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Sustainable development

Energy security - Reasearch on the status of energy efficient technology

At India
From 2007 to 2008
By Arkitekter Utan Gränser - Sweden
Local partners: SATVA
Donors: ADEME and BEE

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE INDIAN PRIVATE SECTOR: CURRENT STATUS AND ISSUES AT STAKE

India has made rapid strides towards economic self-reliance over the last few years. Rising population, increasing standards of living and rapid urbanization result in an increase in building construction activities. At the same time, the importance of energy efficient buildings has assumed great urgency. In light of fast depleting energy resources, energy scarcity and increasing environmental pollution, innovative ways to cut down energy consumption are necessary.

To achieve the collective objectives of energy security required by the development and environmental protection, eco-sensitive buildings or ‘green buildings’ that utilize their resources judiciously, minimize their emissions and have efficient waste management systems, should be considered and designed.

It is imperative that the shift to more sustainable and energy efficient practices are made mainstream, rather than remain on the fringes of the industry. The present study lies in the framework of this reality and aims at defining strategies in order to improve the energetic performance of buildings. In the framework of the bilateral agreement signed between ADEME (French Agency for the Environment and Energy Management) and BEE (Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency), both parties have agreed to collaborate on certain number of issues pertaining to the promotion of energy efficiency. One of the topics of paramount interest is the promotion of energy efficiency in the building sector. Housing is an important economic sector in India. The total demand for housing is estimated at 2 million units per year and the total housing shortfall is estimated to be 19.4 million units. The government has envisaged considerable investment target for this sector and it has launched important initiatives to encourage urban regeneration in large and medium-scale cities. Also, building developers are involved in developing modern housing colonies to satisfy the needs of the middle-class population. The present context seems favourable to promote the concept of energy efficient housing with high environmental quality as a component of urban renewal schemes. While efforts are on in India to develop building codes, laws and regulations, parallel activities could be undertaken to assist the active stakeholders to adopt sustainable construction practices. This is precisely the scope of this research implemented by A&D and SATVA/INDE:
it aims at giving a picture of the status of green building development in India and exploring potential and possibilities to mainstream energy efficiency as relevant to the Indian scenario. In other words this overview bears witness to the vitality of the green market and seeks to help promoting the concept of energy efficiency with high environmental quality amongst regular stakeholders. The key targets of the projects are:
1. urban authorities
2. architects, designers, engineers
3. builders and developers
4. sector-specific financial institutions
5. manufacturers and suppliers of energy efficient and low-energy building technologies
6. building energy and environment specialists
7. professional bodies
8. associations, NGOs

Category: Research Medium / Technology / Material: Aluminium composite panel Typology: Development
aluminium composite panel
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