A CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT SCOPING PAPER

OPTIMIZING THE
THIRD SKIN
Energy efficiency and thermal
comfort in affordable housing
Writers: Anumita Roychowdhury, Rajneesh Sareen, Mitashi Singh and
Sugeet Grover
Research inputs: Anurag Verma
Editor: Arif Ayaz Parrey
Cover: Ajit Bajaj
Layout: Kirpal Singh
Production: Rakesh Srivastava and Gundhar Das

Akshay Kumar Gupta, Passive Design Consultants, conducted the building simulation analysis
for this study.

Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation works to strengthen the energy security of India by
aiding the design and implementation of policies that support renewable energy, energy
efficiency and the adoption of sustainable transport solutions.

The views expressed and analyses represented in this document do not necessarily represent
those of Shakti. The Foundation accepts no liability for the content of this document, or for the
consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.

© 2020 Centre for Science and Environment

Material from this publication can be used, but with acknowledgement.

Citation: Anumita Roychowdhury, Rajneesh Sareen, Mitashi Singh and Sugeet Grover 2020.
Optimizing the Third Skin: Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort in Affordable Housing, Centre
for Science and Environment, New Delhi

Published by:
Centre for Science and Environment
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area
New Delhi 110 062
Phone: 91-11-40616000
Fax: 91-11-29955879
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.cseindia.org
A CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT SCOPING PAPER

OPTIMIZING
THE
THIRD SKIN
Energy efficiency and
thermal comfort in
affordable housing
4
CONTENTS

Abbreviations 8

1. Why this study? 9

Next steps based on the scoping 12
Performance of conventional and alternative materials
and walling assemblies 13
Network of stakeholders for enabling action 14

PILOT STUDY: TELANGANA 15

2. The pilot 16
Housing demand in Telangana 17
How Telangana adapted PMAY to construct mass housing 18
Construction typology 20
Financing 22
Actors and methodology 25

3. Construction materials 27
Informing BMTPC material attributes 38

4. Energy efficiency 44
Assessment of energy efficiency 44
RETV analysis with alternative materials 49
Daylighting analysis 50

5. Thermal comfort 51
Need a benchmark for thermal comfort 55

6. Summary of issues and the way forward 60

Annexures 63
References 90

5
 LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Actors involved and the implementation framework 26

Figure 2: Methodology adopted to check the performance of ECBC-R parameters,

daylighting and thermal comfort 56

LIST OF GRAPHS
Graph 1: Distribution of components contributing to energy demand of buildings 10

Graph 2: Urban vs rural housing demand in Telangana 17

Graph 3: District-wise housing demand in Telangana 18

Graph 4: Urban–rural distribution of target houses in Telangana 19

Graph 5: District-wise progress of the 2BHK scheme 19

Graph 6: Progress of the 2BHK scheme in Hyderabad 20

Graph 7: The 2BHK scheme as per construction typologies 21

Graph 8: Typology-wise progress of the 2BHK scheme 22

Graph 9: RETV analysis results of alternative materials promoted by BMTPC 50

Graph 10: Results of the thermal comfort analysis 53

Graph 11: Results of thermal comfort analysis by changing materials 54

6
LIST OF MAPS
Map 1: Location of the 2BHK scheme project sites in Hyderabad 23

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Funding pattern adopted for the 2BHK scheme in the GHMC area 22

Table 2: Sub-attributes for evaluation of materials and emerging technologies:

BMTPC vs CSE 43

Table 3: Window and openable areas details 45

Table 4: Exposed surface area details 45

Table 5: RETV analyses of the sample projects 48

Table 6: Orientation wise RETV results of sample projects 48

Table 7: Summary of different analyses to check compliance with ECBC-R 48

Table 8: U-Value of alternate materials promoted by BMTPC 49

Table 9: Desirable wind speeds for thermal comfort 52

7
 ABBREVIATIONS
2BHK Two bedroom, hall and kitchen
AAC Autoclaved aerated concrete
BPL Below poverty line
BMTPC Building Material and Technology Promotion Council
CPWD Central Public Works Department
CSMC Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee
CSE Centre for Science and Environment
CSEB Compressed stabilized earth blocks
DNA Dedicated nodal agencies
EWS Economically weaker section
ECBC-R Energy Conservation Building Code for Residential Buildings or
Eco Niwas Samhita, 2018
EIA Environment Impact Assessment
ESF External shading factor
EPS Extruded polystyrene
FAR Floor area ratio
GBPN Global Buildings Performance Network
GHMC Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation
GDP Gross domestic product
HUDCO Housing and Urban Development Corporation
HFAPoA Housing for All Plan of Action
ICAP India Cooling Action Plan
LIG Low-income groups
MoEF&CC Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
MoHUA Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
NBC National Building Code
NGOs Non-governmental organizations
O&M Operation and maintenance
PMAY Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
RESCO Renewable energy service company
SHGC Solar heat gain coefficient
SLNA State level nodal authority
SLSMC State Level Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee
TSHCL Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd
TSI Tropical Summer Index
TSNPDCL Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited
TSSPDCL Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited
VLT Visual Light Transmittance
WWR Window–wall Ratio
WFRop Openable window-to-floor area ratio

8
CHAPTER 1: WHY THIS STUDY?

It is now well accepted in the policy arena that the massive clamour for homes and the frenetic
pace of construction of residential buildings across India needs strategies to reduce their
environmental footprints. New generation policies are aiming to minimize impact of construction
on land, materials, energy, water and waste. While policy goals of resource and energy savings
are well understood, combining these efficiency goals with the target of delivering thermal
comfort and better quality of life for all, especially the urban poor, has yet to receive adequate
attention.

This discussion has become necessary in view of massive expansion of the affordable
housing sector. Nearly 95 per cent of housing deficit is in the low-income category and only 5
per cent in the higher income category. Under the current flagship programme for affordable
housing in urban and rural areas—Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)—the target is to build
34 million dwelling units by 2022. The new housing policy and state support are catalysing
massive investments in this segment to address housing deficit. India will add 360 million
sq ft building footprint by 2022—nearly equal to 25 per cent of the total commercial space
existing today.

Given the urgency of the housing situation, current policies focus largely on speed, ease and
cost of construction, adopting the use of building materials, and construction technologies and
methods that speed up execution. There is no explicit focus on combining energy and material
efficiency with achieving thermal comfort and improving quality of life.

These aspects can no longer be ignored. The 2015 NITI Aayog report on Energy Efficiency and
Energy Mix in the Indian Energy System (2030) has estimated that the residential sector will
overtake industry as the biggest electricity demand sector by 2030. At one level, more Indians
will get access to pucca houses that will increase overall household demand for electricity. At
another level, urban areas will see increased penetration of air conditioners (ACs): From one
AC per 100 persons in 2015, to 15 ACs per 100 persons in the year 2047. This will result in an
almost fivefold increase in electricity demand of this sector by 2030.

As of 2016, 30 per cent of all electricity consumed in India was by buildings, of which residential
buildings used up 22 per cent.1 Gross electricity consumption by residential buildings was
around 50 TWh in 1995 and 220 TWh in 2015, i.e., a fourfold increase in 20 years. The annual
electricity use per household is predicted to increase from 650 kWh in 2012 to 2,750 kWh by
2050, according to a study by Global Buildings Performance Network.2 Clearly, a significant
portion of the new energy demand will be driven by space cooling needs. The India Energy
Security Scenarios (IESS)tool predicts residential heating and cooling demand will continue
to dominate buildings' energy demand till 2047 (see Graph 1: Distribution of components
contributing to energy demand of buildings).3

The affordable housing sector presents an even more complicated challenge. India Cooling
Action Plan (ICAP), 2019, released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC), estimates that by 2038 a significant percentage of Indian households will be
residing in buildings that would not be able to provide thermally comfortable indoors due to
poor architectural design and warming of the urban environment. A significant proportion of the
population will be without access to air conditioning or without any reliable mechanical means
for cooling. If energy efficiency and thermal comfort goals are not combined, households will

9
OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Graph 1: Distribution of components contributing to energy

demand of buildings
8%
Commercial
lighting and
appliances

25% 40%
Commercial Residential
heating heating
and cooling and cooling

27%
Domestic
lighting
and appliances

Source: Niti Aayog, 2017

make an early crossover and resort to active means of cooling (for example, by adopting ACs)
to keep indoors comfortable.

Therefore, ICAP states that wider proliferation of thermally efficient built spaces with reduced
heat load achieved through green walling (using walling assemblies that address questions of
thermal performance by using optimized materials), shading and enhanced natural ventilation
will be crucial to keep the requirement of active cooling in check. This will allow thermal
comfort to be available for all while minimizing energy footprints of buildings in an increasingly
climate-risked world.

The logic of this argument has led to policy convergence of two big ideas—planning and
designing for energy efficiency as well as for thermal comfort. Both need to be aligned for
best results.

Policies and regulations have converged to create this mandate of co-benefits. Energy
Conservation Building Code (ECBC) has been augmented to bring residential buildings within
its ambit. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has issued the Eco-Niwas Samhita, 2018 (Energy
Conservation Building Code for Residential Buildings or ECBC-R). Notified in December
2018, the code sets minimum performance standards for a building envelope to limit heat
gain (in cooling-dominated climates) and heat loss (in heating-dominated climates). The code
applies to (a) ‘residential buildings’ built on a plot area greater than or equal to 500 m2 and (b)
residential part of ‘mixed land-use building projects’ built on a plot area greater than or equal
to 500 m2. By definition, affordable housing sector falls within its ambit and must be guided by
energy efficiency norms.

10
 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Simultaneously, ICAP has mooted the idea of comfort standards to ensure thermal comfort for
all, including in the affordable housing sector. It recommends government support towards
targeted programmes to enable thermal comfort for economically weaker section (EWS) and
low-income groups (LIG). Government support for affordable housing includes strategies such
as enforcing efficient building envelope guidelines from ECBC-R in the design and construction
of housing for EWS and LIG to enable thermal comfort for all; and, funding and support for
initiatives such as cool-roof programmes, off-grid micro-systems for cooling, and localized
heat-action plans, led by local municipalities and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

This creates an opportunity to promote wider penetration of climate-responsive built spaces

to keep indoor temperatures within an acceptable thermal comfort band through passive
cooling, thus reducing the cooling load. This is an important step forward as it goes beyond
assessing material and design from only the perspective of energy efficiency, instead creating
an opportunity to align architectural design strategies, material choices, walling assembly and
energy-efficient cooling technologies to maximize thermal comfort.

This spotlight on materials takes an integrated view of embodied energy of material that is
influenced by the extraction, manufacture, transport of material, and construction, demolition
and refurbishment, as well as walling assembly choices based on material and insulation
options and architectural design that have bearing on operational energy to maintain human
comfort. Currently, as part of the Technology Sub-mission, Building Material and Technology
Promotion Council (BMTPC), the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) promotes 24
alternative material and construction technologies. BMTPC has identified these technologies
based on a diverse criteria that include strength, stability, fire resistance, thermal comfort,
water tightness, constructability and economic viability.

However, this scoping study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) suggests that there
is insufficient information to understand the overall ability of these materials to deliver on the
requirements of environmental sustainability, thermal comfort and emissions intensity, and
further investigation is needed.

In-depth field scoping investigation was carried out in one state (Telangana) to capture ground-
level experiences with construction of affordable housing units to identify gaps and help chart
a roadmap. Telangana’s adoption of PMAY for implementation of a mass housing scheme has
yielded important lessons. The investigation explored if Telangana has any long-term strategy
(including a planning and fiscal framework) for mass housing to meet its stated housing goals.
The study included an assessment of incentives offered to developers to catalyze construction.
The study also reviewed the extent of penetration of alternative materials in government
projects in Telangana and the criteria considered for choosing these materials along with
planning, layout and design of housing stock under the scheme keeping in view factors of
thermal comfort, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Sample housing units in Telangana were checked to see if their design and use of material
complies with the requirement of ECBC-R. This provided critical feedback for future
intervention. In this context, adequacy of material attributes of some of the listed materials that
have been defined in the compendium of BMTPC was also assessed.

As choice of materials was the explicit focus of this scoping study, assessment of brick production
from the perspective of reducing lifecycle emissions was also considered. Brick is currently the
dominant building material and will remain so in the foreseeable future, especially if thermal

11
OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

comfort requirements become important. As brick production has a huge environmental

impact, it is important to focus on its footprints. Clean brick production is, therefore, necessary.
A separate scoping study has been carried out for an in-depth case study of the brick sector
in Maharashtra. This sets the stage for similar assessment of all materials to be used in the
building sector.

Overall, this scoping study has been carried out within the policy context of environmental
sustainability, energy efficiency and thermal comfort. Going forward, this analysis will look
at the policy leverages and alignments that are needed among all key policies including
Eco-Niwas Samhita, 2018; Technology Sub-mission; model building bye-laws, 2016; National
Building Code, 2016;and Environmental Impact Assessment Notification.

NEXT STEPS BASED ON THE SCOPING

This scoping has demonstrated that there is enormous potential for energy and resource
savings in the affordable housing sector while meeting the benchmark for thermal comfort
and quality of life of the low-income groups. This combined goal becomes part of the mandate
when the provisions of ECBC-R that focuses on energy efficiency requirements and ICAP’s
provision of adaptive thermal comfort for all are brought together.

The future work emerging from this scoping will influence and inform material and design
guidelines for the affordable housing sector at the Central level; and building bye-laws, design
guidelines and material choices at the state level. To enable this, detailed technical assessment
of material and walling assembly techniques will be carried out; energy performance and
thermal comfort levels in buildings will be evaluated; and bearing of architectural design and
layout plans will be carried out to inform policies. Efforts will be made to coordinate with state-
level agencies as well as the building industry and material providers for early mainstreaming
of this change.

For this scoping study, CSE created a methodology to understand how current stock planning,
layout and design internalizes thermal comfort, energy efficiency and environmental
sustainability. It was revealed that the current design does not perform well when compared
with the standards given in ECBC-R and the National Building Code (NBC), 2016. Components
like heat transfer through opaque and non-opaque components of structure as well as natural
daylighting do not hold upto the prescribed standards.

