About
Background
In Indian economy, construction sector accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the development investment and contributes to around 8.5 per cent of GDP. In recent times contemporary buildings are increasingly demanding and consuming more energy and resources in their construction and operation. Genuine concerns on safety, sustainability and environment are thus forcing the industry to adapt and adopt strategies for disaster resistant construction, water management, waste management and energy conservation among others. All these macro drivers are challenges from all fronts for the construction industry. With climate change, energy, water efficiency and waste management becoming areas of national concern, sustainability and green can no longer be ignored. Today, in most parts of the world, sustainable developments are slowly replacing conventional construction and building practices in an effort to minimise the negative impacts on the environment as much as possible. India too, is among the countries, which are in the vanguard of environmental protection.
Through this 5th GRIHA Regional Conference 'Shaping Sustainable Future' we will focus on Sustainable Development and Policy Actions that are determining the course of Indian Construction Sector. The conference sessions will explore the policy mechanisms at various levels - from national level to a community level - to achieve the goal of Urban Sustainability. The conference is organised by Pune based organisation 'Sustainability Initiatives' in association with ADaRSH, a secretariat jointly set up by The Energy Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi and the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Govt. of India to administer the GRIHA rating system.
Theme
The building sector is being governed by a number of policy initiatives, all aimed at Sustainable Urban Development
Day 1 of the conference will discuss the broader concepts of Sustainability and Policy Actions in India. Policies like Environmental Clearance under the Environmental Conservation Act, Energy Conservation Building Code guidelines under Energy Conservation Act and Sustainable Tourism under Eco-Tourism Policy will be be discussed. The sessions will discuss urban level initiatives pertaining to these policies through case-examples of Gujarat Energy Development Authority, Maharashtra Energy Development Authority, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, etc. All these policies are going to have a profound effect on the way the construction industry operates in the coming years and hence one needs to be aware about them.
Day 2 will be focused towards the Built Environment and strategies for Sustainable building. The first session will explore Sustainability in the Built Environment through design. The topics will explore how GRIHA augments Sustainable Development through its rating systems for different types of buildings and exploring traditional wisdom for making our construction practices more resource efficient. The next session will be focused on environmental technologies which help in sustainable management of resources in buildings. Technologies for Solid Waste management, Water conservation, Renewable Energy integration, Rain Water Harvesting among others will be discussed. The audience will also get to learn from exemplary case-studies of buildings which have shown high performance through their design and operations.
Speakers' Profile
The conference will have eminent National and International Speakers sharing their experiences and showcasing their initiatives. These renowned speakers will talk about the Challenges and Opportunities that our cities face now and will do in the future, regarding management of natural resources and minimum impact on the environment, and how these can be tackled through an informed Sustainable Development leading to a Green Future.
Audience Profile
- Developers looking for new and emerging market potential
- Professionals in the building industry who wish to be emerging leaders
- Architects who wish to have a competitive edge in the market
- Consultants who want to extend their services in this new sector
- Service providers who want to know how technology/services can be better integrated
- Decision makers who wish to incorporate Green Design Practices in policy
- Students aiming to pursue a career in Green Design, Architecture and Environmental Management
