15th Edition Green Building congress 2017

India’s Flagship event on Green Buildings and Built Environment 

Under Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Chapter, Manav Rachna International University, a faculty member, Dr. Nidhi Didwania, Department of Biotechnology, FET, MRIU along with two students from Department of Biotechnology (Ms. Shivani Khare, and Ms. Yashwani, B.Tech/3^rd Sem) and  three students from CSE ( Mr. Prabhu Goyal, Ms. Anmol Chopra,Mr. Shahrukh Kibriya, B.Tech/7th  Sem ) were invited to attend a four-day event on Green Buildings and Built Environment, organized by Indian Green Building Council (established by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)) from 4th – 7th October, 2017 at Jaipur, Rajasthan.

The vision of the Green Building congress 2017 was to enable sustainable built-environment for all and facilitate India to be one of the global leaders in sustainable built-environment by 2025.The theme of the Congress was “Sustainable Built Environment for all”. The participants included the faculty members and students from educational institutions all over India It was represented by all stakeholders of construction industry comprising of Environmentalists, Architects, Builders & Developers, Corporate, Designers, Facility managers, Government, Institutions, Nodal agencies, Product manufacturers & suppliers, Service Consultants.

On the first day, 4th October 2017, the students visited eco-friendly buildings like Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), an Educational Institution; Shree cements Pvt. Ltd, factory and Trimurthi Aurum, residential apartments. Aurum is the first gold rated green building by IGBC in Rajasthan. There was a separate workshop for the faculty members on “Teaching Sustainable building course” at MNIT. The speakers included Dr. Sanjay Mathur, Head, Centre for Energy and Environment, MNIT and Dr. Tarush Chandra, Head, Department of Architecture and Planning, MNIT.

The conference ‘Green Products, Materials & Technologies’ commenced on 5^th of October with inaugural and exhibition opening at HOTEL CLARKS INN. An exhibition was setup by the sponsored companies showcasing the innovative products made by them- a step forward to greener future. Eminent speakers around the globe linked with building resource efficient and green environment presented their views. Some of the dignitaries were Mr. Jaiprakash P. Shroff; chairman and managing director of SHROFF GROUP, Mr. John Mandyck- Chief Sustainability Officer at United Technologies Corporation and chairman of urban green Building Council.  Mr. Joseph Allen; Assistant Professor of Exposure Assessment Science- Department of Environment Health; HARVARD T.H. CHAN SCHOOL of Public Health laid stress on indoor air quality. A great panel discussion was hoisted which included top notch professionals around the globe and India. The panel included Ms.Terri Wills; CEO of World Green Building Council; Mr. Thomas Mueller; President & CEO and Founding director of the Canada Green Building Council;Ms. Lisa Bate; global ambassador of sustainable design , Rudolf Pienaar; Deputy Chairman of the Green Building Council South Africa and the member of Board of Directors of World green Building Council, Mr. Tai Lee Siang; Chair of the Board World Green Building Council and Mr. S. Raghupathy; Board member of WGBC and Deputy Director General of CII (CONFEDERATION OF INDIAN INDUSTRIES).

Next day began with a Master Speaker Session 1 and 2 on theme: Green development for social benefits and preparing for Low Carbon Future respectively. A Panel Discussion was kept on theme: ‘The Spirit of Rajasthan’ the session chair was headed by: Mr Jaimni Uberoi; Chair, IGBC Jaipur Chapter & Managing Director, J Moha. The lead presentation by Mr Gauranga Das Director, Govardhan Eco Village, Maharashtra was a source of great inspiration and an excellent example of low carbon future. Govardhan Eco-village is a model farm community and retreat center highlighting the need for us to live in harmony with ourselves, nature and the sacred. The evening showcased the Emmersons Award Show wherein innovations under efficient energy systems and regulation under varied forms were rewarded. The evening was highlighted by mesmerizing dance performances by the Zenith Dance Company.

The last day of the conference was marked by Seminars for affordable Green Homes, Green Schools and Green Hospitals. The conference ended on a note of spreading awareness and understanding sustainable ethics, the streamline behind the conference. With industry’s whose who , top notch business magnets and students across the country spurred up for the event which centralized every sector focusing on one major theme green buildings for a better future accelerated the fuel and ignited our minds to walk in the path of sustainability not for the present living generations but the future generation also.

The students had personal interaction sessions with national and international experts Mr. B. K Sinha, Malaysia Green Building Confederation, Dr. Joseph Allen, Harvard University, Dr. Kath Williams, Ms. Maija Virta, CEO of the Green Building Council Finland and many more. They participated in the Selfie activity and were presented mementos by IGBC.