Various factors affect energy performance of building stock. The study takes a base case
scenario of a sample affordable housing in Telangana and checks it for the openable window to
floor ratio compliance, Visual Light Transmittance (VLT) compliance and Residential Envelope
Transmittance Value (RETV) compliance. Research has established the role of orientation in
bringing down the value of RETV in a sample affordable housing scheme by comparing the
RETV of the worst-oriented with the best-oriented block. For instance, it was discovered that
north–south orientation reduced RETV by up to 17.3 per cent compared to the east–west
orientation. RETV represents the heat transmittance into a building through its envelope.

The scoping has made it clear that material choices cannot be made in isolation from
architectural design and layout plans. Current design and material approach is able to deliver
thermal comfort for 75 per cent to 82 per cent of the time in a year. However, this may vary from
site to site. India has five climate zones and each state has adopted different housing typologies
under their affordable housing schemes. There is a need to study the most representative
typology in a particular climate zone.

12
 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

This makes the case for a deep-dive study for Telangana and Karnataka that together comprise
of four climate zones. The study will check compliance with ECBC-R and thermal comfort
delivery, hence it will be able to address operational energy use in upcoming housing stock.
Accordingly, the findings will guide state building bye-laws and housing schemes for a wider
and mainstream approach to energy footprints of material use and the combined strategies for
material and architectural design packages to optimize energy savings and thermal comfort.

PERFORMANCE OF CONVENTIONAL AND

ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS AND WALLING
ASSEMBLIES
It is also evident from the scoping that states are using alternative materials and construction
technologies but primarily for speed and ease of construction to meet the target for housing
units. For instance, Telangana is making shear wall structures using tunnel formwork technique
and aluminium formwork technique, pre-cast concrete and aerated autoclaved concrete (AAC)
blocks in some of the urban projects, while fly ash concrete bricks remain dominant. The costs
of these materials and technologies is a little higher than conventional construction. But these
materials are not optimally combined with design to get the best results with respect to energy
efficiency and comfort.

There is, therefore, a huge need for informing the adoption of alternative material and walling
assembly techniques. It is also important to leverage the building material compendium
of BMTPC that inventorizes materials based on a range of attributes that have bearing on
efficiency, safety and comfort. If this knowledge is further combined with architectural design
packages and walling assembly approaches, significant efficiency and thermal comfort gains
are possible. These interventions at the state level need to be further enabled through building
bye-laws.

This spotlight on material takes an integrated view of embodied energy of materials that is
influenced by extraction, manufacture, transport of material, construction, demolition and
refurbishment; and also walling assembly choices based on material and insulation. BMTPC
promotes 24 alternative materials and construction technologies in its compendium. It had
identified these technologies based on criteria such as strength, stability, fire resistance,
thermal comfort, water tightness, constructability and economic viability. The walling assembly
of the base case was simulated with these materials and technologies and the RETV were
re-calculated. Five out of 24 material and technologies are able to achieve the desired RETV
keeping the same design. These technologies are fly-ash concrete blocks (150 mm thick),
insulating concrete forms, plasmolite panel systems, emmedue systems and 150 mm AAC
blocks.

Comparison of ECBC-R and thermal comfort analysis for these alternative materials and
technologies has revealed that RETV's reliance on U-value may not be an effective approach.
U-value essentially denotes the thermal insulation properties of a material. it may not be
an appropriate indicator for a naturally ventilated or non-air conditioned building typology
that most affordable housing projects are. The study has shown that the materials that have
an average U-value can perform better for thermal comfort than the materials which have a
superior U-value. This finding calls for further research on the performance of these materials
for thermal comfort and energy efficiency combined. The research will build necessary
guidance to achieve the objectives of the ICAP.

13
OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

This evaluation suggests there is insufficient information to understand the overall ability of these
materials to deliver on the requirements pertaining to environmental sustainability, thermal
comfort and emissions intensity and needs further investigation. The use of these materials and
technologies can be addressed in environmental regulatory frameworks such as Environment
Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures. Burnt brick is still a predominant walling material and
will take time to phase out if its green potential is not realised, so this sector should improve
to perform as resource-efficient and low-carbon walling material. A separate scoping study
established the challenges for cleaner and sustainable brick production in Maharashtra. It will
require sustained efforts and a multi-faceted approach towards effective engagement with all
stakeholders, including regulatory authorities and members of Kumbhar community, to build a
consensus and move towards sustainable and cleaner brick production in a phased manner.

The identified high-performing materials and design elements that enable and foster
thermal comfort while complying with ECBC-R, may have a higher cost implication and face
market hurdles when used in mass housing schemes. State governments will need to work
towards mechanisms to offset this additional cost. For instance, cross-financing under PPP by
providing extra FAR or through viability gap funding. Such implementation mechanisms can be
comprehensively addressed in state mass housing schemes or PPP toolkits.

NETWORK OF STAKEHOLDERS FOR ENABLING

ACTION
Combining planning and designing for energy efficiency as well as for thermal comfort can
only be possible through multi-stakeholder engagement involved with the implementation. In
Telangana, support from Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Department and Housing
Corporation, helped forward understanding on alternative material and formwork systems
and pilot project experiences with new technologies. Roundtable engagement in Hyderabad
involving technology providers active in the state and also nationally has indicated interest
among alternate technology providers to leverage the emerging market. They are trying to be
market-ready from the perspective of sustainability and getting their materials tested to enable
accurate assessment and faster adoption.

Based on the scoping, this paper has been designed to influence and inform material and
design guidelines for the affordable housing sector at the Central level and also inform
building bye-laws and state-level guidelines. Overall, this paper addresses the policy context
of environmental sustainability, energy efficiency and thermal comfort. Going forward, this
analysis will examine in-depth the alignments needed among key policies.

14
 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

PILOT STUDY
TELANGANA
15
OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN:

CHAPTER 2: THE PILOT

Different states have different approaches to affordable housing schemes and the manner in
which they have adopted PMAY differs as well. Preliminary assessment of affordable housing
schemes in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Telangana shows that there are striking differences in their
approaches. For instance, Telangana is developing housing, both urban and rural, only on
government-owned land and allotting the houses to beneficiaries for free. Gujarat, on the other
hand, has introduced affordable housing zones in the master plans of cities and has linked
them with incentives to catalyze the market.

For this scoping exercise, we selected Telangana to assess the barriers and opportunities in
aligning affordable housing agenda with adoption of sustainability measures. Telangana is a
high growth state with a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 10.4 per cent (higher
than the national growth rate of 4.37 per cent) in 2017-18.4 The state is rolling out an aggressive
affordable housing scheme.

This in-depth field investigation in Telangana attempted to capture ground realties and
experience with construction of affordable housing units to chart a roadmap for states. It
explored how Telangana has adopted PMAY; incentives provided to catalyze construction;
type and extent of penetration of alternative materials in government projects; and criteria
for choosing materials and approving plans. It further assessed if Telangana has worked on
planning, layouts and design of housing stock under the scheme from the perspective of
thermal comfort, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Efforts have also been made to understand the design and material connect to assess the gamut
of alternative material that have already penetrated the sector to substitute clay bricks, and their
comfort delivery potential pertaining to thermal performance and daylighting. This has been
backed up by a detailed analysis of energy performance of sample buildings in Telangana
to see if the materials, construction techniques and designs selected for the construction of
affordable housing units comply with ECBC-R.

To illustrate the importance of considering attributes of materials that have a bearing on energy
efficiency and thermal comfort, efforts were made to reassess the attributes of a select group
of materials from the BMTPC compendium. The overall assessment shows that strengthening is
needed in areas of identification of site location, layout planning, building typology and design
in most projects.

Telangana’s Department of Municipal Affairs and Urban Development had asked CSE to visit a
few sites of construction and offer its comments and suggestions. In pursuit of this, CSE carried
out case-specific assessments and convened urban local bodies to engage with them on
sustainability guidelines focusing on design and materials. CSE reviewed the situation with the
state ECBC chapter, Dedicated Nodal Agencies (DNAs) and other stakeholders.

There is an enormous scope for research, technical support and handholding at the state-
level to make the affordable housing stock compliant with relevant guidelines and to cut down
operational energy use.

16
 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

HOUSING DEMAND IN TELANGANA

In order to be considered for support under PMAY, states need to estimate their housing
demand, prepare a Housing for All Plan of Action (HFAPoA), and submit it to the State Level
Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (SLSMC) and Central Sanctioning and Monitoring
Committee (CSMC).

After the formation of the new state, Telangana conducted an integrated household survey
in 2014. This survey revealed housing demand of 2,631,739 units—57 per cent urban and
43 per cent rural (see Graph 2: Urban vs rural housing demand in Telangana). Households
who do not have any member owning a house either in Telangana or anywhere else or are
living on rent or in temporary shelters (plastic sheet roof shelters) have been considered
for estimation of housing demand. Households living in government-provided housing have
not been considered (see Graph 3: District-wise housing demand in Telangana). Major urban
centres in Telangana include Warangal, Karimnagar and Nizamabad, apart from Hyderabad.
District-wise distribution of housing demand reveals that about 64 per cent of the urban and 42
per cent of the total housing demand is concentrated in three districts: Hyderabad, Medchal-
Malkajgiri and Ranga Reddy. Highest demand for rural housing comes from Khammam district,
followed by Nalgonda, Sangareddy, Ranga Reddy, and Suryapet.

Graph 2: Urban vs rural housing demand in Telangana

Urban Rural
57% 43%

Source: Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd

17
OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Graph 3: District-wise housing demand in Telangana

600,000

500,000
Number of houses

400,000
Rural
300,000
Urban
200,000

100,000

0
Hyderabad
Medchal-Malkajgiri
Ranga Reddy
Khammam
Nalgonda
Nizamabad
Sangareddy
Warangal (Urban)
Bhadradri-Kothagudem
Suryapet
Karimnagar
Mancherial
Peddapally
Jagtial
Siddipet
Mahabubnagar
Nirmal
Mahabubabad
Kamareddy
Adilabad
Jayashankar-Bhupalpally
Yadadri-Bhongiri
Warangal (Rural)
Rajanna (sircilla)
Vikarabad
Medak
Nagar Kurnool
Janagaon
Kumarambheem Asifabad
Gadwal-Jogulamba
Wanaparthy
Source: Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd

HOW TELANGANA ADAPTED PMAY TO

CONSTRUCT MASS HOUSING
Telangana launched the Two-bedroom Hall Kitchen (2BHK) scheme in 2015, later rechristened
as the Dignity Housing Scheme to dovetail PMAY.5 The scheme allots for free a 560 sq ft
dwelling unit to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families with reservations for marginalized castes
and minorities in both urban (marginalized castes: 17 per cent; adivasis: 6 per cent; other
minorities: 12 per cent and the rest for the general category) and rural (marginalized castes
and adivasis: 50 per cent; other minorities: 7 per cent) areas.

District collectors are responsible for implementation in rural areas, and municipalities in
urban areas and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in Hyderabad, Medchal-
Malkajgiri, Sangareddy and Rangareddy districts. Out of the 283,401 units 'in progress' under
the state scheme as of 31 January 2020, construction of 100,000 (35 per cent) units is being
executed by GHMC, 67,019 units (24 per cent) by municipalities, and 116,382 units (41 per
cent) by district collectors and gram panchayats (see Graph 4: Urban–rural distribution of
target houses in Telangana). More than a third of the targeted houses are being constructed
by GHMC. Being an urban local body, this is the first time GHMC has undertaken complete
implementation of housing.

18
 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Graph 4: Urban–rural distribution of target houses in Telangana

140,000
Number of sanctioned houses

120,000

100,000

80,000

60,000

40,000

20,000

0
Hyderabad (Urban) Urban Rural

Source: Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd

District-wise progress of the 2BHK scheme shows that Siddipet, Khammam and Nizamabad
have the most number of units sanctioned in the state. Siddipet district leads with the highest
number of completed units (see Graph 5: District-wise progress of the 2BHK scheme).

According to data received from Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd (TSHCL), about
39 per cent units are at 90 per cent completion stage, and only 14 per cent units are reported
to have been completed as of 31 January 2020. The state faced a slowdown due to legislative
assembly elections held in December 2018.

Graph 5: District-wise progress of the 2BHK scheme

16,000
Sanctioned Tender finalized Started Completed
14,000
Number of houses

12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

0
Nalgonda

Rajanna Sircilla

Jogulamba
Jagtial

Nirmal

Mancherial

Nagarkurnool

Medchal
Siddipet

Kamareddy

Rangareddy

Suryapet
Sangareddy

Narayanapet
Wanaparthy
Khammam
Nizamabad

Mahabubnagar

Karimnagar
Bhadradri

Mahabubabad

Medak
Warangal (U)
Jangaon
Vikarabad

Adilabad
Warangal_r
Jayashankar

Yadadri
Peddapalle

Mulugu
Komram Bheem

Note: As of 31 January 2020

Does not include data for Hyderabad
Source: Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd.

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Of all the districts, construction has been taken up at an accelerated pace in Hyderabad by
GHMC (see Graph 6: Progress of the 2BHK scheme in Hyderabad). Based on data shared by the
state, construction has commenced on 97,722 units (97.72 per cent) of the 100,000 sanctioned
units in the district. Of these, 76,895 units (76.9 per cent) are nearing completion and 8,052
units (8 per cent) were complete in every respect as of 31 January 2020.

Graph 6: Progress of the 2BHK scheme in Hyderabad

120,000

100,000 100,000 97,722

100,000
Number of houses

80,000 76,895

60,000

40,000

20,000
8,052

0
Sanctioned Tender finalized Started Roofing, walling Completed in all
and plastering respects
completed

Note: As of 31 January 2020

Source: Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd.

TSHCL is the state level nodal authority (SLNA) for Telangana. Maximum allotments of units have
been capped at 1,600 units per legislative assembly, which is a much smaller number than the
actual demand. While the state is working on the criteria to identify beneficiaries for allotment,
it is likely to proceed with a lottery system. Respective local bodies and district collectors are
responsible for identification and preparation of a list of beneficiaries for allotment.

