Buildings as an effort to minimize the Operational Energy consumption in various sectors. Thus, all fronts – statutory and voluntary are working towards a common goal of environment conscious development and reduction in Carbon and Ecological Footprint of India.