Building the Business Case for Sustainable Infrastructure
As India accelerates infrastructure and real estate development, sustainability is increasingly becoming a strategic consideration in how projects are planned, built and operated. The focus is shifting from viewing green practices as an added cost to recognising their potential for improving efficiency, resilience and long-term asset value. Ms. Minal Srinivasan, Managing Director of Kesari Infrabuild Pvt Ltd, shares her perspective on the adoption of green building practices, the barriers to wider implementation, emerging technologies and the role of industry collaboration in shaping a more sustainable built environment.
1. How can green building principles become a standard part of infrastructure planning rather than an afterthought?
The shift begins when sustainability is treated as a core design principle rather than a compliance requirement. That transition is already underway. Government policies are increasingly promoting sustainable construction through green building certifications, incentives, and evolving regulatory frameworks. At the same time, homebuyers, businesses, and institutional investors are placing greater value on energy-efficient, environmentally responsible developments because they offer lower operating costs, healthier spaces, and stronger long-term asset value. As policy, industry, and market expectations continue to align, green building principles will naturally become an integral part of infrastructure planning.
2. What are the biggest barriers preventing the wider adoption of green buildings in India?
The biggest hurdle is that sustainability is still often viewed through the lens of upfront cost rather than long-term value. The conversation needs to shift from asking, “What does it cost today?” to “What value does it create over the building’s lifetime?” Green buildings deliver tangible returns through lower energy and water consumption, reduced maintenance costs, and improved occupant well-being.
Awareness is another important factor. While buyers are becoming more conscious, there is still a need to better communicate the economic and lifestyle benefits of green buildings. As awareness grows and policy support strengthens, adoption will accelerate naturally.
3. How do you see green buildings contributing to India’s climate and net-zero goals?
One of the biggest opportunities in India’s journey towards net zero lies in transforming the way we design and build our infrastructure. As urbanisation accelerates and demand for housing and commercial spaces continues to grow, sustainable construction will become essential to reducing the environmental impact of the built environment.
Green buildings help lower energy consumption, conserve water, integrate renewable energy, and reduce carbon emissions throughout a building’s lifecycle. The objective is not to slow development but to ensure that growth is efficient, resilient, and environmentally responsible. That is how India can balance infrastructure expansion with its long-term climate commitments.
4. Which emerging technologies are making green buildings more efficient, cost-effective, and future-ready?
Technologies such as rainwater harvesting, wastewater recycling, groundwater recharge systems, and renewable energy integration are becoming integral to modern developments. At the same time, ecological parks, native landscaping, and thoughtfully designed green spaces are enhancing biodiversity while creating healthier environments for residents.
The next phase of sustainable development will also see greater adoption of smart building technologies, energy management systems, and data-driven monitoring that optimise resource consumption throughout a building’s lifecycle. Together, these innovations are making green buildings more efficient, cost-effective, and future-ready.
5. What role should developers, policymakers, and environmental experts play in accelerating green building adoption?
Creating a sustainable built environment requires collaboration across the entire ecosystem. Developers must make sustainability a core design principle rather than a differentiator. Policymakers need to encourage adoption through progressive regulations, practical incentives, and faster approval mechanisms. Environmental experts play an equally important role by ensuring that sustainability strategies are scientifically sound, measurable, and practical to implement.
When these stakeholders work together, sustainable construction moves beyond individual projects and becomes an industry-wide standard.
6. Can sustainable and green buildings deliver long-term business value while remaining commercially viable?
Absolutely. The perception that sustainability comes at the expense of commercial viability is rapidly changing. Green buildings are inherently more efficient, consuming less energy and water while reducing operating and maintenance costs throughout their lifecycle. That translates into stronger asset performance and long-term financial value.
At the same time, customer and investor expectations are evolving. Buyers increasingly seek developments that are efficient, resilient, and environmentally responsible. Sustainability has therefore become far more than an environmental commitment it is a strategic business advantage that enhances competitiveness and future-proofs real estate developments.
