IGBC
Certification
Indian Green Building Council’s Varied Certifications
The IGBC Certification is a globally recognized third-party endorsement of green building features in a project. Used by property buyers and tenants alike, the certification conveys an efficient and high performance building with lower running costs.
IGBC CERTIFICATION FEATURES
What Is It
Introduction
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) is one of the most preferred green building certification bodies in India. It is the first-ever green building rating system developed in India, taking into consideration the adverse climatic conditions, our environment and rapidly evolving lifestyles. IGBC is a part of a non-profit and non-government organization, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which consists of about 9000 professionals and members from both public and private sectors. The vision of IGBC is to not only provide sustainable built environment to everyone living in the country but to also make India a global leader and advocate in the world of green buildings.
With the building and construction sector growing at a rapid pace globally, there is a dire need to switch to alternatives that are not only efficient but also environment conscious. The whole world is very well aware of the positive aspects and huge profit returns of investing in a green building. All there is lacking is a bit of knowledge and awareness regarding this subject.
IGBC provides the necessary guidance needed to transform an ordinary building into a green one. IGBC also ensures that the certification process is correctly followed and the guidance is properly implemented in the project throughout the various stages of construction. IGBC’s personal involvement with the concerned accredited professional is ongoing till the very end which shows how greatly they are involved and concerned as a body regarding the successful certification of a green building project under them.
The council is working very diligently with several Central and State Government authorities and regulatory bodies to strengthen and actualize the vision of providing a safe and sustainable built environment to every citizen and spreading awareness regarding importance and benefits of investing in a future in which green building is the only collective approach in the world of architecture and construction.
Get Global Brand Recognition
IGBC is the national leader in green building certification.
§ National recognition
§ Credibility for Sales & Leasing
§ Third Party Certificate
Talk to a Green Building Specialist for a 10-minute free consultation. Explore if IGBC Certification is the right fit for your project.
Certification Levels
A project can earn the following levels of green building certification spread across the many rating systems in the certification spectrum:
Certified: Best Practices
Silver: Outstanding Performance
Gold: National Excellence
Platinum: Global Leadership
Any of these certification levels can be achieved by attempting points for desired credits divided categorically under various sections such as Sustainable Architecture and Design (SA), Site Selection and Planning (SSP), Water Conservation (WC), Energy Efficiency (EE), Building Materials and Resources (BMR), Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and Innovation and Development (ID).
Some of these sections contain certain Mandatory Requirements which need to be compulsorily attempted and fulfilled in order to stand eligible for the minimum certification level, that is ‘Certified’. Different levels of green building certification are awarded by IGBC on the basis of total number of points earned under various credits.
To prove that the project is complying with the requirement of a certain credit, various documentary support is required to be submitted such as drawings, construction details, photographs, narratives, purchase invoices, bills, declarations, calculations, analysis, simulations etc. And for this level of comprehensive work, a green building consultant is advised to be appointed who necessarily needs to be an IGBC accredited professional as well.
We, at Ecoinch Services Private Limited, as green building consultants are committed to achieving goals for our clients in terms of comfort, efficiency, performance and profits by providing them the right guidance and support at the right stages of a green building project. Right from the initial consultation stage to the final documentation stage, we keep ourselves involved in the project by constantly coordinating with the client’s team as well as various other project consultants.
The World of Green Building Certifications:
Different IGBC Certifications
IGBC’s vast range of green building rating systems specific to building typologies allows the teams of client, architect and designers to explore, innovate and implement interesting green building features and concepts in the building, not only to help mitigate the various environment related challenges but also to enhance building’s performance and efficiency.
Following are the various rating systems offered by IGBC to it’s clients:
- IGBC Green New Buildings
- IGBC Green Existing Buildings O&M
- IGBC Green Homes
- IGBC Green Residential Societies
- IGBC Green Affordable Housing
- IGBC Green Healthcare Facilities
- IGBC Health and Well-being
- IGBC Green Schools
- IGBC Green Resorts
- IGBC Green Factory Buildings
- IGBC Green Data Center
- IGBC Green Interiors
- IGBC Green Railway Stations
- IGBC Green Place of Worship
- IGBC Green Place of Worship
- IGBC Net Zero Energy Building
- IGBC Net Zero Water Building
- IGBC Net Zero Waste Rating System
- IGBC Green Service Buildings
- IGBC Green Logistics Parks and Warehouses Rating System
- IGBC Green Campus
- IGBC Green Cities
- IGBC Green Existing Cities
- IGBC Green Hill Habitat
- IGBC Green Townships
- IGBC Green SEZs
- IGBC Green Villages
- IGBC Green Landscapes
- IGBC Green Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS)
- IGBC Green High Speed Rail (HSR)
Express interest
When To Start With Project Registration
Registration of a green building project under the desired category is the first step which helps initiate and establish contact between the client and the IGBC team. A green building consultant helps in deciding when to get a project registered for IGBC certification after going through a very comprehensive and detailed initial process of analysis, data verification and scorecard compilation containing attempted credits and a total of possible/achievable points.
