BROAD India
The Role of Non-Electric Chillers in Green Building Certifications (LEED & IGBC)
Jan 30, 2026
9 min read
Sustainable Construction
The Role of Non-Electric Chillers in Green Building Certifications (LEED & IGBC)
Green building certifications like LEED and IGBC are becoming market differentiators, tenant attractions, and regulatory requirements. HVAC systems, as the largest energy consumers, are pivotal for earning certification points. BROAD's non-electric absorption chillers (VAM) offer thermal-energy-based cooling that supports high certification scores while providing operational benefits.
Understanding Green Building Certifications in India 🌱
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
- Developed by USGBC
- Point categories: Energy & Atmosphere, Water Efficiency, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Sustainable Sites
- Certification Levels: Certified (40–49 pts), Silver (50–59 pts), Gold (60–79 pts), Platinum (80+ pts)
IGBC (Indian Green Building Council)
- Part of CII; India-specific green building certifications
- Rating systems include: Green New Buildings, Existing Buildings, Homes, Factories, Healthcare, Data Centers
- Certification Levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum
Both systems aim to reduce energy consumption, minimize environmental impact, and improve indoor environments.
How Non-Electric Chillers Contribute to Certification Points 💡
| Category | Contribution by BROAD VAM | Points Earned |
|---|---|---|
| Energy & Atmosphere | Reduces electrical consumption (500 TR VAM replaces 300–350 kW electric load), supports solar/biogas integration, reduces peak demand | 15–25% of HVAC energy points, renewable energy credits, 1–2 demand response points |
| Enhanced Refrigerant Management | Water as refrigerant: ODP=0, GWP=0, zero emissions | Typically 1 point, differentiating factor |
| Indoor Environmental Quality | Quiet operation (15–20 dB lower), precise humidity control | Acoustic performance & thermal comfort credits (1–2 pts) |
| Innovation in Design | Waste heat recovery, trigeneration/CCHP, carbon footprint reduction | 1–2 points per innovative strategy + exemplary performance bonus |
Real-World Examples Using BROAD VAM 🌍
LEED Platinum Office Tower, Bangalore
- 50,000 m² commercial office
- 800 TR exhaust-fired VAM + rooftop solar thermal
- Energy performance: +42% vs baseline (12 pts)
- Renewable energy: 18% of total building energy (4 pts)
- Refrigerant management: 1 pt
- Innovation: waste heat recovery 2 pts
- Total contribution: 19 pts (~25% of Platinum requirement)
- Annual energy savings: ₹1.8 cr, CO₂ reduction: 1,850 tons/year
IGBC Gold Hospital, Mumbai
- 300-bed multispecialty hospital
- 600 TR steam VAM using medical waste heat
- Energy efficiency: +38% vs benchmarks (15 pts)
- Water heating efficiency: 60% from waste heat (3 pts)
- Indoor air quality: improved dehumidification (2 pts)
- Total VAM contribution: 20 pts
- Continuous cooling during grid failures, 35% lower boiler fuel consumption
IGBC Platinum Industrial Facility, Gujarat
- 75,000 m² pharmaceutical manufacturing
- 1,200 TR hot water VAM using process waste heat
- Energy optimization: 48% HVAC energy reduction (18 pts)
- Waste heat utilization: 3 bonus pts
- CO₂ reduction: 2,400 tons/year (4 pts)
- Total VAM contribution: 25 pts
Certification Strategy & Integration 🏗️
- Design Phase: Engage BROAD early, right-size, identify waste heat, coordinate with MEP, document energy models.
- Detailed Design: Configure VAM (steam, hot water, exhaust), integrate with building systems, prepare documentation.
- Construction: Equipment installation, commissioning, operator training.
- Certification & Operations: Submit data, continuous monitoring, plan recertification.
Comparison: Electric Chillers vs BROAD Non-Electric Chillers ⚡
| Aspect | Electric Chillers | BROAD VAM Chillers |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Performance | Baseline/modest improvement | 30–50% better than baseline |
| Renewable Integration | Difficult (solar PV) | Easy (solar thermal, biogas, biomass) |
| Refrigerant Impact | High GWP (675–2,088) | Zero GWP (water refrigerant) |
| Innovation Potential | Limited | High (waste heat, CCHP, hybrid) |
| Operational Resilience | Grid-dependent | Independent (thermal energy) |
| Maintenance Complexity | High (compressor service) | Lower (absorption cycle) |
| Indoor Environment | Standard | Superior (quiet, humidity control) |
💡 Ready to Maximize Green Building Points?
BROAD's non-electric VAM chillers provide energy efficiency, operational resilience, and innovation advantages to help your project achieve LEED or IGBC certification.
BROAD Air Conditioning India Pvt. Ltd. (BROAD India) is a subsidiary of BROAD Group.
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