CONSTRUCTION TYPOLOGY
The guidelines of the 2BHK scheme empower district collectors or commissioners and GHMC
to take decisions regarding the construction typology. In rural areas, the guidelines fix the
typology as independent houses with plot areas of 125 sq yd (1,345 sq ft) each. GHMC projects
are mostly constructed as G+8 or G+9 structures, a few projects have G+5 to G+7 typologies.
Municipalities have typologies ranging from G+1 to G+3 structures (see Graph 7: The 2BHK
scheme as per construction typologies). Hence, it is a mix of high-, mid- and low-rise and
independent units.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Graph 7: The 2BHK scheme as per construction typologies

41% 35%
Independent High-rise
plots

23%
Low to mid-rise

Source: Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd.

Analyzing the 283,401 dwelling units as per construction typologies reveals that most units
are being constructed as independent houses (41 per cent). This is followed by high-rise
typologies, which constitute 35 per cent of the constructions. Low- to mid-rise typologies form
the smallest component of houses constructed.

As far as the progress for different typologies goes, low- to mid-rise houses are witnessing
fastest construction. About 23 per cent of the sanctioned units are reported to be complete
under this category and another 22 per cent are nearing completion. Recalling the scenario
in GHMC, where 8 per cent of sanctioned units are complete and 76.9 per cent are nearing
completion, much of the scheme’s progress will be guided by high-rise projects (see Graph 8:
Typology-wise progress of the 2BHK scheme). Procurement has been difficult for projects with
independent typologies, wherein only 46 per cent of the sanctioned units have been procured.
About 68 per cent units in low to mid-rise typology are procured. The delay can be attributed
to issues with land acquisition and lower profitability.

Graph 8: Typology-wise progress of the 2BHK scheme

120 High-rise

100 Low to mid-rise

100 97.72
Independent plots
Percent of sanctioned units

80 76.90
67.94
60 57.50
45.94
40 36.79

21.48 22.52
20 15.84 13.40
8.05
0
Procured Construction started Final stage Completed

Source: Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd.

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

FINANCING
Preliminary profiling of Telangana revealed that the state government is taking up a huge
financial burden under the scheme, which may not be feasible in the long run. Telangana is
providing housing only on government-owned land and allotting it to beneficiaries for free.
PMAY recognizes the Socio-economic Caste Census (SECC), 2011 data in determining the
eligibility of a person to be a beneficiary. Telangana was formed in 2014 and underwent
changes in administrative boundaries and demography after splitting from Andhra Pradesh.
The state calculated its rural housing demand based on a fresh survey and plans to identify
eligible beneficiaries using same data. Due to non-compliance with PMAY guidelines in terms
of inability to use SECC data, Telangana is unable to avail funds under PMAY Gramin and is
financing 100 per cent rural housing with state funds. This challenge is also an opportunity
for the state to work independently and adequately address affordable housing development,
including through sound fiscal strategies.

Since the state is bearing a majority of the costs, it is also looking for funding from external
sources. For instance, government of Telangana raised a loan of Rs 3,344.76 crore from Housing
and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) to fund construction of 60,000 dwelling units
in 2015. This scheme included a mixed-use building approach leveraged for cross-subsidy.
GHMC projects have provided for shops at the ground level to generate revenue to meet
operation and maintenance costs.

Construction cost
The 2BHK scheme guidelines cap the cost of construction at Rs 5.3 lakh in urban areas and
5.04 lakh in rural areas. External infrastructure cost cannot exceed Rs 75,000 in urban areas
and Rs 1.25 lakh in rural areas. However, actual costs in urban areas were found to be higher,
as reported by state agencies. For houses in the GHMC area, state government’s contribution
is fixed at Rs 6.25 lakh (unit and infrastructure), Central government’s at Rs 1.5 lakh (dovetailed
to PMAY) and the remaining is gap-funded by GHMC (see Table 1: Funding pattern adopted for
the 2BHK scheme in the GHMC area).

Table 1: Funding pattern adopted for the 2BHK scheme in the

GHMC area
Government of Government of
Contributor GHMC
India Telangana
Type of grant Fixed Fixed Varies

Dwelling unit cost (Rs lakh) 1.5 5.5 0.15–0.9

Infrastructure cost per unit (Rs lakh) - 0.75 -

Total cost per unit (Rs lakh) 7.9–8.65

Source: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation

GHMC began procuring 2BHK houses at the rate of Rs 900 per sq ft. It received a poor response
from the construction market, which demanded rates as high as Rs 1,800 per sq ft. Currently,
construction cost for developers has been capped at Rs 1,294 per sq ft in urban areas. This is
at par with construction cost in other states, such as Rs 1,150 per sq ft (excluding Rs 50 per sq
ft for operation and maintenance) in Rajasthan.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Incentive schemes
All 2BHK housing projects have been taken up on government land. In order to encourage
developers to take up construction, the government has provided several incentives. Subsidies
on construction materials are a major incentive. The government is providing materials—steel,
cement and sand—at subsidized rates. The state is buying steel from manufacturers at a base
rate of Rs 32,550 per tonne, following negotiations. In early 2018, the market value for steel
jumped up to Rs 53,100 per tonne, putting much of the construction to halt due to unwillingness
of the steel industry to supply at the discounted rate. The 2BHK scheme requires about 6 lakh
tonnes of steel for the targeted 2.8 lakh housing units (1.45 lakh tonnes for rural houses, 1.04
lakh tonnes for urban and the remaining 3.5 lakh tonnes for the GHMC area). Considering the
high demand, the government has reset the base price of steel to Rs 43,600 per tonne.6

The state government has facilitated free of cost availability of sand to developers. Telangana
State Sand Mining Rules, 2015 exempt sand extraction of any cost if it is to be used for housing
of LIGs.7

The state government also entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Cement
Manufacturers Association to supply 27.25 lakh million tonnes of cement at the rate of Rs 230
per bag. Transportation costs were settled at Rs 2 per bag.8

Land identification
The 2BHK scheme involves construction of dwelling units only on government land. Land cost
is waived off for the developer. The mechanism coincides with Model 1 of the PPP policy for
implementation of PMAY, except in the fact that beneficiaries are not liable to pay anything
towards the 2BHK units. PMAY mandates states to identify land for affordable housing in the
master plans of cities. In Telangana, implementing agencies in urban and rural areas have
identified land at the periphery of legislative assembly areas as suggested under the 2BHK
scheme guidelines. The other criterion is availability of land at low market prices. For instance,
in Hyderabad, most project sites are located outside the GHMC area and near the Outer Ring
Road (see Map 1: Location of the 2BHK scheme project sites in Hyderabad). Land prices near

Map 1: Location of the 2BHK scheme project sites in Hyderabad

D-Pochampally

Bahadurapally
25 KM
25 KM
Ahmedguda

HYDERABAD 26 KM
Kollur V
32 KM City Centre

Source: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Workers preparing the formwork for monolithic concrete structures in Hyderabad

the Outer Ring Road range from Rs 18,000 to 22,000 per sq yd, while in the GHMC area they
are Rs 40–50 thousand per sq yd. There is no special provisioning for affordable housing in the
Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Plan, 2031. This, of course, has other implications such
as increased distances and accessibility costs.

When planning housing for the poor, site selection is critical. Low-income groups earn a
minimum labour wage and prefer to live near sources of livelihood. Relocating them to urban
peripheries increases distances and transportation cost for them and makes the housing
unaffordable. Governments need to plan these sites in conjunction with affordable travel options.

An inclusive provision in master plans can ensure affordable housing stock is integrated with
the existing public transport system. For instance, Ahmedabad has notified a Residential
Affordable Housing (RAH) zone along the ring road in its master plan. The RAH zone is well
connected with the city’s BRT system. Telangana’s current housing scheme is addressing 10
per cent of the states established housing demand. In order to cater to the remaining and
future housing demand, the state needs to work on mechanisms that link mass housing with
availability of public transportation, especially for the poor.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

TELANGANA HAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

TO DEVISE A COHESIVE MASS HOUSING
STRATEGY
The current scheme met 10.77 per cent of the total housing demand set in the state in
2014 as of 31 January 2020. While the 2BHK scheme is an instrument to guide supply of
targeted housing stock under PMAY, there is no affordable housing strategy in place to
sustain the state’s current and future housing demand. Reservations exists for EWS and
LIG households in housing projects as shown in the Table.9

Reservations for EWS and LIG households in housing projects

Areas Site area Reservation for EWS
and LIG
Hyderabad Metropolitan Development 4,000 m2 and above
Authority
Municipal Corporations and Development 3,000 m2 and above 20 per cent of the
Authorities developed land

Other Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats 2,000 m2 and above

Source: Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority

All the projects under the current scheme have been built on government land. For
each dwelling unit, Rs 1.5 lakh is provided by the government of India and Rs 6.25 lakh
is provided by the government of Telangana. The remaining is gap-funded by GHMC
in urban projects. In 2015, the state government also raised a loan of Rs 3,344.76 crore
from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) as viability gap funding
for construction of 60,000 dwelling units. However, the state has been unable to avail
funds for rural housing under PMAY (Gramin) due to non-compliance with scheme
guidelines. Hence, this segment is wholly funded by the state government itself.

ACTORS AND METHODOLOGY

The methodology adopted for the 2BHK scheme is summarized in Figure 1: Actors involved
and the implementation framework.

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Figure 1: Actors involved and the implementation framework

Preparation of technical
Land provisioning to guidelines by district
Land identification district collectors (rural), collectors (rural),
Land procurement
by ULBs and gram commissioners (urban) commissioners (urban)
by district collectors
panchayats and GHMC and GHMC, including land
area, building height, and
construction time

Bid parameter: construction

cost Rs 1,294 per sq ft for
Beneficiary identification
GHMC; Rs 950–1,080 per sq ft
Call for bids under by district collectors (rural),
for other urban areas
e-procurement by commissioners (urban) and
TSHCL GHMC verified by tehsildar,
Execution and
gram sabha/ward sabha
Free sand extraction under monitoring by different
capped at 1,600 for each
Telangana State Sand Mining departments like
legislative assembly
Rules, 2015 Roads and Buildings,
Selection of GHMC engineering
developers department and
TSHCL to facilitate TSEWIDC*
procurement of steel at
subsidized rate of Rs 43,600 Layout approval by
per tonne respective planning
department in the local
TSHCL to facilitate body
procurement of cement at Construction by
subsidized rate of developers Structural vetting by
Rs 230 per bag National Academy of
Construction

Electrification by
TSNPDCL** and
TSSPDCL***

Water infrastructure
support by RWSSD^ and
HMWSSB^^
Transfer of finished units
Transfer of finished to district collectors
units to TSHCL (rural), commissioners
(urban) and GHMC

Units and common services

Allotment of units to
to be maintained by
identified beneficiaries
beneficiaries

Notes:
* Telangana State Education, Women and Infrastructure Development Corporation
** Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited
*** Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited
^ Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department
^^ Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board

Source: CSE compilation

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

CHAPTER 3: CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS

One of the key objectives of this scoping exercise was to identify and assess emerging
technologies penetrating the affordable housing sector.

CSE’s engagement with Housing Corporation of Telangana helped us to understand the

alternative material and formwork systems in use and the experiences at the pilot project.
There has been ample buy-in from alternative materials and technology providers for further
investigation. A roundtable conducted in Hyderabad has indicated much interest among the
vendors, who are now getting their materials tested to enable accurate assessment for faster
adoption. One of the critical intervention points in the future will have to be knowledge building
on material and walling assembly to inform policies and industry for optimum choices and
gains.

The 2BHK scheme is mainly constructed using concrete fly ash bricks in a conventional
structure. Under the Technology Sub-mission, a demonstration housing has been constructed
in Gachibowli at Nirmiti Kendra using Coffor Technology. Only a small proportion of the housing
stock under construction is using alternative material and technologies. The costs of these
materials and technologies are a little higher than those used under conventional construction.
These materials include:
• Shear wall using tunnel formwork technique
• Shear wall using aluminium formwork technique
• Pre-cast concrete
• AAC blocks

Use of fly ash bricks at D. Pochampally

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

SHEAR WALL TECHNOLOGY USING THE

TUNNEL FORMWORK TECHNIQUE
RAMPALLY
GHMC’s Rampally project is using the tunnel form technique to construct 6,240 2BHK apartment
houses in Stilts(S)+10 buildings. This technique allows the wall and slab to be cast at once using a
tunnel-like frame, which is reinforced with poured-in concrete. The exterior façade is later created
with either cellular light-weight concrete (CLC) or AAC blocks.

This technology is attractive for development contractor for its time-saving characteristics. A
combination of multiple formworks is capable of casting an entire floor of a building with a single
pour-in of concrete. However, the large size of the tunnels requires cranes to move them around,
which makes the technology unsuitable for small projects. The building structure thus formed is
a load bearing structure.The need for finishing work is reduced, owing to the high-quality even
surfaces. The technology is not indigenous as the tunnels are imported from Turkey. According to
the contractor, the technique costs about Rs 50 per sq ft over GHMC’s procurement rate of Rs 1,294
per sq ft.

Tunnel formwork in process leaving exterior façade to be completed with blocks

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Reinforcement work to be moulded with tunnels and casted

Tunnel formwork post casting

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Assembly of pre-cast staircase with the structure

Surface finish post casting

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

SHEAR WALL TECHNOLOGY USING THE

ALUMINIUM FORMWORK TECHNIQUE
DUNDIGAL
At yet another site in Telangana, buildings are being constructed with shear wall using the aluminium
formwork technique. About 864 2BHK units in S+S+9 buildings at Dundigal are being constructed using
this formwork. As per this technique, all the building’s structural or non-structural elements like beams,
columns, walls, floors, slabs, opening for doors and windows are cast-in-place monolithically with an
appropriate grade of concrete in one operation. The advantage of this technique over tunnel formwork is
the lightness of the aluminium forms, which makes it easy for workers to carry it around. The technique was
chosen by the contractor to save time. It costs around Rs 1,400 per sq ft. The need for plastering the walls
is eliminated in this technique, as the surface finish is smooth and even.

