Transforming Lives, One Green Building at a Time - Feature

The IGBC Green Property Show 2024, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry - Indian Green Building Council (CII - IGBC), successfully concluded at the HITEX Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad, from May 17-19, 2024. Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2023, this second edition aimed to educate and encourage prospective home buyers to invest in greener residential buildings certified or pre-certified by IGBC, a premier certification body of green and net zero buildings in India.

Established by the CII in 2001 and with over 13,840 registered Green & Net Zero projects covering 11.82 billion sq ft of Green Building Footprint in India. IGBC has firmly established itself as a leader in sustainable development in the country. Representing a diverse range of stakeholders from the construction industry, including corporate entities, government agencies, architects, product manufacturers, and institutions, the Council strived to extend its reach to the end users of green buildings.

For the Greater and Greener Good
Property owners and occupants were offered a glimpse into the tangible benefits of choosing green buildings over conventional ones. This included lower maintenance costs and reduced energy and water consumption. According to C Shekar Reddy, National Vice Chairman, CII – IGBC & Chairman, IGBC Green Property Show 2024, visitors making this conscious choice will gain intangible benefits such as improved well-being and a healthier lifestyle, all of which aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Circling back to embracing green building practices, the show outlined the benefits, which include promoting energy efficiency, water conservation, and encouraging responsible resource management. Mr Reddy stressed that advocating for these initiatives will prove advantageous for property owners and occupants in the long run. Moreover, it will prioritize the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants.

Further emphasizing the show’s concrete significance, a remarkable act of diverting over 7,631 Kg of waste from landfills was achieved, making it a Net Zero to Landfill Event with the support of RE Sustainability Ltd, a company that offers services to manage waste and create a circular economy. 

On that note, he believed that the show’s impact resonated with the common man. “Citizens of Hyderabad were left inspired and would continue their commitment to make Hyderabad and the State of Telangana, greener and sustainable for generations together,” he shared.

Sustainability Remains in Simplicity
Unlike a theme-based conference, this event focused on practical and accessible strategies for everyday sustainability. “IGBC believes that ‘Sustainability Remains in Simplicity’, emphasizing that even small, daily actions can make a significant impact,” Mr Reddy averred. “Participants learned how simple activities such as waste segregation, installing efficient water fixtures, gardening, and encouraging local flora and fauna can contribute to larger sustainability goals.” 

By highlighting these actions, the event illustrated that sustainability extends beyond luxury projects and can be seamlessly integrated into everyday life. He mentioned, “During the main event, IGBC carefully curated 15 technical sessions that covered topics related to the common man, from Urban Gardening to Cybersecurity and Road Safety.” 

This in turn created a collaborative and inclusive environment on which he commented, “This approach makes the concept of sustainability more relatable and achievable for the common man, reinforcing that everyone has a role to play in the nation’s goal of becoming a Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2070.”

IGBC-rated: A Sustainable Seal of Approval
As word spread regarding the return of a one-of-a-kind event, more than 12,000 visitors showed up, eager to interact with experts and gain valuable insights into the benefits of investing in IGBC-certified or Pre-Certified green residential projects. The show provided a unique platform for home-seekers and developers to explore sustainable living solutions.

More than 70 leading developers showcased their sustainable products and cutting-edge technologies, highlighting the significant strides the Council has made in the green building movement. “With 32 different rating systems that cut across all categories of buildings and built environments, IGBC has well-defined standards and guidelines that help companies and communities alike adopt sustainable practices,” Mr Reddy mentioned. Furthermore, IGBC-rated green buildings have demonstrated reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and construction waste compared to conventional buildings. 

Elaborating on the reductions, he elucidated that, on average, IGBC-rated green buildings reduce electricity consumption by up to 30 percent and water usage by up to 50 percent. “Green buildings reduce dependency on municipal resources while ensuring that occupants benefit from reduced maintenance costs.” he added. “IGBC ratings also encourage the use of local materials, from within a 400 km radius, which reduces the carbon footprint of the procurement process.”

Furthermore, it encourages sustainable transportation practices such as walking to work, public transport utilization, carpooling, and the use of electric vehicles, therefore greatly reducing individual carbon emissions. By exclusively showcasing IGBC-certified and Pre-Certified projects during the event, the commitment of these developers to creating sustainable and green buildings was highlighted.

The Prelude
The event stood out for its thoughtful approach to creating awareness and fostering sustainable living practices among the public before it commenced. The organizers embarked on a strategic marketing campaign that employed a blend of social media outreach and impactful out-of-home advertising.

Mr Reddy listed out a few of the organizer’s promotional strategies, “Our aim was to reach the common man, we had our promotional posters running across the city. From gated communities LED screens near the lifts, to IT offices and Metro Stations. We educated home buyers to invest in the future through every medium possible. From radios and theatre ads to celebrity messages and newspaper ads. Name it, we've done it.”

Furthermore, the team energetically and creatively engaged with the citizens at a local mall through Hyderabad's First Musical Flashmob to promote and educate about green buildings and its benefits for the generations to come.

Lastly, he pointed out, “We also had key developers and articles about green buildings, beating the heat with green buildings, and key stakeholder messages across media to spread awareness and educate the common man.” With that in mind, there is no doubt that these extensive promotional efforts resulted in the event’s memorable success.