A very common question usually arises in the initial most stages of a project -”When to start with registration?” It is advisable to get the project registered during the concept development stage of a project itself. To establish an early connect with IGBC and a green building consultant is truly the most effective approach in terms of implementation of numerous important aspects and features of a green building.
Now, it must be coming to your mind that what magnitude of an impact would be created by bringing a green building consultant and involving IGBC early on in the project, right? Well, let us answer this one for you.
Green building is not just about rainwater harvesting and installation of solar PVs. It is a complex collection of a lot of green building features falling under these seven categories mainly:
- Sustainable Architecture and Design
- Site Selection and Planning
- Water Conservation
- Energy Efficiency
- Building Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Innovation and Development
Under these categories, lie a lot of credits whose practical implementation needs to be involved in the very initial building design itself. Most of these credits are related to architecture, interior design, building structure and construction. Once the project is registered early on for green building certification, it becomes practical and easy for the architect as well as the green building consultant to work together in coordination regarding inclusion of all the above-mentioned features in the design in order to prevent any mishaps from taking place in future.
IGBC Professional Credentials
IGBC Accredited Professional is a credential offered by IGBC to any professional, having a mandatory work experience of minimum two years, through “Indian Green Building Council Accredited Professional Examination”. This credential allows one to participate and work on the green building certification documentation of a project. This credential is of utmost importance and value as any project that involves an IGBC Accredited Professional in the core team, gets directly qualified to achieve 1 point under the certification category “Innovation and Design”.
The IGBC AP examination is basically structured to assess one’s knowledge about the basic and integral concepts of green building design and construction process. It is usually perceived that this examination is related to any particular IGBC green building rating system but that’s not true. The examination is divided into the following four sections:
Section I: Green Building Design & Construction
Under this section, a professional’s understanding and knowledge is put to test, regarding the basic green building design concepts and construction criteria and techniques as per IGBC green building practices.
Section II: Building Standards & Codes
This section is based on such Indian building standards and codes that are interconnected with green building practices and environmental aspects.
Section III: IGBC Resources and Processes
This section tests a candidate’s awareness and intelligence about IGBC certification processes, IGBC’s involvement and resources and an IGBC AP’s mediating and crucial role in a project.
Section IV: Green Design Strategies & Impacts
This section is all about analyzing one’s knowledge on various green building techniques and strategies and the positive impact created upon their implementation in a particular project.
All one has to do is to apply for this examination and as stated above, the benefits will just keep pouring in upon achieving this significant credential.
What is Green Buildings?
"Energy-efficient structures designed with sustainability in mind, creating a greener and healthier environment." "These eco-conscious buildings minimize environmental impact while maximizing occupant comfort and well-being."
"Embark on a journey into the world of sustainable architecture and discover the transformative power of green buildings on our comprehensive overview page."
Standards Adopted
IGBC Certification is a collection of technical guidance that the rating systems provide in addition to the existing technical codes and standards that are prevalent in the market. Taking an example of the IGBC New Buildings rating system, the following categories of credits are to be attempted:
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Innovation
As can be seen from the above, a wide variety of aspects related to a building’s design and construction are covered under these categories, each of which contain more specific credits with detailed technical requirements that ask a project to meet or exceed certain codes and standards available in the industry.
When working internationally, these codes and standards, and at times certain programs referred to in the IGBC Certification technical guidance can be restrictive to a geographic region. In these circumstances, equivalent technical standards available in a local geography are evaluated and if found technically equivalent, variances are allowed. If not, the original standards need to be followed.
This is crucial for the project technical teams that are working on various aspects of the project design such as HVAC, interior materials and finishes, plumbing codes, health and safety codes, etc. So, designing a IGBC Certified project cannot be done as an afterthought. It requires an in-depth understanding of national and international codes and standards and most importantly, to show compliance as per procedures laid down under the respective rating systems. A green building specialist can help the project team in navigating through the complex maze of compliances and to check the submitted documents, drawings and calculations for compliance as per IGBC Certification requirements.