Aluminium shuttering to be filled in with concrete mix

Aluminium formwork for exterior walls in a unit

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Steel reinforcement work for stairs

Steel reinforcement work for slab Surface finish post-casting

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Partition walls made of AAC blocks

Surface finish eliminates the need for plaster

Building blocks under construction using the aluminium formwork technique

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

PRE-CAST CONCRETE
DUNDIGAL
The project at Dundigal also uses precast concrete to construct 1,512 2BHK houses in S+S+9 building
structures. Building elements such as floor slabs and wall panels are cast with reinforced concrete on
site and then assembled with the columns that are cast in-situ. The remaining elements like beams,
hollow core roof slabs, staircase and landing are precast at a factory. The building is framed in a manner
that obtains maximum repetitions of moulds. The technology offers speed of construction, and reduced
labour and formwork requirement. However, the assembly has to be done with precision. The technology
costs under Rs 1,400 per sq ft.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

On-site casting of wall panels

Hollow-core slabs

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Reinforcement and pre-cast wall panels

Assembly of pre-cast wall panels to columns casted in-situ

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Interior surface finish post assembly of various pre-cast building elements

Reinforcement work for columns to A building block made using pre-cast

be cast in-situ technology

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

AUTOCLAVED AERATED CONCRETE

BLOCKS
DUNDIGAL
GHMC’s project at Dundigal is using AAC blocks to construct 1,620 2BHK houses. Other
than this, the blocks are used as infill and partition walls in the buildings. AAC blocks use
60-65 per cent of fly ash. Aerated concrete makes them lighter, which reduces structural
loads in the building and offers good insulation.

Exterior and interior walls made of AAC blocks

INFORMING BMTPC MATERIAL ATTRIBUTES

The choice of materials in affordable housing sector is largely governed by the Technology Sub-
mission that was set up under PMAY in 2015 to enable preparation and adoption of layout designs
and building plans appropriate to particular geo-climatic zones. The aim of the sub-mission is to
assist states or cities in the deployment of disaster-resistant and environment friendly technologies
for faster and cost-effective construction of houses.

The sub-mission concerns itself with, among other things, design and planning; innovative
technologies and materials; green buildings using natural resources; and earthquake- and other
disaster-resistant technologies and designs. To support this sub-mission, a cell has been setup in
BMTPC. BMTPC was created by the erstwhile Ministry of Urban Development in 1990. This was
done to bridge the gap between research and development and large-scale application of new
building material technologies.

BMTPC periodically comes out with compendiums of prospective emerging technologies for mass
housing. Three such compendiums have been released by BMTPC, the latest in September 2018.
It has since been updated (see Box: BMTPC Compendium of Alternative Construction Technologies
for Mass Housing).

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The BMTPC compendium takes into account multiple attributes to judge a material.10 These
attributes are divided into two parts, mandatory attributes and preferred or desired attributes.
Another classification by BMTPC splits attributes into three categories, primary (PA), secondary
(SA) and tertiary (TA). Thermal Comfort and Embodied Energy are tertiary attributes. However,
the compendium is not complete regarding information on these attributes. For example,
a parameter such as thermal performance is not comparable across technologies as some
mention the U-value, some mention the K-value and some mention the temperature change
between the interior and exterior if a building is made using the technology. This makes
comparison between technologies difficult.

The mandatory attributes include: Strength and Stability Requirements (SA); Performance and
Statutory Compliance (SA); Fire Resistance (TA); Thermal Comfort (TA); Acoustic Performance
(TA); Weather-Resistance (TA); and Water Tightness (TA). The preferred and desired attributes
include: Functional Requirements (SA); Constructability (SA); Economic Viability (SA);
Maintenance (SA); Sustainability (SA); and Finish Quality (SA).

This scoping review shows that the way material attributes are currently defined may not be
adequate to achieve the desired goals. More sub-attributes are needed to strengthen the
process and inform the approaches to walling assembly in buildings. Therefore, an effort has
been made by this scoping exercise to assess 14 out of the 24 technologies given in the BMTPC
compendium based on a diverse set of parameters. There is a detailed assessment of the
materials that guides their adoption (see Annexure 1: Analysis of attributes of select materials
from the BMTPC compendium).

This assessment is limited to analyzing only a few of the BMTPC attributes, mostly relating to
thermal performance, sustainability, circularity, functionality and adaptability to changes of a
material. This brings some attributes into a common measurement unit and complements the
attributes mentioned by BMTPC. It also highlights how simple concepts of design ensuring
adequate sunlight and ventilation should be adopted. Building this knowledge is important to
further develop approaches to walling assembly.

Thermal comfort
BMTPC mentions thermal resistance or transmittance of a material assembly to judge its
thermal comfort capability. However, thermal comfort is a more complex phenomenon and
various factors play a part in ensuring it in a building apart from the materials used, such as
orientation, mean radiant temperature, humidity and air velocity. This study defines two sub-
attributes to further strengthen the approaches to walling assembly.

• Thermal transmittance: Solely for the purpose of judging a material’s contribution

to thermal comfort, this assessment uses thermal transmittance (also known as U-value)
as an indicator. It is the heat transmission in unit time through unit area of a material or
construction and the boundary air films, induced by unit temperature difference between
the environments on either side. The unit of measurement of U-value is W/m2K. A lower
U-Value indicates a better insulated material. The value depends on the thermal properties
and thickness of the material and assembly of multiple materials.

• Presence of thermal bridges: A thermal bridge is an area or component of a walling

assembly that creates a path of least resistance for heat transfer due to lower thermal
resistance than the surrounding material. Thermal bridges have been added as a
cautionary parameter because thermal resistance or transmittance cannot be calculated

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BMTPC COMPENDIUM OF ALTERNATIVE

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES FOR MASS
HOUSING
The compendium mentions 24 technologies which are grouped together into a few categories

Formwork systems
Engineered formwork systems
Systems where concrete is poured and the formwork is disassembled on site and reused again. The
technology only works when there are considerable repetitions in the design.
1. Monolithic concrete construction system
a. Using plastic-aluminium formwork
b. Using aluminium formwork

2. Modular tunnel form

Stay-in-place formwork systems

Systems where the formwork becomes part of the wall or roof assembly, the formwork is lost in the
construction and may play a part in the structural strength or fire resistance or thermal properties of the wall
assembly.
3. Insulating concrete forms
4. Monolithic insulated concrete system
5. Structural stay-in-place formwork system
6. Lost-in-place formwork system—plaswall panel system
7. Lost-in-place formwork system—plasmolite wall panels
8. Sismo building technology

Pre-cast sandwich panel systems

EPS-based systems
Pre-cast systems that use extruded polystyrene to enhance their thermal performance, they primarily use
reinforced cement concrete or concrete as the other major component.
9. Advanced building system—emmedue

by merely adding various resistances on the walling assembly. Thermal bridges can
hamper the thermal performance of a material and assembly. As an example, many
technologies puncture the EPS used and their U-value has to be simulated and cannot be
measured by thumb calculations.

Functional requirements
This attribute is defined by BMTPC as an ‘attribute for assessing the technology or system
against generally accepted functional requirements of housing’. Functionality of materials
includes design flexibility, restriction on the number of floors, service life and durability and
end-user friendliness. This assessment adds two more sub-attributes:

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

10. Rapid panels

11. Reinforced EPS core panel system
12. Quickbuild 3D panels
13. Concrewall panel system

Other systems
Pre-cast systems that use other materials and are not necessarily extruded polystyrene-based.
14. Glass fibre reinforced gypsum panel system
15. Prefabricated fibre reinforced sandwich panels
16. Rising EPS (beads) cement panels

Light-gauge steel structural systems

Technologies that primarily use light-gauge steel as a structural material in beams, columns and trusses and
have multiple walling options.
17. Light-gauge steel framed structure
18. Light-gauge steel framed structure with infill concrete panel technology

Steel structural systems

Technologies that primarily use steel as a structural material in beams, columns and trusses and have multiple
walling options.
19. Factory-made fast track modular building system
20. Speed floor system

Pre-cast concrete construction systems

Pre-cast systems are either produced in a factory or elsewhere before being taken to the construction site.
Some of these technologies offer load-bearing as well as non-load bearing options.
21. SRPL building system (wafflecrete)
22. Pre-cast large concrete panel system
23. Industrialized 3-S system using RCC precast with or without shear walls, columns, beams,
cellular light-weight concrete slabs and semi-precast solid slab
24. Walltec hollowcore concrete panel

• Ease of modification: The ease with which future changes to the building can take place,
such as through removing a wall or puncturing a wall for a window.
• Height limitations: The building height for which a technology has been used.

Constructability
BMTPC defines this attribute as the relative ease of construction under a selected building
design. It is the extent to which a building design with a chosen technology provides for ease
of construction while meeting the overall requirements of the building. This study adds three
more sub-attributes:

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• Special equipment needed: If any special equipment is required during manufacturing

or implementation of the technology.
• Labour needed: If specialized labour or training is needed before the technology can be
implemented.
• Ease of non-repetitive design: The ease with which a design can be made for a project
in which a design is non-repetitive.

Sustainability
To meet the criteria of sustainability, it is important to reduce use of virgin materials, reduce
energy and carbon footprint of materials, ensure it causes less pollution, and minimize waste
without compromising on the project’s economic viability and overall comfort, safety and other
requirements of the occupants. This study adds several other sub-attributes for assessing
sustainability.
• Thickness of walling assembly for G+9 structure: Thickness is an important
parameter to understand, if the walling assembly takes up less space than conventional
systems, then the inhabitants get more carpet area.
• Plaster requirement: Plaster requirement can add to the cost and time of construction,
plaster does not add value to the structural strength of the assembly but rather is needed
to even out a surface, an example being a burnt brick wall where upto 25 mm of plaster is
needed to even out the irregularities caused by laying the uneven bricks; compare this to
a cement fibre board where putty and paint can be applied directly.
• Mass of walling assembly per unit area (m2): A heavier walling assembly would
result in the structure in itself being designed for heavier loads as compared to a lighter
wall. This in turn would require more materials such as steel and concrete in the structure.
These materials are high in embodied energy and consume significant amounts of water.
Additionally, lighter materials have less embodied energy built in through transportation.
• Recycled components: Virgin raw materials usually rely on mining of non-renewable
resources that are depleting at a fast rate and are responsible for high carbon emissions
during their production. Recycled materials reduce the quantity of virgin raw materials
needed while ensuring that smaller quantities of industrial or construction and demolition
waste are generated. Industrial waste materials such as fly ash and gypsum are already
used in brick production through some technologies. The guidelines of the Central Public
Works Department (CPWD) titled Sustainability Index and Guidelines for Materials (March
2014) mention recycled content as an important criterion in choosing building materials.
• Recyclability component: It is important to assess if the material or the various
components of the technology would be utilizable or would end up as waste once the life
cycle of a building ends.
• Market presence: A higher number of production centres in the country would ensure
better market penetrability and require less energy to transport the material, thus cutting
down on emissions and transportation costs.
• Imported components: Any material not produced in the country will have to travel
longer distances to reach the destination. This leads to high embodied energy. Locally
produced material will promote the local economy and reduce transportation emissions.

This limited exercise essentially brings out how material attributes will have to be further
understood for sustainable walling assembly and material choices in buildings. The study has
added more sub-attributes to assess materials in terms of sustainability. Such an assessment
will have to be taken forward.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Table 2: Sub-attributes for evaluation of materials and emerging

technologies BMTPC vs CSE
Attribute BMTPC sub-attributes Sub-attributes added by CSE

Thermal comfort Thermal resistance Thermal transmittance

Presence of thermal bridges
Functionality of a Design flexibility Ease of modification
material
Restriction on number of floors

Service life and durability Height limitations

End-user-friendliness

Constructability Simplicity in execution and versatility Special equipment needed

Design compatibility

Foundation type Labour needed

Skilled labour

Equipment

Construction safety Ease of non-repetitive design

Temporary services requirement

Sustainability Eco-friendly construction Thickness of walling assembly for G+9

structure
Plaster requirement
Mass of walling assembly per m2
Embodied energy Recycled components
Recyclability component
Market presence
Imported components
Source: CSE analysis based on Multi-Attribute Evaluation Methodology for Selection of Emerging Housing Technologies

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

CHAPTER 4: ENERGY
EFFICIENCY

The next big question is the energy performance of buildings based on their material choices,
walling assembly and architectural design. We have considered the base case scenario of a
sample affordable housing in Telangana and assessed its performance in terms of energy use
and daylighting, based on the standards suggested by ECBC-R and NBC, 2016. The findings
are discussed in this section.

The analysis revealed that RETV—i.e., value of heat gain in the units through non-opaque and
opaque building elements—is greater than the required 15 W/m2 as per ECBC-R. It complies
with the standard only when oriented in the north–south directions, at 14.3 W/m2. Daylighting
analysis has revealed that under the current design, only 15 per cent of the area is day-lit.

ECBC-R and BMTPC’s Technology Sub-mission anticipate that the country will undergo a
transition and replace conventional development practices. There is an enormous potential for
Telangana to leapfrog this transition and embed environmental sustainability, energy efficiency
and thermal comfort in affordable housing development from the beginning.

ASSESSMENT OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Under PMAY, a massive stock is being built and at a rapid pace. Inefficient design and
inappropriate choice of materials can put the stock to intensive energy use due to compromised
thermal comfort. Further, the target clientele of this housing stock is the lower income strata.
The cost of this elevated energy use can be unaffordable for them. Therefore, design and
construction material choices to maximize thermal comfort and minimize energy use must be
prioritized.

Operational energy use in buildings is a function of building design (including orientation

and envelope) and materials used. Building orientation and form guides the wind, light and
sun penetration in it. Building envelope plays a key role in the determination of the amount of
daylight penetration and heat transfer in and out of the building. Building envelope includes the
roof, walls, windows and doors that are exposed to the exterior. Heat transfer through the roof
and walls is governed by the materials used. Therefore, thermal transmittance properties of
materials is another factor determining thermal comfort in buildings. BEE acknowledges that
energy demand in buildings can be cut down by up to 40 per cent by designing an efficient
envelope.

