Mainstreaming of Energy-Efficient Technologies and Construction Practices in the Residential Sector in India

Veena Dharmaraj, Mahesh Patankar, and Tanmay Tathagat, International Institute for Energy Conservation
Archana Walia, U.S. Agency for International Development

Keywords

Abstract

‘Mainstreaming of energy-efficient technologies and construction practices’ stands for the acceptance and adoption, of these technologies and practices by the mainstream building industry.

Housing construction in urban India consists of multi-storied, high density housing complexes. Demand for basic infrastructure services like water supply, sewage treatment, electricity has not kept pace with the growth in urban population and the housing boom. An ongoing program has been designed to provide indications about the key factors influencing energy-efficient and environment-friendly housing (Eco-Housing). This program is being implemented in the western Indian city of Pune.

This program in partnership with the urban local body makes an innovative attempt to accelerate adoption of energy efficient technologies and practices in the residential sector using a multi-pronged approach targeted at developers, architects, financial institutions, policy makers, technology and service providers, and end-users The program is characterized by specific interventions, including the development of Eco-Housing performance assessment tool, integration of Eco-Housing policy and fiscal incentives, a demonstration project, capacity building and the development of a sustainable institutional mechanism to mainstream energyefficient housing practices.

Program interventions designed to scale up the adoption of energy efficient technologies by the developer community help create a market for eco-friendly products and services. In turn, economics of scale is expected to ensure rapid transferability and higher benchmarking levels.