IGBC green building

The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was formed in the year 2001. The vision of the Council is, “To enable a sustainable built environment for all and facilitate India to be one of the global leaders in the sustainable built environment by 2025”. The council offers a wide array of services which include developing a new IGBC certification green building rating program, certification services and green building training program. All the IGBC green building certification are voluntary, consensus based, market-driven building programs. The rating systems are based on the five elements of nature (Pancha Bhutas) and are a perfect blend of ancient architectural practices and modern technological innovations. The ratings systems are applicable to all five climatic zones of the country.

"A GREEN BUILDING IS ONE WHICH USES LESS WATER, OPTIMIZES ENERGY EFFICIENCY, CONSERVES NATURAL RESOURCES, GENERATES LESS WASTE AND PROVIDES HEALTHIER SPACES FOR OCCUPANTS, AS COMPARED TO A CONVENTIONAL BUILDING."

IGBC has developed rating programs for over 20 building typologies including new buildings, existing buildings, homes, townships, campuses, factories, warehouses, healthcare facilities, and data centres. Each program has its own credit categories, prerequisites, and documentation requirements. Working with a qualified IGBC consultant from the early design stage ensures your project targets the right credits, avoids compliance gaps, and moves through the IGBC green building certification process without costly delays or rework.

THERE ARE FOUR LEVELS OF IGBC GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION BASED ON THE POINTS AWARDED IN THE ASSESSMENT

Certified

Best Practices

The entry level of IGBC green building certification, awarded to projects that meet baseline sustainability requirements across energy, water, materials, and indoor quality. A strong starting point for developers pursuing green credentials for the first time.

Silver

Outstanding Performance

Awarded to projects that demonstrate above-average performance across multiple credit categories. Silver certification is increasingly expected for commercial buildings seeking premium tenants and institutional clients.

Gold

National Excellence

A Gold-rated building represents high performance across energy, water, waste, materials, and occupant health. This is the most commonly targeted level for large commercial, hospitality, and government projects in India.

Platinum

Global Leadership

The highest level of IGBC green building certification, recognising buildings that achieve near-best-in-class sustainability performance. Platinum projects typically incorporate advanced energy modelling, high-efficiency systems, and strong site and materials strategies.

BENEFITS OF GREEN BUILDINGS

  • 30–50% reduction in energy consumption

    Achieved through passive design strategies, high-performance glazing, efficient HVAC systems, and renewable energy integration, all verified through energy modelling during the IGBC certification process.

  • Up to 40% reduction in freshwater demand

    Through water-efficient fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and sewage treatment plant reuse, IGBC certified buildings significantly reduce pressure on municipal water supply.

  • 40–65% reduction in building water consumption

    Combining indoor water efficiency with effective landscaping and site water management, certified green buildings achieve substantial reductions in total water use across both potable and non-potable systems.

  • 30–40% reduction in operational cost of buildings

    Lower energy and water bills, reduced waste disposal costs, and longer equipment life cycles translate into significantly lower operating costs over the building's lifetime, typically recovering certification investment within three to five years.

  • Govt. incentives & Green investments

    Several state governments offer property tax rebates, additional FAR, and faster approvals for IGBC certified buildings. Green-rated assets also attract ESG-focused investors and command rental premiums of 10 to 15 percent over conventional buildings.

These outcomes are benchmarks that PEC Greening India has helped clients achieve across real projects. An experienced IGBC consultant builds these savings into the design from day one rather than retrofitting them later at significantly higher cost.

