With nearly half a billion people living in densely populated cities, the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect has intensified due to the replacement of natural green spaces with the built environment and the increasing reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems such as air conditioning. Cool Roofs, designed to reflect solar radiation and reduce heat absorption, are emerging as an efficient, low-cost solution to address this issue. These technologies lower indoor temperatures, enhance thermal comfort, reduce energy consumption and mitigate the UHI effect, making them a vital component of sustainable urban living and climate resilience. Recognized globally, Cool Roof technologies are gaining prominence in India as part of sustainable construction practices.

GRIHA Council and NRDC India in collaboration with ASCI as the Knowledge Partner are hosting a Workshop on Cool Roof Adoption in Andhra Pradesh on 25th April 2025, Friday at the Hotel Fortune Murali Park, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India. Aligning with the state government’s vision to mitigate urban heat challenges, enhance energy efficiency and promote sustainable construction, the workshop will focus on strategies to accelerate the adoption of cool roof technologies for sustainable urban planning and development. By gathering experts, policymakers, solution providers, building professionals, real estate developers and other key stakeholders, the workshop aims to identify and highlight potential growth drivers that can boost the uptake of cool roofs in the state.

We invite you to participate in the workshop and share your insights on promoting the adoption of cool roof technologies across India, thereby contributing to developing a sustainable built environment.

GRIHA Council is organizing a Green Building Tour of ABB India Ltd.’s Nelamangala Campus in Bengaluru—a GRIHA Water Positive certified campus—on Thursday, 19 June 2025. The tour will be held as a prelude to the GRIHA Regional Conclave, scheduled for Friday, 20 June 2025, in Raddison Blu Atria, Bengaluru.

The Nelamangala campus is one of ABB India’s flagship facilities, employing nearly 1,500 people and features a cutting-edge robotics centre spread across 3,600 square meters. It delivers advanced robotic applications and digital solutions tailored to the needs of Indian industries. The site also hosts one of Bengaluru’s first smart factories, dedicated to manufacturing ABB’s full range of smart power products.

A standout achievement of the Nelamangala unit is its recognition as the first project to obtain the ‘GRIHA Water Positive Certification’ by GRIHA Council. The Water Positivity Index of the Nelamangala plant stands at 1.25, indicating that the facility replenishes significantly more water than it consumes, while also reducing reliance on groundwater by utilizing secondary sources like rainwater and treated wastewater.

A key highlight of the tour will be the adoption of innovative 6R approach to water sustainability, going beyond traditional water conservation —focusing on rainwater harvesting and recharge; reduction in freshwater usage; recycling of water; real-time monitoring of water consumption and recharge; reuse of treated wastewater; and responsible landscaping practices.

The tour will also serve as a valuable networking platform, bringing together stakeholders from the building industry to engage with experts, exchange ideas, and explore the future of water sustainability.

GRIHA Council invites you to contribute entries to the 12th edition of the annual magazine ‘Shashwat – Let Nature Be’. We welcome articles, blogs, poems, and other creative pieces that explore the theme: “Innovate to Act for a Climate Resilient World”. We encourage you to delve into the sustainability strategies that drive the creation and implementation of effective and innovative action plans. Contributions may include the importance of action plans in achieving specific goals, sharing examples of successful stories, providing insights on best practices and much more.

The entries must be submitted through email to shashwat.griha@gmail.com with the subject line: Article/Blog/Poem/Creatives for Shashwat 2025, latest by 7th of July 2025.

