According to an estimate by 2030, the Indian building stock is expected to reach 100 billion square feet compared to the existing 25 billion square feet. Much to the credit of our infrastructure industry, India has over 2380 registered green building projects and over 60 LEED platinum certified constructions (the highest certification for energy efficient green construction). India is amongst the few countries spearheading the green building movement worldwide. To acknowledge the pioneers of green construction in India, we’ve compiled a list of the top green buildings (in no particular order) in India. Let us know, the other buildings you think should feature on this list.

1. CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad

This building is one of the world’s best example of passive architectural design. At the time of inauguration it was the first building outside of the US to be awarded LEED platinum rating. The CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Center (GBC) is unofficially world’s most environment friendly construction for the use of water and energy efficient technologies. The building is literally made completely out of recycled material.

The building does not discharge any waste water and recycles all the used water. The building design comprises of two air conditioning towers where the incoming air is cooled 7 to 8 degrees by spraying water thereby reducing the load on air conditioning energy consumption. The roof is covered with roof garden as well as solar photovoltaic thereby reducing the energy consumption by almost 60% against a comparable conventional building.

2. CRISIL House, Hiranandani Gardens, Mumbai

Often dubbed the greenest commercial complex in India, this headquarters of the leading rating agency has 14 gardens inside the building. The building provides energy efficiency through a mix of innovation and cutting edge technology. 70 % of the work area does not require any artificial lighting during the day, which is very rare for commercial building in India. All the interiors are made up of recycled construction material, at the center of the building is an atrium that allows natural light to seep in even the interior parts of the building. Only energy efficient artificial lighting is used in the building that ensures reduced carbon footprint.

3. Infosys Limited, Mysore building

The overall water consumption of the building is 58% less as compared to other buildings of similar capacity. Most of the waste water is recycled and used for irrigation. The building is design comprises of an efficient building envelope, which includes insulated walls and roof, along with spectrally selective double glazed windows which are appropriately shaded. Moreover, efficient equipment and smart automation is used across the building that leads to a 40% reduction in energy costs. Almost 90% of the work spaces inside the building harvests natural light, the design of the building includes light shelves that ensures that natural light travels as deep as possible inside the building. Almost 100% of the building’s energy consumption is met with green power. Infosys also ensured manufacturing of most of the building material locally to ensure reduced pollution due to transport.

4. ITC Green Center, Gurgaon & ITC Hotels – Luxury Collection

ITC Hotels the greenest luxury hotel chain in the world with all its ten premium luxury hotels LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certified. The buildings namely: ITC Grand Chola in Chennai, ITC Maurya in Delhi, ITC Maratha in Mumbai, ITC Sonar in Kolkata, ITC Grand Central in Mumbai, ITC Windsor & ITC Gardenia in Bengaluru, ITC Kakatiya in Hyderabad and ITC Mughal in Agra and ITC Rajputana in Jaipur. The headquarters of the ITC’s hotel business in ITC Green Center, Gurgaon as of 2004 statistics was world’s largest LEED platinum rated office space. ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru is the first Indian Hotel and world’s largest, to get the LEED Platinum rating.

5. Infinity Benchmark, Salt Lake City, Kolkata

Inaugurated in 2009, this 5,60,000 sq. feet of space spread over 20 floors was then only the 2nd building outside the US and the 7th in the world to receive a LEED Platinum rating. This building is equipped with CO2 monitoring sensors, intelligent humidification controls, rainwater harvesting & waste water recycling systems. The building design reduces the overall energy costs by 30% .

6. Suzlon One Earth, Pune

This headquarters of India’s largest green energy company truly lives up to the expectations. Suzlon one earth is 100% powered by onsite and offsite renewable sources. The campus has 18 hybrid wind turbines that fulfil 7% of the total energy consumption, the rest of energy demand is met from offsite wind turbines. 90% of the occupied spaces in the campus have daylight exposure, all the lighting used is also LED that reduces the overall consumption. Daylight sensors & occupancy sensors are installed across the building that automatically controls the artificial lighting in presence of daylight and turn off the lights when no one is around. More than 70% of the building material used has a reduced carbon footprint. Jet fans are installed in the basements that push out stale air and bring in fresh air from time to time, this systems consumes 50% less energy as compared to conventional ducted basement ventilation system. Even the pavements and roads within the campus are designed to enable water percolation and thereby control storm water runoff thus, contributing towards an increased water table level.

7. Patni (i-GATE) Knowledge Center, Noida

This Noida office of Patni (now i-gate) is one of India’s largest LEED Platinum certified office space. The building design utilizes passive (architectural) and active (mechanical/ electrical) strategies to minimize energy consumption. The building depth has been optimally designed to capture daylight for more than 75% of the occupied interiors. More than 95% of the occupied workspace in the building receives outdoor view. Almost 50% of the land cover is green area and the building does not discharge any waste recycling all its sewage water.

8. Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai

Located at the scenic Chennai Pondicherry highway, the campus of this b-school lives up to its name. The institute is of the few LEED Platinum certified educational institutions in the world. Spread over 27 acres it certainly is the most energy efficient academic center in India.