This study uses one project of the 2BHK scheme as an example to understand the compliance
requirements under ECBC-R and areas of intervention to improve energy performance of
a site (see Box: ECBC-R and operational energy). An existing GHMC project site, located in
the northern region of Greater Hyderabad Metropolitan Area, has been considered for the
purpose of this evaluation. The project has identical blocks, which are oriented in only two
directions, north–south and east–west. The project is simulated in four different orientations
namely: North–south (0°), northeast–southwest (45°), east–west (90°) and northwest–southeast
(135°).

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Calculation of Visible Light Transmittance

There are three typical windows (W1, W2, and W3) in each dwelling unit of the sample case
exposed to the ambient and two ventilators in the bathroom and toilet. A typical floor has four
W1 windows, 16 W2 windows, 12 W3 windows, 12 D2 doors for balconies and 24 ventilators
exposed to the ambient. Total non-opaque area is calculated using dimensions of the windows,
doors and ventilators in the block (see Table 3: Window and openable area details). Total
exposed surface area of a typical floor in a block has also been calculated (see Table 4:
Exposed surface area details).

Table 3: Window and openable area details

Windows, ventilators and doors Dimensions
Area (m2)
Type Number Width (m) Height (m)

W1 4 1.5 1.2 7.2

W2 16 1.2 1.2 23.4

W3 12 0.9 0.9 9.72

D2 12 0.75 2.1 18.9

V 24 0.6 0.6 8.64

Total non-opaque area 67.5

Source: CSE computation

Table 4: Exposed surface area details

Façade Total wall length Total wall height Gross wall area
exposed to ambient exposed to ambient (m2)
(m) (m)
North 11.1 3 35.1

South 11.1 3 35.1

East 85.2 3 255.7

West 71.5 3 214.6

Total exposed area 540.5

(excluding roof)
Source: CSE computation

The total non-opaque and exposed surface areas deliver 12.4 per cent or 0.144 of WWR in the
site (since the site has identical blocks). According to ECBC-R, minimum VLT for WWR ≤ 0.30
is 0.27. The glass used in this case has a VLT of 0.85. Therefore, it complies with the daylighting
requirement as suggested by ECBC-R.

Openable window-to-floor area ratio

Openable window area is the number of openings that allow ventilation in a dwelling unit. The
non-opaque area of a typical floor of a building is 67.5 m2, whereas the carpet area is 576.35 m2
(see Table 3: Window and openable area details). This gives an openable window-to-floor area
ratio (WFRop) of 11.7 per cent, which is lesser than the recommended WFRop for Hyderabad
(composite climate), i.e., 12.5 per cent.

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

ECBC-R AND OPERATIONAL ENERGY

ECBC-R is the key regulatory tool to move housing stock towards thermal comfort and reduced energy
use.11 Notified in December 2018, the code is applicable to all residential buildings and residential
parts of ‘mixed land-use projects’, both built on a plot area of larger than or equal to 500 m2. However,
states and municipal bodies may reduce the plot area in their area of jurisdiction.

ECBC-R has been prepared to set minimum building envelope performance standards to limit heat
gains for cooling-dominated climates and to limit heat loss for heating-dominated climates, as well as
for ensuring adequate natural ventilation and daylighting potential. The code also pushes for desired
orientation of buildings which implies that better-oriented buildings find it easier to comply with certain
aspects of the code. This is a welcome move as it promotes a more rigorous approach to passive
design in architecture.

Building envelope design

ECBC-R mentions three aspects by which energy consumption can be reduced in a residential building.

Aspect 1: Envelope
Building envelope is majorly responsible for heat gains or losses from a building. The net heat gain
rate through the building envelope divided by the area of building envelope (except roof) gives the
Residential Envelope Transmittance Value (RETV) in Watt per square metre. The maximum value for
each climate zone, except cold, is suggested as 15 W/m2. Thermal transmittance through the roof is
given separately as 1.2 W/m2 and for cold climate zone as 1.8 W/m2.

The RETV formula takes into account the following:

• Heat conduction through opaque building envelope components (wall, opaque panels in doors,
windows, ventilators, etc.)

Heat conduction through opaque building envelope components is dependent on many factors.
The building envelope should be optimized in a way that ensures adequate daylight and ventilation
in the building while minimizing heat gain or loss.

Once this is done, the properties of the materials used come into play, thermal transmittance is
a measure of how much heat a material allows to travel. Aso known as the U-Value, it is the heat

Residential Envelope Transmittance Value

analysis
The study calculated RETV considering four identified directions and heat gain through non-
opaque and opaque building elements (see Table 5: RETV analysis of the sample project). The
walls are made of 150 mm thick fly ash concrete bricks, which have a U-value of 1.5 W/m2 K. It
is noteworthy that transmission gains are substantial from opaque building elements.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

transmission in unit time through unit area of a material or construction and the boundary air films,
induced by unit temperature difference between the environments on either side. Unit of U-value is
W/m2K. The U-value for a wall, roof or glazing indicates its ability to transfer heat through conduction.

• Heat conduction through non-opaque building envelope components (like transparent or translucent
panels of windows, doors and ventilators)

• Solar radiation through non-opaque building envelope components (transparent or translucent

panels of windows, doors, ventilators, etc.)

Solar radiation through non-opaque components can be modified with the properties of the
materials, however, this can also change with changes in the positioning and sizes of window
shading devices. An indicator for this is the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) equivalent.

SHGC equivalent: SHGC equivalent is the SHGC for a non-opaque component with a permanent
external shading projection. It is calculated by multiplying the External Shading Factor (ESF) with the
SHGC of non-shaded non-opaque component.

Aspect 2: Openable window-to-floor area ratio

Openable window-to-floor area ratio determines adequate natural ventilation. It is suggested to be
minimum 10 per cent for hot and dry climate zone, 16.66 per cent for warm and humid, 12.50 per cent
for composite or temperate and 8.33 per cent for cold climate zone.

Aspect 3: Visible Light Transmittance

Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) is the amount of natural light entering from the non-opaque building
envelope components. An express minimum VLT ensures adequate daylighting, thereby reducing
energy requirement for artificial lighting. It is expressed in relation to a window–to–wall ratio of a building.

Window-to-wall ratio (WWR) is the ratio of the non-opaque building envelope components area to the
envelope area (excluding roof) in a dwelling unit. It is important to optimize the WWR as higher WWR
can lead to excess daylight in the spaces as well as increased heat gain inside buildings. Less WWR
can result in loss of sufficient daylight in areas as well as reduction in natural ventilation in the building.

ECBC-R advises that:

a) With the WWR≤ 0.15, minimum VLT should be 40 per cent
b) The WWR in residential buildings may not exceed 0.40.

The analysis reveals that RETV for three orientations at the sample project is greater than
15 W/m2, making the project non-compliant with the requirements of ECBC-R. However, it
was observed that north–south orientation delivers the lowest RETV followed by northeast–
southwest and northwest–southeast, with the worst being the east–west orientation (see Table
6: Orientation-wise RETV results for the sample project).

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Table 5: RETV analysis of the sample project

Orientation
Northwest– North–south Northeast–
East–west (00)
southeast (450) (900) southwest (1350)
Envelope area (m2) 493.7
Non-opaque
1,973.8 1,736.4 1,387.9 1,733.8
transmission gain (W)
Non-opaque radiation
2,351.5 2,147.5 1,710.8 2,024.8
gain (W)
Opaque transmission
4,234.7 4,227.0 3,953.9 4,225.8
gain (W)
Total transmission
8,560.0 8,110.9 7,052.5 7984.4
gain (W)
RETV (W/m2) 17.3 16.4 14.3 16.2
Source: CSE computation

Table 6: Orientation-wise RETV results for the sample project

Building orientation Calculated RETV Required RETV Compliant?
W/m 2

North–south 14.3 Yes

Northeast–southwest 16.2 No
<15
East–west 17.3 No

Northwest–southeast 16.4 No

Source: CSE analysis

Findings of all the evaluations have been summarized in Table 7: Summary of different analyses to
check compliance with ECBC-R). The sample housing project complies with VLT requirements
but there is a palpable need and opportunity for improvement when it comes to openable
window-to-floor area ratio and RETV.

Table 7: Summary of different analyses to check compliance with

ECBC-R
Description Standard Value in the sample Whether
requirement project complaint with
ECBC-R
Window-to-wall ratio < 70 per cent 9.8 per cent Yes

Visible Light Transmittance > 0.27 0.85 Yes

Openable window-to-floor area ratio 12.5 per cent 11.7 per cent No

RETV 15 W/m 2
14.3–17.3 W/m 2
No

Source: CSE analysis

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

RETV ANALYSIS WITH ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS

The study has further simulated the sample case with alternative materials compiled by BMTPC
and conventional burnt clay brick to understand their compliance with ECBC-R, if used. In
order to calculate their RETV, U-values have been selected (see Table 8: U-value of alternative
materials promoted by BMTPC).

Table 8: U-value of alternative materials promoted by BMTPC

Case U-value
Description of exterior walling material
number (W/m2K)
0 Design case—150 mm fly ash brick 1.5
1 Monolithic concrete construction using plastic–aluminium formwork 3.36

2 Modular tunnel form 3.36

3 Insulating concrete form 0.32

4 Lost-in-place formwork system—plaswall panel system 2.70
5 Lost-in-place formwork system—plasmolite 1.34
6 Advanced building system—emmedue 0.52
7 Glass fibre reinforced gypsum panel system 2.85
8 SRPL building system (Wafflecrete) 5.03
9 Pre-cast large concrete panel system 3.81
Industrialized 3-S system using cellular light-weight concrete slabs and pre-
10 0.87
cast columns (with 150 mm AAC blocks for exterior walling)
11 Walltec Hollowcore concrete wall 2.50
12 Compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB) 2.47
13 Solid burnt clay brick 2.13
Source: ECBC-R, 2018

On being used in exterior walling and when oriented in four different directions, how the
materials (or cases) perform or what RETV is yielded is demonstrated in Graph 9: RETV
analysis results of alternative materials promoted by BMTPC.

The analysis reveals that very few materials are able to deliver desirable RETV, while some
deliver it only in specific orientations. The conventional and widely accepted burnt clay brick
is also not able to deliver good RETV. The scenario establishes two facts; firstly, that the building
orientation interplays with material to deliver different RETVs. Secondly, there is an opportunity
to work on the interplay between design and materials to arrive at mass housing stock that is
thermally comfortable and uses less energy.

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Graph 9: RETV analysis results of alternative materials promoted

by BMTPC
39
36
33
30
27
Calculated RETV (W/m2)

24
21
18
15
12
9
6
3
0
Design Case Case 3 Case 4 Case 5 Case 6 Case 7 Case 8 Case 9 Case 10 Case 11 Case 12 Case 13
case 1&2

East–west (0°C) Northwest–southeast (45°C) North–south (90°C) Northeast–southwest (135°C)

DAYLIGHTING ANALYSIS

ECBC-R guidelines do not necessarily ensure good daylighting in all spaces of a residential
area. The calculation only takes into account exposure of windows and not the entire exterior
of a building or the thermal property of the materials used. Rooms or spaces that do not have
a window or a single wall exposed to the exterior are not accounted for. As a result, the layout
might demonstrate compliance with VLT values even when some spaces might not have
daylight penetration at all. This concern has been demonstrated using a daylighting analysis.

The analysis has been carried out as per the requirement for a daylight factor under the
National Building Code (NBC). The daylight simulation considers two scenarios:

Case 1 : Building is not shaded by any other building in its proximity

Case 2 : Self-shading of buildings due to close proximity as per the project layout

Ecotect software has been used to build the daylight model and Radiance tool to simulate it.
Only the first floor has been modelled for the simulation as it represents the worst case scenario
in terms of available light. The simulation reveals that the day-lit area is 47 per cent of the total
living area in the project when the building is not shaded by any other building. Wherever the
buildings are mutually shading each other, day-lit area is a mere 15 per cent. However, the
design still delivers deceptively good VLT as per the ECBC-R. This concern can be worked at
as a shortcoming in ECBC-R and steps taken at the state level so that such anomalies do not
recur.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

CHAPTER 5: THERMAL
COMFORT

ICAP has mooted the idea of thermal comfort for all. It has highlighted the need for thermally
efficient built spaces to keep the requirement for active cooling in check, especially in affordable
housing. We have explored this at the sample affordable housing in Telangana based on the
standards suggested by NBC, 2016.

The current design and material approach is able to deliver thermal comfort for 75–82 per cent
of the time in a year. This analysis was carried out using simulations considering the thermal
comfort range to be 18–32°C (as per NBC, 2016).

NBC, 2016 defines criteria for thermal comfort through three indices. One of them is the
Adaptive Thermal Comfort Model. This model provides the design criteria indoor conditions
for a building depending on its operation, i.e., whether it is naturally ventilated, mixed-mode or
air-conditioned. Therefore, it uses operative temperature in the buildings in modelling.

For natural ventilated buildings, the model considers that occupants thermally adapt to the
outdoor temperature of their location, which varies seasonally. It uses the 30-day outdoor
running mean air temperature to arrive at the indoor operative temperature. The operative
temperature is the average of air (dry bulb) temperature and mean radiant temperature. The
indoor operative temperature range is the temperature range within which a majority of the
occupants are likely to feel ‘neutral’ towards their indoor thermal environment, according to
the model.12

This higher indoor operative temperature threshold for Hyderabad is 32°C, within which
occupants will be thermally comfortable.13 But this model does not delve into the relationship
with natural ventilation that is crucial in residential buildings, particularly those meant for
affordable housing.

