Mumbai, Sept. 4 -- The Odisha Lok Bhavan has become the first Lok Bhavan in the country to receive a Platinum certification under the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green Campus Rating System after securing 88 out of 100 points in the assessment. The award places the campus in the highest category of the IGBC rubric and marks it as the first campus to earn Platinum under the revised Green Campus Version one launched in July 2024. The recognition was presented at a programme held at the New Abhishek Hall of Lok Bhavan.
The Governor of Odisha registered pride in the achievement and said the certification reflected collective efforts to transform the premises into a sustainable campus. He attributed the rating to measures including extensive greenery, clean energy generation and adoption of electric mobility and said he planned to present the certificate to the Prime Minister during an upcoming visit to Delhi. He urged other institutions and universities across the state to pursue green certification and to increase environmental awareness.
The campus has more than 80 per cent green cover and achieved over 35 per cent reduction in water consumption through efficiency measures. Lok Bhavan also adopted an all-electric official carcade, becoming the first to fully transition the Governor's official convoy to electric vehicles (EVs). Renewable energy initiatives include an installed solar power capacity of 635 kilowatt (kW) peak and plans for a small wind turbine to increase on-site generation and move towards a net-zero campus.
The IGBC national chairman noted the significance of the rating for broader sustainability efforts and the state administration outlined continued measures to expand rooftop solar and promote renewable adoption in homes and institutions. Officials emphasised that thousands of graduates from local universities could act as ambassadors for environmental protection and sustainable development. The certification is expected to serve as a model for other public campuses seeking formal recognition for green practices.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.