INDIACSR News Network
Bangalore: Phase-II of EMC India Center of Excellence (COE), a 113,235 sq.ft facility located in Bangalore, was recently awarded with Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the highest designation from the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) green building certification program. Phase-II of EMC India COE earned a total of 91 points as against a minimum of 80 required to earn the Platinum title.
Following this, EMC India COE received a felicitation certificate from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) at the Green Building Congress, India’s flagship event on green buildings, held in Hyderbad recently.
“EMC India COE is committed to reach the highest level of environmental protection and corporate social responsibility in everything we do. It was this commitment that drove the team to strive towards designing, constructing, and applying for Platinum LEED accreditation. We focus on optimizing our operations, and collaborating for an environmentally sustainable world. Being a Platinum LEED certified building helps us stay focused on our efforts towards environmental commitment, which is also one of the key focus areas under EMC India COE’s sustainability initiatives,” said Sandeep Kejriwal, CFO & Executive Sponsor – Corporate Sustainability, EMC Corporation, India Center of Excellence.
In 2011, Phase I of EMC India COE was awarded Gold LEED certification from USGBC, where more than 75 percent of the construction waste generated during construction was used for recycling and also managed to reduce water usage by more than 40 percent. It earned 33 points out of a total 57.
Key features instituted at EMC India COE Phase II that qualified them for Platinum LEED certification includes:
– Energy-efficient light fixtures, daylight sensors, movement sensors
– More than 20% of recycled content (both pre- and post-consumer waste) and rapidly renewable materials used in the construction of the building
– Recycled 95% of the construction waste
– Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood in furniture
– Green Guard Certified furniture and chairs
– Low-emitting systems furniture and seating
– Access to daylight and seated views
So far both Phase-I and Phase-II of EMC India COE have realized significant energy savings and have reduced power costs by 35% with usage of highly efficient light fixtures, daylight sensors, movement sensors etc.
Green laminates for walls are used instead of gypsum and this has reduced the maintenance cost of Phase II by 75%. The facility has seen 40% reduction in portable water consumption so far and is able to save approximately 105 KL of water every day.
EMC India COE has also partnered with scrap vendor experts in material recycling to ensure more than 90 percent diversion of its waste from local landfills.
As the next step, EMC India COE is working towards measuring the facility carbon foot print and also devising carbon emission targets for the next year. Also, efforts are on to upgrade the EMC India COE Phase I, which is currently Gold LEED certified, to achieve the Platinum LEED certification. Phase- 3, which is still coming up, will also be designed keeping in mind Platinum LEED certification standards.
(www.indiacsr.in)
