Bombay House gets green gold rating among heritage buildings

MUMBAI: The 91-year-old Bombay House, the headquarters of the salt-to-software $97 billion Tata group, has become the country's first heritage building to get the prestigious green rating from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

The Bombay House has been awarded under IGBC's green existing buildings gold (operations & maintenance) rating system, the over 140-year-old group said in a statement.

Built in 1923, the iconic Bombay House is situated in the Heritage Mile area of south Mumbai and is just a stone throw away from the RBI headquarters as well as swanky BSE Towers. It has been rated gold for implementing measurable strategies and solutions in five categories--site & facility management, water efficiency, energy efficiency, health & comfort and innovation, the statement added.

Some of the sustainability practices at the Bombay House recognised by the IGBC include its green policy, over 20 per cent energy savings as the building has achieved a 4-star rating from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, over 50 per cent water savings, among others.

That apart, the IGBC has recognised its contribution to the maintenance of neighbouring areas like the nearby Esso Park with eco-friendly landscape practices and contributing towards the maintenance of the Horniman Circle Park etc.

The USD 97 billion Tata group comprises over 100 operating companies, 32 of them publicly traded, in seven sectors--communications and IT, engineering, materials, services, energy, consumer products and chemicals.

The group is present in over 100 countries and reaches out to 150 countries. As much as 62.7 per cent of its USD 96.79 billion in FY13 came from overseas businesses. Tata companies employ over 5,40,000 worldwide.