India can become a global leader in climate char constructs only green buildings, says architect Robin David | TNN Here is a number that a world heating up like a tandoor because of cli mate change can ill afford - Buildings consume nearly 50 per cent of all energy globally and account for one third of greenhouse gases. In India, the government is easily one of the biggest builders, erecting thousands of buildings - both residential and commercial every year. In the process constantly adding to greenhouse gasses. To understand the scale at which the government adds to greenhouse gasses, here is another number. Housing and Urban Development Corporation of India (Hudco) alone sanctioned 1.38 crore dwelling units across the country till 2007. Karan Grover, one of India's leading green architects, however, believes, there is a way out. "Because of the economic slowdown, many people and organisations have started consuming less, and moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle," he says. "The slowdown is forcing people into preserving precious resources." Grover is trying to take this awareness for sustainable living to the next level - Asking the government to construct only green or environment-friendly buildings. He believes that if the government goes green, India will have the largest pool of green buildings in the world, in the process becoming a world leader in the fight against global warming. Grover is putting together a team of experts from United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) headed by Nobel Laureate R K Pachauri and representatives of Clinton Foundation, to make a presentation to Chief Minster Narendra Modi, asking him to make it mandatory for all state government buildings to go for green ratings for all new construction and also retrofit existing buildings. "In some of the green buildings we constructed or retrofitted, we brought down energy consumption by half," Grover adds. Although there are many international standards that rate green buildings, TERI launched an India specific rating system in 2007, 'GRI-HA, with five stars going to the building that is most eco-friendly and emits least greenhouse gasses. Grover would like to see government building target a minimum of rating of three. "It is time we put in place some dramatic numbers and take the lead in sustainable living," Grover says. "Indian Green Building Council, a leader in promoting green buildings in the country, is targeting one billion square feet of green building space in India by 2010. This looks like a large number but it is not. My friend Haneef Contractor alone is building half a billion square feet. You put Hiranandani, EMAAR, DLF and L&T together and the number could cross 10 billion square feet." Since 2004, Grover has won four major international awards for his green buildings and now believes a clear strategy can be worked out to put India at the fore front in the battle against global warming.