By V. Suresh Chairman, Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)
M. Anand Principal Counsellor, IGBC

Plant-13 Annexe at Godrej & Boyce, Vikhroli, Mumbai has gained the unique distinction of becoming India’s first CIIIGBC rated Net Zero Energy Building. IGBC Net Zero Energy Building rating system is a tool that enables the project team to apply energy efficiency measures, and suggests deployment of appropri a te renewable sources to achieve net zero energy performance. It offers significant reduction in energy consumption and encourages all buildings to have provisions for installation of renewable energy systems on rooftops or the site. Potential Renewable Energy Generating Zone (REGZ) is the maximum space available for installation of renewable energy sources. This helps in meeting energy requirement through the use of renewable sources, thus helping achieve net zero status.
The benefits of adopting Net Zero Energy concepts in a building include the following:
1. Significant improvement in energy efficiency and hence reduction in annual energy consumption to the tune of about 40% with respect to the national baseline.
2. Overall reduction in operational cost.
3. Maximising the use of renewable energy sources.
4. National and international energy benchmarking.
5. Recognition at national and global levels.
6. Reliable source of power supply if combined with energy storage devices.

Plant-13 Annexe is a multiple use office-cum-convention centre located in the Godrej campus at Vikhroli. It has gained the distinction of being self-sustainable – being fully powered by onsite and offsite renewable energy sources. The process of certification covered all the dimensions of Energy Performance and Renewable Energy Sources. Demonstration of improvements in lighting, cooling, equipment efficiency and effective system control through Building Management System (BMS) added to the already stellar performance of the facility. It has resulted in a 40% reduction of energy with respect to the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) baseline. The Green features of PL-13 Annexe include passive architectural design, efficient HVAC and lighting systems, advanced building automation systems, enhanced fresh air ventilation, use of natural light, eco-friendly materials, organic composting, rain water harvesting, and waste water treatment and reuse. Earlier, Plant-13 Annexe, in its efforts to measure, monitor, evaluate and sustain the performance of the building, had registered its project with IGBC under IGBC Existing Building rating system. Based on the Green building features incorporated, the project was earlier awarded IGBC Platinum rating in 2015, and now it has made its mark as India’s first IGBC rated Net Zero Energy Building.

Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd is partnering with World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) as Corporate Activity Partner to advance the dialogue on accelerating the uptake of net zero carbon buildings in the Asia Pacific region. Advancing Net Zero is WorldGBC’s global project, which aims to promote and support the acceleration of net zero carbon buildings to 100% by 2050. WorldGBC has highlighted that Godrej & Boyce, a Godrej Group Company, has created a new benchmark in the field of sustainable buildings. The Net Zero Energy Buildings rating system was launched in 2018 during the Green Building Congress. It is poised to set global benchmarks in energy management, which will go a long way in triggering a net-zero energy building movement, globally. As of now, five projects have registered for net zero certification. The key motivation to adopt net zero is to optimise energy performance of the building with maximum use of renewable energy sources. In the process, the rating system supports reduction of the overall cost of building operation. IGBC Net Zero Energy Buildings rating system is designed for both new and existing buildings, for air conditioned as well as non-air conditioned buildings.
These buildings include offices, IT parks, banks, shopping malls, hotels, hospitals, airports, convention centres, educational institutions, factory buildings and schools.