OUR CLIENTS
Pros and Cons of Implementation
The IGBC Certification is a great way to communicate the green building quotient of a project to stakeholders such as prospective buyers, tenants, financers, etc. However, simply paying the fees or registration does not guarantee the success of the project. Meticulous planning from as early on as selecting the architect is required to be followed throughout the design and construction lifecycle of the project.
This may require extensive training of project personnel, and more importantly to conduct detailed technical analysis early on in the design process to make sure no costly mistakes are made later on. Energy simulations, daylight simulations, material lifecycle cost calculations, commissioning authority appointment, integration of landscape water and evapotranspiration rates, etc. – these are just examples of the complex computer based analysis required in the design of a green building.
A project that ignores such analysis or does not pay heed to the codes and standards required for IGBC Certification will not be able to secure any certification despite having paid the full fess to IGBC. This is a major constraint that is to be kept in mind by the project controller at all times and support the design team with a green building specialist accordingly.
However, achieving the IGBC Certification is a remarkable achievement and something that can get significant government incentives and market credibility for the project and its proponents. Proudly displaying the achievement through a plaque and certificate in the most prominent locations in the building boosts stakeholder confidence and increases the valuation of the project, while creating a technically superior building that is environmentally, socially and economically responsible in nature.
Get in touch with a green building specialist today to learn more about the pros and cons of implementing the IGBC Certification for your project and how you too can benefit from its goodwill.
IGBC CERTIFICATION PROCESS
How Does It Work
Registration
Just after the registration process, the project can also work towards Precertification. Though this step is optional, it can be used to avail certain government incentives such as FAR and for marketing to prospective buyers and tenants. A thorough submission is required, almost at par with the final documentation.
Documentation
During this phase of the project, the green building specialist plays a vital role in advising the project teams and preparing analysis reports, calculations and other forms of implementation documentation for submission to IGBC. The project needs to not only specify as per IGBC, but also submit proofs of implementation to the certifying body.
Certification
The Certification is awarded at the end of construction almost at the time of handover of the project to the end users. The certification body can visit the project and through third party evaluators carry out detailed checking of the documents submitted, and revert with a review requiring a response and submission of additional clarifications.
OUR SERVICE
What we offer
Green Building Consultancy
Specialists evaluate thermal, visual and acoustic Comfort + Performance including energy, water, materials, and similar
Certification Facilitation
Certification of any green building rating system is done as per choice and use + We can recommend as well
Savings Measurement
Measure and verify the on-ground results of implementing green building strategies that can continue through the lifecycle of the project.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
Do you have any questions?
Making a green project is committing to making a better living environment for end users and creating assets that appreciate over time. The brand value of IGBC Certification is a market catalyst that boosts sales and brings prestige to the project.
IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) certification is a rating system developed by the Indian Green Building Council to promote sustainable building practices in India. It provides a framework for designing, constructing, and operating buildings and communities that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. IGBC certification is important as it encourages the adoption of green building practices, reduces the environmental impact of buildings, and contributes to a healthier and more sustainable built environment in India.
To obtain IGBC certification, you need to follow the process defined by the Indian Green Building Council. This involves registering your project, preparing the necessary documentation, and meeting the prerequisites and credit requirements specific to the chosen IGBC rating system (such as IGBC Green Homes, IGBC Green Factory, IGBC Green Schools, etc.). The certification process involves a thorough evaluation of your project’s design, construction, and operation to ensure compliance with the specified criteria for IGBC certification.
IGBC certification is applicable to both new construction projects as well as existing buildings. For new construction, there are specific rating systems that address different building types. In the case of existing buildings, IGBC offers the Existing Building Operations and Maintenance (EBOM) rating system, which allows owners and operators to improve the sustainability performance of their buildings through operational changes and upgrades. IGBC certification encourages the retrofitting of existing buildings to make them more environmentally friendly and efficient.
IGBC offers a range of rating systems tailored to different project types, such as residential, commercial, institutional, and more. The choice of the right IGBC certification depends on factors such as the building’s purpose, size, location, and sustainability goals. Each rating system has specific prerequisites and credit requirements aligned with the objectives of the project. It is advisable to consult with IGBC-accredited professionals or experts who can guide you in selecting the most appropriate IGBC rating system for your project and assist you throughout the certification process.
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