The world’s first “net-positive energy” botanical garden, and the home of the world’s first net-positive energy restaurant, has been completed in Florida. Switching on the gardens’ solar arrays is the latest advance since the January grand opening of phase one of the gardens’ Master Plan, a $52 million expansion. The gardens’ solar arrays will be monitored for both Living Building and Living Community Petal Certification by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) to demonstrate the project produces more power than it consumes. This project is part of a three-year master plan to expand the 15-acre Sarasota campus of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, an institution dedicated to the research and education of air plants and native plant species. Designed by Texas architecture firm Overland Partners, the new buildings cover a total of 17,468 square meters and include a multi-use parking facility, a research center, and a ticketing booth. Read More

The Eastern Railway (ER) in India saved electrical energy worth over Rs 12 crore in the first quarter of 2024-25 through comprehensive measures to conserve both traction and non-traction energy.  By improving power factor and other rebates for non-traction energy bills, ER saved over Rs 77 lakh from April to May. Read More

On June 19, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the new campus of Nalanda University, located near the historic Nalanda ruins in Rajgir, Bihar. The inauguration highlighted the international university’s state-of-the-art facilities, including academic blocks, auditoriums, a student hostel, an international center, an amphitheater, a faculty club, and a sports complex.

The campus operates as a net zero energy, net zero emissions, net zero water, and net zero waste facility, setting a benchmark for sustainable infrastructure in India. USAID India has played a crucial role in providing technical assistance for designing the net-zero campus. The campus stands as a testament to India’s leadership towards net zero transition and commitments relating to UN SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Read More

Club Mahindra has announced that its Madikeri resort has been recognized as India’s first triple net-zero-rated resort by the esteemed Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). The triple net-zero rating acknowledges net zero energy, net zero water, and zero waste to landfill. This rating sets a benchmark on par with international standards, making Club Mahindra Madikeri a significant milestone in sustainable hospitality. Read More

In the fiscal year 2023-24, India has witnessed a remarkable surge in its renewable energy capacity, as reported by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. The country added a record-breaking 18.48 GW, marking a significant increase of over 21% compared to the previous year’s addition of 15.27 GW.

The data showed that solar installations of 12.78GW led the renewable energy capacity addition of 15.27 GW in 2023-24, followed by 2.27 GW of wind energy. Read More

The European Union has formally adopted the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The legislation sets a framework for member states to reduce emissions and energy use in buildings, following a revised directive that was formally adopted by the European Council and the European Commission.

The EPBD mandates zero on-site fossil fuel emissions for new buildings and for publicly owned structures, effective January 1, 2028, and for all other new buildings by January 1, 2030. Read More

Under the Net Zero Buildings Initiative, Mahindra Group and Johnson Controls have launched a cost-free toolkit that will help building and facility owners learn about the best practices of sustainable buildings. The toolkit assesses building parameters, identifies  and implements  conservation measures. It also explains building regulations, available incentives, technology, financing models, and more.
As part of the initiative, Mahindra and Johnson Controls will collaborate closely with national and state governments, think-tanks, and industry associations. This partnership aims to provide visibility on building data for climate progress reporting and to formulate strategies and frameworks. Read More

India retained its third spot on the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) annual list of the top 10 countries and regions for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in 2023. 248 projects, across both buildings and spaces, were certified for LEED in India covering 7.2 million gross square meters (GSM).  The ranking highlights India’s focus on climate change, with a particular emphasis on Green Development and the promotion of environmentally conscious practices. Through LEED, USGBC pushes the market toward high-performing buildings. Read More

The Delhi government has announced an updated Solar Policy for 2024. This revised policy, building upon the amendments made to the State Solar Policy 2016, aims to revolutionize solar adoption in Delhi. This initiative provides additional incentives to consumers opting for solar power generation as well as streamlining the approval processes. The policy represents various incentives such as zero electricity bills for domestic consumers and a drop by 50 percent for commercial and industrial consumers. Domestic consumers could also earn Rs 700-900 per month on the installation of rooftop solar panels. Read More

Karnataka has recently unveiled its “State Energy Efficiency Action Plan,” signaling a strategic transition from traditional to solar-driven electrification of buildings. The plan underscores the significance of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) star ratings for buildings, facilitating the incorporation of elements like energy-efficient lighting, HVAC systems, and renewable energy sources. The Action Plan is divided into two components: a 5-year short-term strategy and a long-term plan targeting significant advancements in energy efficiency by 2031. Read Karnataka’s Energy Efficiency Action Plan

The Sabarmati Multi Modal Transit Hub building in Ahmedabad, Gujarat has installed a 700 kWp solar power plant under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) mode. The hub aims to provide connectivity to other modes of transport and has secured approval for Net- Metering in RESCO mode from Gujarat Energy Development Agency. The solar plant is expected to generate approximately 10 lakh units of green energy annually, with zero investment and maintenance costs incurred by National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) for 25 years. Read More

The Government of Maharashtra launched the “Maharashtra City Decarbonization Roadmap for Energy and Building Sector” for 43 Amrut cities of the state, in Mumbai.
In 2021, around 43 cities of Maharashtra committed towards Cities Race to Zero Campaign. The roadmap was prepared in partnership with C-40 and Environmental Design Solutions as technical experts; and it outlines a path to energy transition for the cities. The City Decarbonization Roadmap identifies strategies at city level for decarbonizing buildings and energy supply, along with strategies for building institutional capacity. Read More