Role of Modern Technologies in India’s Affordable Housing

Syllabus: GS 2/Welfare Schemes

In Context

• In the interim Budget 2024, the Finance Minister announced the construction of two crore additional houses over the next five years under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G) and the introduction of a new housing scheme for the middle class.

Importance of  Modern Technologies 

• Within the framework of the PMAY mission, Light House Projects (LHPs) are underway as part of the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC), spanning six sites across six States.
  • These LHPs leverage modern technology and innovative processes so as to reduce construction time and build more resilient and affordable houses for the underprivileged. 
• Additionally, there are ongoing efforts to utilise alternative construction technologies such as Mivan.
  • This technology utilises advanced aluminium formwork, which is recyclable and reusable, to cast and construct various building elements.
  • It surpasses traditional construction methods in terms of speed and quality and has a relatively lower environmental impact due to reduced wastage in the construction phase.

Challenges 

• The extensive use of cement and steel without proper insulation results in increased heat gain from the building envelope, causing thermal distress.
• Consequently, occupants resort to increased use of cooling appliances such as air conditioners.
  • This reliance on cooling appliances triggers a surge in electricity consumption, thereby contributing to elevated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Further, the predominant use of lower efficiency appliances (despite the availability of high efficiency appliances) owing to lower purchase costs leads to higher electricity consumption and resultant greenhouse gas emissions.
• One major hurdle in promoting the adoption of passive designs is the lack of tangible benefits perceived by the end-users owing to a lack of awareness.
• Value Chain related Issues emerge because  This involves architects, engineers, contractors, material suppliers, and end-users, each with their own priorities, constraints and levels of awareness regarding sustainable practices. 

Solutions 

• The pathway to achieving a harmonious balance among multiple goals lies in the obligatory implementation of guidelines embedded within building codes, as demonstrated by initiatives such as Eco Niwas Samhita.
  • This framework directs attention towards refining building envelope characteristics pertaining to specific climate zones, thereby facilitating a thermally comfortable environment within built spaces. 
• The Smart Ghar III project in Rajkot, an affordable housing initiative under the PMAY Untenable Slum Redevelopment project, serves as a prime example of achieving indoor thermal comfort through passive design implementation.

Conclusion 

• Considering the growing significance of the building sector and its contribution to GHG emissions, the need to address the environmental impact of construction activities is imperative. 
• By weaving environmental consciousness into the fabric of housing initiatives, we can ensure that the homes we build not only shelter individuals but are also robust structures that make residents resilient to a warming climate. 
•  Therefore, to make vulnerable communities resilient to heat stress, it is imperative that building houses go beyond provisioning basic amenities by integrating passive design strategies for thermal comfort. 
• An ecosystem change is needed across the entire value chain to encourage the adoption and rightful implementation of the codes.
  •  This requires raising awareness and fostering collaboration among stakeholders and incentivising developers to prioritise passive designs.