The stage is set for the 16th GRIHA Summit, a flagship event organized by the GRIHA Council, scheduled to take place on December 4-5, 2024, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The summit, themed “Accelerating Climate Action in the Built Environment,” aims to revolutionize design, construction, and urban management practices to tackle climate change effectively.
Aligned with India’s ambitious Viksit Bharat @2047 vision, the summit integrates sustainable urban development with economic growth, social progress, environmental stewardship, and good governance.
Highlighting the urgency for action, Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI and President of GRIHA Council, stated, “The built environment, while a major contributor to global carbon emissions, offers immense potential for impactful change. By prioritizing energy efficiency, green infrastructure, and sustainable urban planning, we can reshape how we build and live, fostering innovation and environmental stewardship.”
Adding to this, Mr. Sanjay Seth, Vice President and CEO of GRIHA Council, emphasized, “Buildings are more than structures; they are the backbone of society. Transforming our builtscapes into sustainable and low-carbon spaces is critical. Energy-efficient smart buildings and sustainable materials must define the future of urban development, ensuring environmental protection and improved quality of life.”
Agenda and Highlights
The two-day summit will feature four plenary sessions and six thematic tracks, addressing key topics such as:
-Managing urban heat
-Exploring biophilic designs and innovative construction materials
-Incentivizing low-carbon development
-Role of communities in urban transformation
-Retrofitting existing infrastructure
The event will also showcase advancements in sustainable materials and technologies, live architectural models from a design competition, and a key exhibit featuring carbon-negative wall tiles that offset 220 gm of CO2 per sqm.
A side event titled “Scaling Up Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Technologies in Buildings in India” will be held in collaboration with GIZ India, Ornate Solar, and TERI on December 5. Additionally, a Green Building Tour to Gujarat Sadan in New Delhi is scheduled for December 3, 2024.
Community and Regional Outreach
In the lead-up to the Summit, the GRIHA Council has organized Regional Conclaves in cities like Lucknow, Jaipur, and Hyderabad, with upcoming events planned for Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, and Guwahati. Community-driven activities such as the Green Carnival, engaging over 50 schools, and a Plogging Event in Lajpat Nagar Central Market, have amplified the summit’s reach.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The Summit has garnered support from prominent partners, including the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, and Rajasthan, and industry leaders like Knauf, AIS Glass, ARS Steel, and Union Bank of India.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will also be signed between Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and GRIHA Council to promote sustainability practices in educational institutions.
The 16th GRIHA Summit is poised to bring together policymakers, architects, urban planners, researchers, financial institutions, and civil society to drive India’s transition to a Net Zero nation by 2070.
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