June 12 Marks the biggest and first of its kind tie-up in the private sector, Real Estate major K Raheja Corp is working with former US president Bill Clinton-led Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) to retrofit their buildings across the country to cut greenhouse gases.

Mumbai is one of the cities listed from India, where K Raheja Corp has started work on Inorbit Mall in Malad and a hotel in Powai, first in their list of 20-odd buildings to be retrofitted.

While the concept of constructing green buildings is fairly established, retrofitting existing new buildings is comparatively a new concept. And the real estate group, which plans to retrofit all its properties, is not only looking at cuts in energy bills but also at a savvy international image.

Mr. Shabbir Kanchwala, associate vice-president, K Raheja Corp, said, “We have signed a first-ever project development under the Clinton Climate Initiative and are working on the energy audit with Johnsons Control, one of the companies introduced as the leading energy efficiency provider by the CCI. And it’s not just about energy saving”.

Further he added, “Not only will we cut our energy expenditure by 20-25%, but will also save up to 20% water. Moreover, this is also building for the future as we don’t sell any of our properties. Instead, we lease them out to big companies like Microsoft, which like to work in savvy, eco-friendly buildings. We are the first ones to retrofit our buildings, but we are also the first to gain this competitive edge”.

Work has started in Mumbai and Hyderabad, and according to the company, 50 lakh square feet of built space will be retrofitted. For the process, smarter glass varieties (which let in light, not heat) and better suited air-conditioning systems are used. Sewage treatment is also done to conserve and recycle water.

While some government buildings have been retrofitted for cutting carbon emissions, the concept is still picking up in the private sector. Mr. Sanjay Seth, Energy Economist, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, said, “Many government buildings under the CPWD have been retrofitted, like the Rashtrapati Bhawan and the Prime Minister’s Office. The concept is catching up now in the private sector as retrofitting to cut emissions is a win-win situation”.