IGBC Green Building Certification Across Every Building Type

IGBC has one of the broadest sets of rating programs of any green building council in India. As an accredited IGBC consultant, PEC Greening India has active experience across the following programs:

  • IGBC New Buildings: For commercial offices, IT parks, retail, and mixed-use developments under construction
  • IGBC Existing Buildings: For buildings already in operation looking to achieve or upgrade their green certification
  • IGBC Green Homes: Residential projects including independent homes, apartments, and group housing
  • IGBC Green Townships: Large integrated townships and master-planned developments
  • IGBC Green Factory Buildings: Manufacturing facilities, industrial parks, and logistics centres
  • IGBC Green Healthcare: Hospitals, clinics, and medical colleges
  • IGBC Green Campuses: Educational institutions, universities, and research facilities
  • IGBC Data Centres: Mission-critical facilities with high energy and cooling demands

What Makes PEC Greening India the Right IGBC Consultant for Your Project

IGBC certification is a technically detailed process and the quality of support you get from your consultant directly affects the rating you achieve. Here is what sets PEC Greening India apart:

  • Accredited and experienced: Our team includes IGBC Accredited Professionals (IGBC AP) with hands-on certification experience across every major building typology.
  • Proven project portfolio: We have delivered IGBC green building certification across residential, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, data centre, and industrial projects for clients like Lemon Tree Hotels, NTT Data Centres, ICICI Bank, Hiranandani Group, and TCS.
  • Design-stage integration: We engage early with your architects and MEP team to embed IGBC credits into the design before drawings are finalised, saving time and avoiding expensive revisions later.
  • End-to-end support: From registration and pre-assessment through documentation, submission, and CII IGBC liaison, we manage the entire certification process so your team can focus on construction.
  • National reach: Based in Mumbai with active projects across 20+ states, we bring consistent quality regardless of where your project is located.

Frequently Asked Questions

An IGBC consultant is a professional or firm with expertise in the Indian Green Building Council rating system, appointed to guide a project through the IGBC green building certification process. Their role covers selecting the right rating program for the building type, advising the design and construction teams on credit-specific strategies, preparing and submitting documentation to the CII IGBC, and coordinating with auditors during the review process. PEC Greening India is an IGBC Accredited Professional firm with a delivery record spanning over 1,000 projects across India.

IGBC green building certification is a voluntary assessment and recognition program run by the Indian Green Building Council, a body under the Confederation of Indian Industry. It evaluates buildings against sustainability criteria covering energy efficiency, water conservation, material selection, indoor environment quality, site management, and waste reduction. Projects are awarded one of four ratings based on points scored: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. IGBC has developed separate rating programs for over 20 building types including homes, offices, hospitals, campuses, factories, townships, and data centres.

The choice depends on your project type, ownership structure, and objectives. IGBC is the most widely used rating system for private sector projects in India and covers the broadest range of building types. GRIHA is the national system preferred for government and centrally funded projects. LEED is internationally recognised and is commonly chosen for corporate offices targeting global tenants or institutional investors. An experienced IGBC consultant can assess your project brief and recommend the most suitable system, or a combination of systems, based on your specific goals.

IGBC certification is not mandatory for most private sector projects in India. It is a voluntary program. However, several state governments and municipal authorities offer incentives such as additional Floor Area Ratio, property tax rebates, and expedited approvals for IGBC certified buildings. Some corporate occupiers, institutional investors, and real estate developers have also made IGBC or equivalent green certification a requirement for new developments as part of their ESG and sustainability commitments.

For new buildings, the IGBC certification process runs alongside the project schedule. Registration typically happens at the design stage and provisional certification is awarded after the project is complete and all documents are submitted. Final certification is confirmed after a site audit by a CII-empanelled assessor. The total timeline from registration to final certification generally ranges from 12 to 30 months depending on the project size, complexity, and how early the IGBC consultant was brought on board. Early engagement consistently leads to faster certification and better ratings.

Yes. IGBC has a dedicated rating program for existing buildings called IGBC Green Existing Buildings, designed for structures already in operation. The process involves assessing current performance across energy, water, operations, maintenance, and indoor air quality, identifying gaps against IGBC benchmarks, implementing targeted improvements, and submitting documentation for review. PEC Greening India has helped several corporate clients including banks, IT companies, and hospitality groups achieve IGBC green building certification for their existing facilities.