Roadmap to implementation of thermal comfort policies in affordable housing
Surjyatapa Ray Choudhury, Nithya Ramesh*, Priyani Pranab
Jana Urban Space Foundation, Bengaluru, India
DOI: 10.62744/CATE.45273.1152-472-480
Email: nithya.ramesh@janausp.org
Abstract:
The residential sector contributes to 24% of India's annual Green House Gas emissions within which
50% comes from heating and cooling needs. India's thermal comfort demands need to be energy-efficient and affordable to meet the 18 million low-income urban housing deficit. Here, we discuss the implementation of thermal comfort policies in affordable housing in India. We cross-examine the current implementation mechanism of thermal comfort and affordable housing policies and identify gaps in (a) clarity of roles and responsibilities of actors, (b) communication channels between actors, and (c) policy support instruments. We hypothesize that the gap between policies and their implementation comes from a lack of standardization and convergence between the two types of policies. We propose a roadmap to implementation via a 4-step approach: 1) outlining redefined roles and responsibilities of actors, 2) establishing a participatory planning process, 3) supplementing policies with implementation support, and 4) providing a framework for capacity building. The proposed roadmap can act as a guide to policy makers at the Union and State level, and implementation actors at the Urban Local Body level.
Keywords: Affordable Housing, Implementation Mechanism, Policy Implementation, Energy-efficient Construction, Thermal Comfort Policies