As the world grapples with the realities of climate change, the urgency for meaningful action has never been clearer. India, a major player on the global stage, has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. This ambitious goal places the spotlight on the construction industry, a significant contributor to the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
Cement production, a cornerstone of the construction industry, is a major source of greenhouse gases. In fact, in 2021, cement alone was responsible for over 7% of global CO2 emissions. While globally, buildings account for a staggering 40% of energy-related carbon emissions, with 11% attributed to construction materials and processes—what experts call embodied carbon. Given India’s fast-paced development, this figure could be even more concerning locally. As India aims for its net-zero targets, addressing construction-related emissions is non-negotiable.
India’s green construction movement is powered by a mix of government policies and growing market demand. The government has rolled out initiatives like the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), which sets the standard for designing and constructing energy-efficient buildings. Another key initiative, the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), provides a framework for sustainable construction practices, offering incentives for those who build green.
But it's not just the government pushing for change. Investors, developers, and consumers alike are prioritizing sustainability. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are increasingly becoming integral to business strategies. In fact, a report by the International Finance Corporation estimates that India’s green building market could hit $1.4 trillion by 2030. Clearly, green construction isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for business too.
‘Operational carbon’ is the CO2 emissions attributed to building operations, while ‘embodied carbon’ is attributed to building and infrastructure materials. Operational carbon emissions can be mitigated by implementing a variety of measures such as energy-efficient building systems and renewable energy initiatives. In contrast, the effects of embodied carbon in construction materials are irreversible post-construction.
This highlights the importance of making informed choices about building materials in construction projects to reduce environmental impacts. Not all materials are created equal; depending on how and where they were manufactured, one building component could have much lower embodied carbon than another that looks and performs the same.
Modern construction projects generate mountains of data, and how we manage this information is key to making smarter, more sustainable decisions. Traditionally, data in construction was siloed—each phase of a project kept its own data, limiting transparency. But digital solutions like a Common Data Environment (CDE) are changing the game. By sharing data in real time across all project participants, CDEs boost transparency and help drive sustainability. In short, architects, engineers and contractors can now make informed decisions about the materials they use on their projects while balancing costs, performance and climate impact.
Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) users can achieve this through the integration of the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3). Created by Building Transparency with input from nearly 50 industry partners, including Autodesk, EC3 is a free, cloud-based tool that helps users choose carbon-smart materials.
The EC3 and ACC integration enables connected workflows between Autodesk Takeoff, a 2D and 3D quantification solution in ACC, Autodesk Docs, the centralised document management solution, and EC3. Together, these solutions empower builders to optimise their decisions based on environmental impact. Ultimately, this helps construction firms build more sustainably and paves the way for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the industry.
The EC3 and ACC integration enables connected workflows between Autodesk Takeoff, a 2D and 3D quantification solution in ACC, Autodesk Docs, the centralised document management solution, and EC3.
India is at a crucial juncture in its development journey. As urbanization accelerates, the construction industry’s impact on the environment will only grow. Embracing green construction practices isn’t just a regulatory requirement—it’s a smart business move that can bolster a company’s competitive edge while contributing to a more sustainable future.
Read our ebook Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of Data in Green Construction for a deeper dive into the role of data in transforming green construction.