The second index for thermal comfort is Tropical Summer Index (TSI). TSI is the temperature of
calm air, at 50 per cent relative humidity, which gives a thermal sensation similar to the native
or outdoor environment. It takes into account ‘wet bulb’ temperature, globe temperature and
wind speed. Relative humidity at 50 per cent is taken as a representative intermediate value for
the prevalent humidity conditions in India.14

The thermal comfort of a person lies between TSI values of 25°C and 30°C, according to NBC. It
is tolerable between 30°C and 34°C (TSI), above which it gets too hot for the occupant. Hot and
humid climates in the country require air movement or wind for a person to feel comfortable
indoors. NBC has defined the appropriate wind speed for respective dry bulb temperature and
relative humidity (see Table 9: Desirable wind speeds for thermal comfort).

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Table 9: Desirable wind speeds for thermal comfort

Dry bulb Relative humidity
temperature (0C) (per cent)
30 40 50 60 70 80 90
28 a a a a a a a
29 a a a a a 0.06 0.19
30 a a a 0.06 0.24 0.53 0.85
31 a 0.06 0.24 0.53 1.04 1.47 2.1
32 0.2 0.46 0.94 1.59 2.26 3.04 b
33 0.77 1.36 2.12 3 b b b
34 1.85 2.72 b b b b b
35 3.2 b b b b b b
Note: Values in bold green are wind speeds in m/s
a: Comfortable even at zero value
b: Higher wind speeds will not provide thermal comfort but have been observed in practice
Source: National Building Code, 2016

Looking at the range defined by the NBC, at 30°C dry bulb temperature, wind speed in the
range of 0.06 m/s to 0.85 m/s for relative humidity from 40 per cent to 90 per cent can achieve
thermal comfort by ventilation. As per NBC, a fan is required to achieve a wind speed above
2 m/s in a room. With this logic, 32°C dry bulb temperature category has a wider range of
combinations for relative humidity and wind speed. Hence, it was used for simulation of thermal
comfort in our study.

The 32°C dry bulb temperature coincides with the threshold for thermal comfort for Hyderabad
as per the Adaptive Comfort Model. The fact that the model uses operative temperature is not
of much concern, as in a naturally ventilated building, dry bulb temperature and mean radiant
temperature are generally comparable.

Keeping these factors (guided by the NBC) in mind, the logic used in the thermal comfort
simulation is:
• Thermal comfort system: Natural ventilation with ceiling fans only
• Thermal comfort threshold: 32°C dry bulb temperature with upto 80 per cent relative
humidity
• National ventilation (windows are open when):
a. Indoor temperature is higher than outdoor temperature
b. Night-time during summers, to allow purge
c. Air changes are under 10 per hour, beyond which it is too windy

Simulation of the current design with alternative materials promoted by BMTPC establishes
that a few materials do meet the RETV requirements. Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks
(CSEB), AAC blocks, insulating concrete forms, extruded polystyrene-shortcrete panel system
and fibre cement board-concrete panel system deliver thermal comfort for more than 82 per
cent of a year. Interestingly, materials such as CSEB and fibre cement board-concrete panel
system do not perform at par with the RETV standards in ECBC-R, but they manage to provide
thermal comfort. The analysis reveals that the current standards do not factor in the role of
thermal mass in thermal comfort; a gap that needs to be addressed.

An analysis using a building-wide energy and thermal simulation approach has been
conducted to calculate Energy Performance Index (EPI) of a typical building. The analysis
also estimates indoor comfort conditions achieved in dwelling units facing different directions.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Different orientations have been tested by rotating the design by 45°, 90° and 135°. The layout
has been simulated using various software and data inputs, including building parameters like
construction materials, operation and occupancy schedules, internal lighting and equipment
loads, natural ventilation logic and indoor thermal comfort in dwelling units, are calculated
based on these factors. A few important assumptions used in the simulation (in addition to the
ones already mentioned), are as follows:
• Interior lighting load: 5 W/m2
• Interior equipment load: 10 W/m2
• Number of occupants per dwelling unit: Four

The results have been plotted in Graph 10: Results of the thermal comfort analysis.

Graph 10: Results of the thermal comfort analysis

100%

95%

90%
Annual comfortable hours

85%

80%

75%

70%

65%

60%
GF north
GF south
GF N-S corner
GF northeast
GF southwest
GF east
GF west
GF southeast
GF northwest
MF north
MF south
MF N-S corner
MF northeast
MF southwest
MF east
MF west
MF southeast
MF northwest
TF north
TF south
TF N-S corner
TF northeast
TF southwest
TF east
TF west
TF southeast
TF northwest

Orientation

Source: CSE analysis

The existing design will achieve thermal comfort for a minimum 75 per cent period of the year
to a maximum of 82 per cent period of the year. The simulated results also show that maximum
thermal comfort will be achieved in units oriented in the north–south directions. These results
are consistent with the calculated RETV where buildings with north–south orientation deliver
the lowest RETV.

Further, the project model was simulated with variations in alternative materials and
construction technologies as suggested by BMTPC, for comparison. The results have been
compared for a central dwelling unit on an intermediate floor in the eight cardinal directions for
each technology. Thirteen unique simulations have accrued (see Graph 11: Results of thermal
comfort analysis by changing materials).

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Graph 11: Results of thermal comfort analysis by changing materials

100%

Design case: Fly ash brick Case 1: Monolithic concrete Case 2: Modular tunnel form
Case 3: Insulating concrete form Case 4: Plaswall panel Case 5: Plasmolite
95% Case 6: Emmedue Case 7: GFRG Case 8: Waffle-crete
Case 9: Precast large concrete panel Case 10: AAC blocks Case 11: Hollow concrete wall
Case 12: CSEB Case 13: Burnt clay bricks
Annual comfortable hours

90%

85%

80%

75%

70%
North South Northeast Southwest East West Southeast Northwest
Orientation

Source: CSE analysis

The analysis revealed that a 150 mm thick AAC block and insulating concrete form perform the
best in terms of thermal comfort, while wafflecrete, glass fibre reinforced gypsum (GFRG) and
precast large concrete panels are the worst performing technologies as per the native climate.

A comparison of the two analysis—RETV and thermal comfort—conducted for alternative

materials reveals that a few materials, such as CSEB and solid burnt brick, which perform
average in terms of RETV are still able to achieve good results in terms of thermal comfort. The
reason can be attributed to their respective thermal mass.

For example, a 150 mm thick fly ash concrete brick has a superior thermal transmittance or
U-value of 1.5W/m2K when compared to that of a CSEB (with a U-value of 2.47W/m2K), but
CSEB performs better in terms of providing thermal comfort. CSEB has better thermal mass
than a fly ash concrete brick. Technologies such as wafflecrete and GFRG perform the worst
because they have neither high thermal mass nor low thermal transmittance. These results
make materials with high thermal mass like CSEB a good option for rural housing in Telangana
that are ground-level structures.

This leads us to the biggest learning: RETV in ECBC-R is not adequately representative of
thermal comfort. There is opportunity to improve the code and incorporate the role of thermal
mass of materials.

For a naturally ventilated or non-air conditioned building typologies (as most affordable
housing projects are), focussing only on materials with thermal insulation properties may not
be very effective in achieving thermal comfort. Walling assemblies combining materials with
high thermal mass and insulation can result in better thermal comfort and energy performance
and need to be explored.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Indian Standard SP:41 (S&T) (about performance of walling) states that the time taken to
transfer heat increases by upto three times when the insulation is placed on the outside of the
regular masonry external wall compared to when it is placed on the inside of the same wall.
This means the sequence of the layers of materials makes a difference in the thermal comfort
of an occupant, although U-value does not change. These combinations need to be explored in
the context of affordable housing in different climate zones.

The complete methodology adopted for this study has been described in Figure 2: Methodology
adopted to check the performance of ECBC-R parameters, daylighting and thermal comfort.

NEED A BENCHMARK FOR THERMAL COMFORT

State governments need to identify and set benchmarks for thermal comfort and link it with
supply.

ECBC-R suggests benchmarks for energy efficiency and makes compliance mandatory.
Therefore, governments need to check if the currently available or used materials in mass
housing schemes are able to meet the standards given in ECBC-R. Further, the combination
of materials and design needs to be checked for thermal comfort. This scoping study has
assessed a sample housing project in a composite climate zone with high-rise typologies and
a fixed layout. More studies need to be carried out for different climate zones, broad typologies
and a representative layout adopted in state-level mass housing schemes. Continuing the work
in Telangana, CSE is assessing different typologies such as G+3 or plotted independent houses
in the climate zones incidental in the states of Telangana and Karnataka as a next step.

The study will be able to assess operational energy use in buildings as guided by design and
materials. It will also enable an evaluation of life-cycle performance of materials with regard
to environment. The assessments will then yield materials and design that achieve thermal
comfort, and reduce energy use and environmental impact of mass affordable housing.

The results of the study will essentially inform the existing regulatory tools with a view to place
safeguards for thermal comfort and environmental sustainability. For instance, operational
energy is regulated by building bye-laws via provisions on envelope design, choice of materials
and their thermal performance. Similarly, lifecycle performance of materials conveyed by
emissions intensity, circularity, material use intensity (single or multiple materials) can be
addressed in Environmental Impact Assessment and ECBC-R.

Identified high-performing materials and design elements that enable compliance with
ECBC-R and contribute towards thermal comfort may have a higher cost implication when
used in mass housing schemes. State governments will also need to work towards mechanisms
to offset this additional cost. For instance, cross-financing under PPP by providing extra FAR or
viability gap funding. Such implementation mechanisms can be comprehensively addressed
in state mass housing schemes or PPP toolkits.

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Figure 2: Methodology adopted to check the performance of ECBC-R

parameters, daylighting and thermal comfort

A sample housing site in Telangana

Base case checking of compliance with ECBC–R,

2018 and other analysis

Visual Light Window opening to Residential Envelope Annual thermal

Daylit area
Transmittance floor area ratio Transmission Value comfort

As per ECBC–R 2018 As per NBC, Using whole building

2018 energy and thermal
simulation

RETV compliance check after revising

Orientation by Optimizing solar Changing materials

rotating block by shading devices for as provided in BMTPC
450 best solar protection compendium

Monolithic concrete construction

Modular tunnel form

Insulating concrete forms

Plaswall panel system

Plasmolite panel system

Revised RETV Emmedue building system

values if external
wall suitable for a Glass fibre reinforced gypsum panel system
G+9 structure
is used SRPL building system (wafflecrete)

Precast large concrete panel system

Glass fibre reinforced gypsum panel system

3S system with AAC blocks for walls

Technologies Walltec hollowcore concrete wall

that meet
desired RETV
Burnt brick

CSEB

Technology 1 Technology 2 Technology 3 Technology 4

These materials have been analyzed for their

market penetrability in Telangana

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Study summary

D. Pochampally, 2BHK affordable housing site, Telangana

Base case checking of compliance with ECBC-R 2018

and other analysis

Visual Light Window opening to Residential Envelope Annual thermal

Daylit area
Transmittance floor area ratio Transmission Value comfort

As per ECBC–R 2018 As per NBC, Using whole building

2018 energy and thermal
simulation

Visual Light Window opening to Residential Envelope

Transmittance floor area ratio Transmission Value

VLT complies Minimum WFRop The project RETV The daylit area Dwelling units
with ECBC-R in for composite values for all is 15 per cent under the
the project climate of orientations are of the total existing design
Hyderabad is greater than 15 W/ living area in will achieve
12.5 per cent, m2. Hence, the project the project thermal comfort
however project is not compliant with for about 75–82
has a WFRop of this requirement in all per cent of time
only 11.7 per orientations
cent. Hence,
this residential
building is non-
compliant with
this requirement

RETV compliance check after revising

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

RETV compliance check after revising

Orientation: Optimizing solar

Using alternative
North–south orientation is best with the shading devices for best
materials
lowest RETV at 15.2 W/m2 solar protection
while east–west orientation is at
18.7 W/m2. This implies that the
orientation itself can help in bringing
down RETV by upto 3.5 W/m2

Monolithic concrete construction

Modular tunnel form

Insulating concrete forms

Plaswall panel system

Plasmolite panel system

Emmedue building system

Revised RETVs either meet the

criteria or come very close to the Glass fibre reinforced gypsum panel system
desired 15 W/m2
SRPL building system (wafflecrete)

Precast large concrete panel system

Glass fibre reinforced gypsum panel system

3S system with AAC blocks for walls

Walltec hollowcore concrete wall

Burnt brick

CSEB

Fly ash Insulating Plasmolite Emmedue 3S system Walltec

cement solid concrete forms panel building with AAC hollowcore
block or monolithic system system blocks concrete
insulated for walls blocks
concrete system

These materials have been analyzed for their market

penetrability in Telangana

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Using alternative
materials

Monolithic concrete construction

Modular tunnel form

Insulating concrete forms

Plaswall panel system

Plasmolite panel system

Emmedue building system

The result of thermal

comfort achieved have Glass fibre reinforced gypsum panel system
been analyzed
SRPL building system (wafflecrete)

Precast large concrete panel system

Glass fibre reinforced gypsum panel system

3S system with AAC blocks for walls

Walltec hollowcore concrete wall

Burnt brick

CSEB

The inference drawn from the comparison is that in non-air conditioned building
typologies (typical for affordable housing), thermal mass plays an important role in
achieving thermal comfort. RETV calculation in ECBC-R does not factor in the role played
by thermal mass, hence a provision for incorporating the role of thermal mass of a
material should be made

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CHAPTER 6: SUMMARY
OF ISSUES AND THE WAY
FORWARD

Based on this scoping study, the following comments are being made in the hope that they will
help to achieve improvements in the sector, both in terms of liveability of the new housing stock,
as well as sustainability.

The combined mandate of energy efficiency and thermal comfort to govern

affordable housing sector: Currently, there is a logical convergence of two big ideas—
planning and designing for energy efficiency as well as for thermal comfort. Both they need to
be aligned for best results. This co-benefit is now possible with the combined policy mandate
of ECBC-R, that promotes energy efficiency, and ICAP, for adaptive thermal comfort standards
and to ensure thermal comfort for all, including in the affordable housing for LIG households.