Guidelines for submitting the entries:

A. Entry Guidelines

B. Image & Graphic Guidelines

C. Author Bio Note

• Articles: 800–1000 words (articles exceeding the limit will not be accepted)
• Blogs: 300-500 words
• Poems/Creatives: Up to 250-300 words
• Formatting: Times New Roman, size 12, margins 1” on all sides
• Title: Short and crisp
• File type: Word format only (PDF formats will not be accepted)
• Plagiarism: Strictly prohibited
• Referencing: Chicago Style (17th ed.) – Reference Guide
• Include relevant references/endnotes. Author is responsible for permissions.
• Images per Entry:
  • Articles: 4–6 images (tables or graphs must be shared in editable format)
  • Blogs/Poems: Up to 3 images (Hi-res)
  • Creatives: As per need
  • One author photo (mandatory-formal)
• Format: JPG, max 1 MB, min 300 DPI (not pixelated)
• Sources: Self-clicked or Shutterstock only
• Submission:
  • Images must be in a separate folder (not embedded in Word doc)
  • Include captions for all visuals
  • Graphics (charts/tables) must be high-res and editable
• Word limit: 20–30 words
• Include designation, areas of interest, honors (if any), and contact details
• Submit as a separate Word file
• Example: Dr ABC, CEO at XYZ, has 20 years of experience in sustainable community housing. Contact: abc@example.com | +91 XXXXX XXXXX

Entries will be reviewed by an editorial committee appointed by GRIHA Council. Submissions will be evaluated based on originality, relevance to the theme, depth of insight, and quality of visual content, among other criteria.

NOTE: The selection process ensures fairness and transparency by treating all applications on a chronological basis, i.e., applications will be processed in the order they are received, ensuring that those who sent earliest have the best chance of being selected.

Please visit our website https://www.grihaindia.org/shashwat-magazine for previously published editions of Shashwat magazine for your reference.

GRIHA Council is organising an Online Session on Passive Design Strategies: Learning through Case Studies for industry professionals on 20th August 2025, Wednesday from 1100 hrs- 1500 hrs

The online session aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Passive Design Strategies, focusing on climate-responsive architecture through the lens of real-world case studies. Participants will gain practical insights into optimizing natural light, ventilation, and thermal comfort to enhance building performance and sustainability, with direct applications in professional design practice.

The comprehensive Online Session on Passive Design Strategies: Learning Through Case Studies will:

• highlight passive design strategies for low-impact and resource-efficient buildings in different climate typologies.
• provide an opportunity to interact with industry experts.
• share practical insights into achieving sustainable design and eco-friendly practices in the built environment.

Details of the case studies that will be showcased in the online session:

Registrations for the Online Session on Passive Design Strategies: Learning Through Case Studies are open CLICK HERE to register.

For any assistance with registration, please write back to us at events@grihaindia.org

We look forward to your active participation in the workshop.

GRIHA Council is pleased to announce the 8th Regional Conclave, themed “Innovate to Act for a Climate Resilient World”, scheduled on Friday, 12th September 2025 at the Noor-us-Sabah Palace, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. This regional conclave serves as a significant milestone in the lead-up to the 17th GRIHA Summit, GRIHA Council’s flagship national event, scheduled for 3rd – 4th November 2025 in New Delhi.

In the spirit of showcasing sustainable practices and built environment excellence, a Green Building Tour is being organized on 11th September 2025, a day prior to the conclave. Participants will have the opportunity to visit the GRIHA-rated New Office Building for the Income Tax Department located at Plot No. 47, Arera Hills, Bhopal.

Some highlights of the Project:

• The building uses a passive design technology that help in minimizing environmental effects:
  • Provision of jali’s to allow natural air flow
  • Ventilators on the roof to create stack effect
  • Cavity walls to keep the building thermally comfortable
• The Building Management Systems (BMS) is programmed to put a cap on the building load and optimize the running of various systems.
• The project has installed 150 kWp capacity solar PV system on site which is placed on the terrace in a manner that it not only facilitates RE generation but, also provides shade to the users.

The tour would demonstrate the various sustainable strategies being incorporated in the building design to make it an energy efficient and sustainable building. It is an exciting opportunity to explore green buildings and help create awareness about the importance of going green and can also serve as a case study reference for the delegates. The site visit will help to disseminate knowledge and create awareness on sustainable habitats.