Maharashtra tops Green Building list, K'taka ranks 2nd

“India is a leader in green building, and continues to demonstrate year-over-year growth,” said Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, Managing Director, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, USGBC and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI).

Bengaluru: The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released the list of India’s Top 10 States for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the world’s most widely used green building rating system.

This is the second year that the list has been released in India and it ranks states in terms of cumulative gross square feet (GSF) of LEED-certified space as of December 31, 2018.

“India is a leader in green building, and continues to demonstrate year-over-year growth,” said Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, Managing Director, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, USGBC and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI).

“Many government agencies and state governments have started offering incentives around LEED, and businesses, educational institutions and nonprofits across every sector in India are committing to LEED. These leaders are stepping up and answering the call, advancing sustainable, healthy and environmentally friendly buildings and working to raise the living standard for the people in their communities.”

LEED is an international symbol of sustainability excellence that signifies a building is lowering carbon emissions, conserving resources and cutting costs, while prioritizing sustainable practices and creating a healthier environment.

Buildings that are LEED-certified create healthier spaces for people, as well as use less energy and water, reduce air pollution, provide cleaner air indoors and save money for businesses and families. They also generate fewer emissions compared to traditional buildings — not only during the construction stage but also after they are occupied and throughout the entire lifecycle of a building.

From the states mapped, Maharashtra tops the list, followed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Haryana. The Top 10 states for LEED are home to more than 840 million Indians, and together include more than 475 million gross square feet of LEED-certified space.

Here is the list of states ranked in the U.S. Green Building Council’s list of Top 10 States:

1. Maharashtra
2. Karnataka
3. Tamil Nadu
4. Haryana
5. Uttar Pradesh
6. Telangana
7. Delhi
8. Gujarat
9. West Bengal
10. Rajasthan