In addition, the Technology Sub-Mission; Model Building Bye-laws 2016; National Building
Code, 2016; Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, and other such policy and
legislative interventions will guide upcoming housing stock with regard to environmental
sustainability, energy efficiency and thermal comfort. This presents an opportunity to promote
wider penetration of climate-responsive built spaces to bring indoor temperatures within the
acceptable thermal comfort band through appropriate material choices, walling assembly
approaches and passive cooling to reduce cooling load. These tools have been introduced to
replace conventional practices with more informed and environmentally sound techniques, for
instance reduction of operational energy use by design and substitution of burnt clay bricks
with alternative materials. This can mainstream environmental sustainability, reduce emissions
intensity of materials, and help achieve energy efficiency and thermal comfort in affordable
housing stock.

Different states have adopted PMAY guidelines in their own manner in their housing schemes.
For instance, Telangana is developing housing, both urban and rural, only on government-owned
land and private developers are undertaking construction at costs capped by the government.
Irrespective of the models of implementation, the objective of energy efficiency, resource
efficiency and decentralized services will have to be combined with the specific requirements
of thermal comfort. This demands thermally efficient built spaces with reduced heat load with
the help of green walling (walling assembly that addresses material and insulation needs),
shading and enhanced natural ventilation. Doing so will help to reduce requirement of active
cooling.

Affordable housing and energy efficiency: As part of the scoping study, we attempted to
assess if the affordable housing stock being built complies with ECBC-R notified in 2018 for
the residential sector. CSE established a methodology to understand how the current stock
planning, layout and design internalizes thermal comfort, energy efficiency and environmental
sustainability. The scoping reveals that the current design does not perform well when compared
with the standards given in ECBC-R and NBC, 2016. Key findings reveal that components like
heat transfer through opaque and non-opaque components of the structure as well natural day
lighting do not hold up to the prescribed standards in all directions.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Various factors affect energy performance of build stock. The study takes a base case scenario
of a sample affordable housing in Telangana and checks it for the openable window to floor ratio
compliance, and VLT and RETV compliance. Research has established the role of orientation
in bringing down RETV in the sample affordable housing scheme by comparing the RETV of
the worst with the best orientation of blocks. For instance, it was discovered that north–south
orientation reduced RETV by up to 17.3 per cent compared to the east–west orientation. RETV
represents the heat transmittance into a building through its envelope.

The scoping has made it clear that material choices cannot be made in isolation from
architectural design and layout plans. Current design and material approach is able to
deliver thermal comfort for 75 per cent to 82 per cent of the total time in a year. However, this
may vary from site to site. India has five climate zones and each state has adopted different
housing typologies under their affordable housing schemes. There is a need to study the most
representative typology in a particular climate zone.

This makes the case for a deep-dive studies for Telangana and Karnataka that together comprise
of four climate zones. The study will check compliance with ECBC-R and thermal comfort
delivery, hence it will be able to address operational energy use in upcoming housing stock.
Accordingly, the findings will guide state building bye-laws and housing schemes for a wider
and mainstream approach to energy footprints of material use and the combined strategies for
material and architectural design packages to optimize energy savings and thermal comfort.

Performance of conventional and alternative materials and walling assemblies: It

is also evident from the scoping that states are using alternative materials and construction
technologies but primarily for speed and ease of construction to meet the target for housing
units. For instance, Telangana is making shear wall structures using tunnel formwork technique
and aluminium formwork technique, pre-cast concrete and AAC blocks in some of the urban
projects, while fly ash concrete bricks remain dominant. The costs of these materials and
technologies is a little higher than conventional construction. But these materials are not
optimally combined with design to get the best results with respect to energy efficiency and
comfort.

There is, therefore, a huge need for informing the adoption of alternative material and walling
assembly techniques. It is also important to leverage the building material compendium
of BMTPC that inventorizes materials based on a range of attributes that have bearing on
efficiency, safety and comfort. If this knowledge is further combined with architectural design
packages and walling assembly approaches, significant efficiency and thermal comfort gains
are possible. These interventions at the state level need to be further enabled through building
bye-laws.

This spotlight on material takes an integrated view of embodied energy of materials that is
influenced by extraction, manufacture, transport of material, construction, demolition and
refurbishment; and also walling assembly choices based on material and insulation. BMTPC
promotes 24 alternative materials and construction technologies in its compendium. It had
identified these technologies based on criteria such as strength, stability, fire resistance,
thermal comfort, water tightness, constructability and economic viability. The walling assembly
of the base case was simulated with these materials and technologies and the RETV were
re-calculated. Five out of 24 material and technologies are able to achieve the desired RETV
keeping the same design. These technologies are fly-ash concrete blocks (150 mm thick),
insulating concrete forms, plasmolite panel systems, emmedue systems and 150 mm AAC
blocks.

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Comparison of ECBC-R and thermal comfort analysis for these alternative materials and
technologies has revealed that RETV's reliance on U-value may not be an effective approach.
U-value essentially denotes the thermal insulation properties of a material. it may not be
an appropriate indicator for a naturally ventilated or non-air conditioned building typology
that most affordable housing projects are. The study has shown that the materials that have
an average U-value can perform better for thermal comfort than the materials which have a
superior U-value. This finding calls for further research on the performance of these materials
for thermal comfort and energy efficiency combined. The research will build necessary
guidance to achieve the objectives of the ICAP.

This evaluation suggests there is insufficient information to understand the overall ability of
these materials to deliver on the requirements pertaining to environmental sustainability,
thermal comfort and emissions intensity and needs further investigation. The use of these
materials and technologies can be addressed in environmental regulatory frameworks such as
EIA procedures. Burnt brick is still a predominant walling material and will take time to phase
out if its green potential is not realised, so this sector should improve to perform as resource-
efficient and low-carbon walling material. A separate scoping study established the challenges
for cleaner and sustainable brick production in Maharashtra. It will require sustained efforts
and a multi-faceted approach towards effective engagement with all stakeholders, including
regulatory authorities and members of Kumbhar community, to build a consensus and move
towards sustainable and cleaner brick production in a phased manner.

The identified high-performing materials and design elements that enable and foster
thermal comfort while complying with ECBC-R, may have a higher cost implication and face
market hurdles when used in mass housing schemes. State governments will need to work
towards mechanisms to offset this additional cost. For instance, cross-financing under PPP by
providing extra FAR or through viability gap funding. Such implementation mechanisms can be
comprehensively addressed in state mass housing schemes or PPP toolkits.

Network of stakeholders for enabling action: Combining planning and designing for
energy efficiency as well as for thermal comfort can only be possible through multi-stakeholder
engagement involved with implementation. In Telangana, support from Municipal Affairs and
Urban Development Department and Housing Corporation, helped forward understanding on
alternative material and formwork systems and pilot project experiences with new technologies.
Roundtable engagement in Hyderabad involving technology providers active in the state and
also nationally has indicated the interest among alternate technology providers to leverage the
emerging market. They are trying to be market-ready from the perspective of sustainability
and getting their materials tested to enable accurate assessment and faster adoption.

Based on the scoping study, this paper has been designed to influence and inform material
and design guidelines for the affordable housing sector at the Central level and also inform
building bye-laws and state-level guidelines. Overall, this paper addresses policy context
of environmental sustainability, energy efficiency and thermal comfort. Going forward, this
analysis will look at the leverages and alignments that are needed among all key policies.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

ANNEXURES
ANNEXURE 1: Analysis of attributes of select materials from the
BMTPC compendium
Name Manufacturer
Modular Tunnel form Outinord Formworks Pvt. Ltd
Description of Technology
Tunnel formwork is customized engineering formwork replacing conventional steel/plywood shuttering
system. Two half shells when placed together form a room or cell and several cells make an apartment.
In this formwork the concrete is poured thereby casting walls and slabs in a single pour. Each phase
consists of a section of the structure that will be cast in one day. The phasing is determined by the
program and the amount of floor area that can be covered in one day.

Advantages Challenges
Time taken for construction reduces. The formwork is imported from France as no plant is
Wastage is reduced. available in India.
Monolithic construction is better for External walls made using RCC through the technology will
earthquake resistance. have a high thermal transmittance.
A single pour reduces the number of joints Modifications to these walls are very difficult as they are
drastically as compared to other structural.
technologies. The formwork has little scope for variations and makes
Finished surface is good enough for paint or sense only if the units are repetitive.
wallpaper to be applied directly. Qualification criteria in government projects is very high
such as organization turnover and experience etc.

Components of the exterior wall (in mm)

Concrete Steel Reinforcement
150 Embedded

Physical attributes of the external wall

Width 180 mm
Mass 414 Kg/m2
U-value 3.35 W/m2 K

Imported The entire formwork

Component is imported from Lille,
France
Steel Needed NA

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Recyclability component: Economic Viability in affordable housing:

Concrete and Steel both are difficult to recycle. Has been used in housing in affordable
housing in Telangana

Structural safety: They can be used to construct Special equipment requirements:

high rise load bearing buildings. Formwork, Concrete pouring machine, Crane

Labor used while working with technology:

15 people per shift can complete a 5000 sq.ft. construction

Notes:

The slow on-site implementation in government projects is hampering the growth of the
technology in the country. The technology works best in the scenario with a time bound project
but the delays in site make the technology lose its edge over conventional technologies.
There should be provisions in the policy to promote alternate technologies for all sizes of projects.
The formwork are good enough for a 1000 repetitions.

Production Penetrability: Production is currently being done in France for the Outinord formwork,
however, local manufacturers are providing a similar technology in the country.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Name Manufacturer
Insulating Concrete Forms M/S RELIABLE INSUPACKS (P) LTD

Description of Technology
Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF) & Monolithic Insulated Concrete Systems (MICS) comprise of panels
of two walls of Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) separated by a nominal distance of 150mm by hard
plastic ties. These are assembled on site to hold reinforced concrete. The forms are open ended
hollow polystyrene blocks which fit tightly together to form a shuttering system. Concrete is poured
into the hollow space to form a continuous wall. When cured, this wall supports the structural loads
from floors and roofs, and the shuttering provides thermal insulation.

Advantages Challenges
Reduces construction time. Wall Thicknesses are fixed.
Reduction in labor demand. Position of doors and windows are very difficult to change
One of the best insulation values after construction.
amongst the technologies studied. Thickness of the wall is highest amongst the technologies
Better sound proofing qualities. studied.
Better earthquake resistance.

Components of the exterior wall (in mm)

Plaster EPS Concrete EPS Plaster Steel Lattice

50.8 100 50.8 -

Physical attributes of the Physical attributes of the

external wall internal wall
Width 250 mm Width 250 mm

Mass 367.4 Kg/m2 Mass 367.4 Kg/m2

U-value 0.32 W/m2 K U-value 0.32 W/m2 K

Imported None Imported None

Component Component

Steel Needed 2.5-3kg/sq.ft. Steel Needed 2.5-3kg/sq.ft.

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Recyclability component: Economic Viability in affordable housing:

EPS and Concrete both cannot be recycled with Construction cost comes out to be
ease. 1100 Rs/ sq. Ft.

Structural safety: The walling assembly can be Special equipment requirements:

used to design low rise load bearing structures. Trestles and Concrete pouring equipment.

Labor used while working with technology:

2 masons and 1 engineer can construct a medium sized house.

Notes:

The technology uses very minimal labor.

Thermal bridges are avoided between the two EPS panels as the plastic spacers do not puncture the
EPS panels.

The thermal performance is one of the best amongst all technologies.

Production Penetrability: Currently the technology is only manufactured in Greater Noida

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Name Manufacturer
Structural Stay in place formwork system Coffor Construction Technology Pvt. Ltd.,
Vadodara (Gujarat)
Description of Technology
It is a structural stay in place formwork system to build load bearing monolithic concrete wall
structures . The formwork system comprises of two filtering grids made of rib mesh reinforced by
‘C’ channel vertical stiffeners. The grids are connected by rebar which act as horizontal stiffeners
and connector which act as a shear link. The grids on both faces act as sacrificial formwork in which
concrete is poured in-situ. After the erection of formwork panels in alignment, corners, edges of
doors and windows frame are closed with rebar positioning & concrete of required grade is poured
in the panels. The inside and outside walls are finished with cement plaster of suitable grade.

Advantages Challenges
Formwork panels require no crane hence The wall thicknesses are fixed.
smaller projects also feasible. Position of doors and windows are very difficult to
There is a 40% reduction in steel. change after construction.
Foldable Formwork requires less space for Thermal bridges are formed in between the two sides
transportation cutting down on of the metal mesh because of steel connectors.
transportation and embodied energy. U-value is poor and even the detail with insulation
Variations is possible as the same formwork requires the EPS to be punctured hence creating
is not required to be repeated thermal bridges.
Reduced Maintenance.

Components of the exterior wall (in mm)

Plaster Concrete Plaster Steel Lattice

15 160 15 -

Physical attributes of the

external wall
Width 190 mm
Mass 450 Kg/m2
U-value 3.29 W/m2 K

Imported None
Component
Steel Needed 11kg/sq.m.

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Recyclability component: Economic Viability in affordable housing:

Concrete cannot be recycled with ease.

Structural safety: Special equipment requirements:

Concrete Pouring equipment.

Labor used while working with technology:

Labor can work on site after a few hours of being trained.

Notes:

The technology is primarily used for load bearing construction.

The formwork is foldable and hence requires considerably less space to transport.

The use of technology eliminates the need for columns and beams.

Production Penetrability: Currently the technology is only manufactured in Vadodara

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Name Manufacturer
Plaswall Panel System FTS Buildtech Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
Description of Technology
It is a Lost in place formwork system, where in two fiber cement boards (FCB) of 6mm thickness are
used. It uses HIMI (High Impact Molded Inserts) bonded between two sheets of FCB in situ and
erected to produce a straight-to-finish wall. A monolithic structure is then created by filling the
entire structure with M20 grade of concrete. Additional load capacity can be obtained by providing
extra reinforcing bars and/or by increasing grade of the concrete.

Advantages Challenges
It 30-50% faster. The Fiber Cement board that is manufactured in
Reduction in labor cost. India is brittle and of inferior quality hence it must
No on-site curing required. be imported from Malaysia or Philippines.
Plastering is avoided.
It provides better earthquake resistance.
Crane is not required and hence can be used in
small scale projects.

