Context
India's rapid urbanisation is driving a construction boom, with building activities projected to increase fivefold between 2015 and 2050. However, energy efficiency and thermal comfort are often overlooked in building laws and housing construction programmes, leading to climate-damaging structures. Weak legal and administrative requirements, combined with limited use of existing solutions for reducing energy consumption and improving thermal comfort, worsen the situation.
The ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban’ (PMAY-U) scheme, launched in 2015 to address affordable housing needs, provides an opportunity to adopt climate-friendly practices. As cooling systems are expected to drive future energy demand, integrating indoor thermal comfort into housing design is essential.
Objective
Climate resilience and thermal comfort for newly built affordable housing in India have been improved through design guidelines, eco-friendly materials, and advanced construction technologies, promoting buildings that can better withstand climate change impacts.
Approach
The project works in the following fields:
1. It develops plans and guidelines to improve indoor comfort in affordable housing and conducts training programmes for professionals and government officials to help them frame effective thermal comfort policies.
2. It creates design options tailored to different climates, allowing developers to select standard designs, materials, and construction technologies that reduce energy use and improve comfort.
It supports innovative construction methods by working with international partners and testing new technologies at construction sites to refine their use.