Last week, the US Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that India has ranked third in the world on its annual list of the top 10 countries and regions for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in 2021. The ranking highlights countries and regions outside the United States that are making significant strides in healthy, sustainable, and resilient building design, construction, and operations. India certified a total of 146 buildings and spaces to LEED, representing nearly 2.8 million gross area square meters (GSM) of space. This marks a nearly 10% increase in LEED certified space in India from 2020.

India ranks third on the list behind China, which topped the list with more than 14 million GSM, and Canada which certified more than 3.2 million GSM. India has found itself consistently placed within the top three countries, representing the ever-growing domestic demand for LEED certification in the country as a means to reduce emissions, decrease environmental impact, and support health and well-being. In India, LEED is administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), which has been working relentlessly towards accelerating the adoption of green buildings across the country.

“For nearly three decades, LEED has played a key role in sustainability efforts around the world,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC and GBCI. “India’s continued presence among the top three countries for LEED outside of the U.S. in 2021 is a testament to its focus on sustainable development and achieving its Paris agreement targets. India’s continued momentum in adopting LEED across sectors will play a large role in ensuring the overall wellbeing of its citizens and communities in the coming years.

The pandemic has highlighted the fact that green buildings are not the solution of tomorrow, they are a solution for now. In line with this, we are confident that India will continue to make great strides in its commitment towards securing the overall wellbeing of its citizens as it seeks to achieve a greener and net zero future for its citizens,” Templeton said in a press release.

The analysis used to develop the list ranks countries in terms of LEED-certified GSM space as of December 31, 2021. The United States is not included in the list but remains the world’s largest market for LEED with more than 26 million GSM certified during the year.

Among the many projects in India that adopted LEED in 2021 include the CESC House in Kolkata, the First Heritage Building in India, which received a LEED Gold rating and was recertified to LEED Platinum in 2021. The Ankit Gems Diamond Factory in Gujarat, was awarded with a LEED Platinum certification for its diamond manufacturing facility in Surat. DLF achieved LEED Platinum for both its Cyber City project as well as for their retail projects Avenue Mall and The Chanakya under the LEED O+M rating system. ITC Hotels was the first hotel in the world to achieve LEED Zero Carbon Certifications for their two properties in the south – ITC Windsor at Bangalore and ITC Grand Chola, Chennai.

“India is one of the leading nations when it has come to adopting green buildings. Despite the ongoing pandemic, India has witnessed a nearly 10% increase in its LEED GSM when compared to 2020, thereby highlighting its focus on pursuing sustainable growth and development,” said Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, managing director – Southeast Asia & Middle East, GBCI, in the press release.

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, it provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. According to the USGBC, millions of people are living, working and learning in LEED-certified buildings around the world. It adds that LEED certified buildings are proven to save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people. They are a critical part of addressing climate change and enhancing resilience.

LEED provides a framework for healthy, efficient, carbon and cost-saving green buildings. The certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental quality. Projects go through a verification and review process by the GBCI and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points).