Components of the exterior load bearing wall (in mm)

Fiber Cement Board Concrete Fiber Cement Board Plastic Spacers

6 75, 100, 125, 150, 218 6 -

Physical attributes of the

external wall
Width 230 mm
Mass 544.82 kg/m2
U-value 2.7 W/m2 K

Imported Fiber Cement Board

Component
Steel Needed

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Recyclability component: Economic Viability in affordable housing:

Concrete cannot be recycled with ease.

Structural safety: Special equipment requirements:

No special equipment required

Labor used while working with technology:

Notes:

The technology saves on 4-5% of steel as compared to conventional technology.

No skilled labor is required, semi skilled carpenters will be required.
The main savings from the technology happen due to reduction in construction time and labor
saving, however there is no significant saving in steel. The advantage one gets over burnt brick is
that one achieves the same thermal transmittance values while saving on space. This thermal
transmittance value improves as one increases the thickness of the wall.

Production Penetrability: The technology is manufactured in Mumbai but can be made in multiple
places as no special equipment or machinery is required, however, the plastic spacers are locally
manufactured, and the fiber cement boards are imported.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Name Manufacturer
Plaswall Panel System FTS Buildtech Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai

Description of Technology
It is a Lost in place formwork system, where in two fiber cement boards (FCB) of 6mm thickness are
used. It uses HIMI (High Impact Molded Inserts) bonded between two sheets of FCB in situ and
erected to produce a straight-to-finish wall & then the walls are filled with light weight concrete.

Advantages Challenges
It is 30-50% faster. The Fiber Cement board that is manufactured in
Labor requirement is reduced. India is brittle and of inferior quality hence it must
No on-site curing is required. be imported from Malaysia or Philippines.
Plastering need is eliminated. Plasmolite technology has superior thermal
They have better earthquake resistance resistance as compared to Plaswall but it can only
Crane is not required and hence can be used in be used as non-load bearing wall.
small scale projects.

Components of the non load bearing wall (in mm)

Fiber Cement Board Concrete Fiber Cement Board Plastic Spacers

6 75, 100, 125, 150, 218 6 -

Physical attributes of the non-

load bearing wall
Width 87 mm
Mass 72.24 kg/m2
U-value 1.33 W/m2K

Imported Fiber Cement Board

Component
Steel Needed

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Recyclability component: Economic Viability in affordable housing:

Concrete cannot be recycled with ease.

Recycled component used: The plastic spacers Special equipment requirements:

are made up of recycled plastic. No special equipment required

Labor used while working with technology:

Notes:

The technology saves on 4-5% of steel as compared to conventional technology.

No skilled labor is required, semi skilled carpenters will be required.

The technology works in conjunction with the Plaswall technology where Plaswall is used for
external walls.

Production Penetrability: The technology is manufactured in Mumbai but can be made in

multiple places as no special equipment or machinery is required, however, the plastic spacers
are locally manufactured, and the fiber cement boards are imported.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Name Manufacturer
Sismo Building Technology M K S Infosolutions, Manesar, Gurgaon.
Description of Technology
A slab and wall system, constructed without the use of columns or beams. SISMO technology walls
can be used with conventional column- beam construction as well. The basic structure of the Sismo
building module is steel wire lattice. At the exterior sides of the lattice, infill panels (EPS) are
inserted, which is then filled with concrete.

Advantages Challenges
Construction time is relatively less than red bricks. Ready-mix concrete plant not available in hilly areas.
There is a reduced labor requirement and cost.
It offers better thermal insulation.
It offers better sound proofing. qualities Better
earthquake resistance

Components of the exterior wall (in mm)

Plaster EPS Concrete EPS Plaster Steel Lattice

15 50.8 100 50.8 15 -

Physical attributes of the external Physical attributes of the

wall technology
Width 230 mm Width 130 mm
Mass 296.3 Kg/m2 Mass 56.26 Kg/m2
U-value 0.32 W/m2 K U-value 0.32 W/m2 K

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Recyclability component: Concrete, EPS and Economic Viability in affordable housing:

steel are difficult to recycle.

Structural safety: These walls can be used to Special equipment requirements:

build low to high rise load bearing structure None.
and the monolithic structure is earthquake
resistant.

Labor used while working with technology:

Notes:

Production Penetrability: They are manufactured in Manesar, Haryana but the raw materials are
available throughout the country. The manufacturers have undertaken projects in West Bengal,
Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

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Name Manufacturer
Rapid Panels Worldhaus Construction Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore

Description of Technology
The Rapid Panel is a prefabricated assembly of high strength steel wire forming a 3-dimensional panel
framework with a core of expanded polystyrene(EPS). During construction, Rapid Panels are installed
as walls and/or slabs. Specified mixtures of mortar or concrete are applied to the surfaces of the
panels to finish / complete the structure. The basic unit of the panel is the zig-zag truss. Steel wire is
bent into a zig-zag shape to form a continuous chain of web member. This bent wire is then welded
to continuous chord wires at every node to form the complete truss. The rapid panels are
manufactured in fully automated plant.

Advantages Challenges
Formwork panels require no crane hence Load Bearing structures are only possible till G+3.
smaller projects also feasible. Panels are not produced in India. They are produced in
30-40% less time needed in construction. Mexico and 50% of the panel cost is due to
Up-to 30% labor savings in labor. transportation.
35-40% reduction in the dead load. Steel wires puncturing the EPS panel will act as thermal
Beams can be avoided till a certain span bridges.
when used as a roof slab. Financing through Gramin banks is a challenge due to
lack of awareness and confidence in technology.
Qualification criteria in government projects is very high
such as organization turnover and experience etc.

Components of the exterior wall (in mm)

Shotcrete EPS Shotcrete Steel Lattice

35 57 35 -

Physical attributes of the external wall

Width 127 mm
Mass 173 Kg/m2
U-value 0.503 W/m2 K
Imported Component Panel is imported from
Mexico, Shotcreting is
done on site

Steel Needed 4 kg/sq.m.

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OPTIMIZING THE THIRD SKIN

Recyclability component: Economic Viability in affordable housing:

Concrete and Steel both are difficult to Government will have to reduce duties if it
recycle. has to be used for mass housing.

Structural safety: Special equipment requirements:

Shotcrete machine

Labor used while working with technology:

Labor can work on site after a few hours of being trained

Notes:

Widely used in Post-disaster rehabilitation programs (Kerala had used the technology post 2018
floods)
No certification in India is available for Rapid-Panels.
Testing at a government recognized institutions is capital intensive which in turn discourages
vendors to avail certification.

Production Penetrability:

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Name Manufacturer
QuickBuild 3D Panels Beardsell Ltd, Chennai

Description of Technology
In quick build 3 D Panel system, the panels consist of fire-resistant grade insulated polystyrene core, two
engineered layers of Galvanized Steel Mesh and galvanized steel trusses. The steel trusses are pierced
through the polystyrene core and welded to the outer layer sheets of Galvanized steel mesh.
The wall panel is placed in position and a structural plaster is applied to both sides. The wall panel
receives its strength and rigidity from the diagonal cross wires welded to the welded-wire fabric on each
side. This combination produces a truss behavior, which provides rigidity and shear terms for a full
composite behavior.

Advantages Challenges
EPS used is of zero-toxicity (food grade). Steel used in the construction is imported from China
Monolithic structure has earthquake resistant because of quality issues in India.
properties. Thermal bridges formed within the panels that would
Steel used is galvanized which prevents rusting increase the thermal transmittance of assembly.
and increases its life.
It offers 1.5 times more longevity than
conventional structure.
Up to 10-20% components are recycled.
Fly ash is used in the concrete.
Beams can be avoided till a certain span when
used as a roof slab.

Components of the exterior wall (in mm)

Shotcrete EPS Shotcrete Steel Lattice

35 50 35 -

Physical attributes of the external wall

Width 120 mm
Mass 174.4 Kg/m2
U-value 0.61 W/m2 K

Imported Steel imported from

Component China
Steel Needed 4 kg/sq.m.

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Recyclability component: Economic Viability in affordable housing:

Concrete and Steel both are difficult to recycle. Price can range from Rs. 700-1200 / sq.m.

Structural safety: Special equipment requirements:

Shotcrete machine is required.

Labor used while working with technology:

Beardsell has an organized training system that trains executive engineers who in turn need to train
the engineers, contractors and labor before work can be executed at site.

Notes:

Weak recognition of the technology by state government for mass housing.

It works as a load bearing technology up to G+2, beyond that it will require a frame structure.

Production Penetrability: Production is well spread out across India in cities of Bangalore, Pune,
Hyderabad, Delhi and Chennai

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Name Manufacturer
SRPL – Waffle-Crete Technology Shaival Reality Pvt. Ltd. Ahmedabad

Description of Technology
Waffle-Crete Building System consists of large, structural, ribbed panels of reinforced precast
concrete, bolted together and the joints between the panels are caulked to form the walls, floor
and pitched or flat roofs of buildings.
Advantages Challenges
There is a reduction in labor cost. The services are unconcealed.
35% reduced construction time Thermal transmittance is very high however
Steel requirement is reduced if roof and wall both use this insulation can be added for extra cost.
technology. A structure higher than G+3 is yet to be
Columns and beams are avoided. built.
Shuttering cost is avoided. Only standard sizes available, custom sizes
Plastering can be avoided. need to be specially made.
On site material wastage is reduced.
Technology can be used anywhere.

Components of the Alternate exterior wall (in mm)

exterior wall (in mm) RCC Glass Wool Gypsum Board
RCC
152mm ribs with 100mm
152mm ribs with 51mm slab 51mm slab

Physical attributes of the external Physical attributes of the internal

wall wall
Width 152 mm Width 152 mm
Mass 168 Kg/m2 Mass 168 Kg/m2
U-value 5 W/m2 K U-value 5 W/m2 K

Imported None Imported Component None

Component
Steel Needed 1.25 kg/sq.ft.
Steel Needed 1.25 kg/sq.ft.

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Recyclability component: Economic Viability in affordable housing:

Reinforced Cement Concrete cannot be Projects in Gujarat are being done for mass
recycled with ease. affordable housing

Structural safety: Special equipment requirements:

Surface Vibrator needed, Ready Mix Concrete
Machine needed, Weigh Batcher needed

Labor used while working with technology:

15-20% reduction in labor

Notes:

Architecturally, it would be difficult to deal with the coves that are formed inside or outside.
The U-Vaue of such a material would be very high as the effective thickness of concrete is only
56mm in the non ribs area.
Local unskilled labors can be trained in a few days for the use of the technology.

Production Penetrability: Can be manufactured anywhere where the equipment can reach.

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Name Manufacturer
AAC blocks and panels being used in Industrialized 3-S Siporex, BG Shirke road, Pune
system
Description of Technology
In the system, precast dense concrete hollow column shell of appropriate sizes are used in combination with
precast dense concrete rectangular / ‘T’ shape / ‘L’ Shape beams with light weight reinforced autoclaved
cellular concrete/Precast RCC slabs for floors and roofs. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) slabs can be used
as floor / roof slabs as well as for walls.
Advantages Challenges
The walling requires no cranes hence can be used for Laying the AAC blocks take more time and labor as
smaller scale projects. compared to other non conventional technologies.
AAC blocks or panels are lightweight and hence AAC panels are faster but use steel reinforcement
structural and transportation load gets reduced. which is a high embodied energy material.
Less joints in AAC masonry compared to burnt bricks Predominantly used in non load bearing structures.
reduces requirement of water. Large amount of waste produced at production units
AAC has a very low U-Value. which goes to landfills.
Reduced plaster as compared to burnt brick.
Variable thicknesses are available.
The blocks are dimensionally correct.

Components of the exterior wall of AAC block Components of the exterior wall of AAC panel
(in mm) (in mm)

Plaster Autoclaved Aerated Plaster Plaster Autoclaved Aerated Plaster

Concrete block Concrete panel
10 125, 150 10 10 100, 125 10

Physical attributes of the external wall Physical attributes of the internal wall
Width 170 mm Width 125 mm
Mass 125.24 Kg/m2 Mass 110 Kg/m2
U-value 0.87 W/m2 K U-value 1 W/m2 K
Imported Component None Imported Component None
Steel Needed None Steel Needed Yes (in Panel)

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Recyclability component: Economic Viability in affordable housing:

Major component in AAC is fly ash (waste It is lighter than red bricks due to which
product) and later the bricks can be reused as a dead load on the building is decreased and
replacement for sand in screed. less reinforcement is required. Due to
smoother finish, the requirement for
Structural safety: These are mostly used in non- plaster is also reduced
structural application as infill walls or partition
walls. Reinforced AAC panels are designed to Special equipment requirements:
withstand wind loads up-to 200 kg/m2. No special equipment needed.

Labor used while working with technology: The labor needed for AAC is lower than
conventional red bricks.

Notes:
The technology is primarily used for non- load bearing construction.
The handling and application of the blocks is slightly different than red bricks therefore the labor
must be provided some training.
The blocks can be cut into different dimensions providing an array of design options.

Production Penetrability: Manufacturing takes place in many places in North India and this
technology is becoming popular alternate for red bricks.

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Name Manufacturer
Walltec Hollowcore Concrete Panel B.N. Precast Pvt. Ltd. Ahmedabad

Description of Technology
Extruded non-load bearing concrete hollowcore wall panels manufactured in fully automated
machines. Walltec wall panels are factory produced using light weight concrete made of river sand,
crushed stone aggregate, light weight aggregate and Ordinary Portland cement.

Advantages Challenges
Faster Construction with strict time frame. Cranes are needed for installing panels.
Wastage is minimized due to prefabrication. Difficult to be used for external walls as scaffolding
Shuttering cost is avoided. would be required on outside.
Plastering can be avoided. Bills are not paid on time in government projects so
Damaged panels can be recycled into aggregates incentive of working fast goes away.
for further panels. Co-ordination issues occur when used in
No curing onsite needed hence less water conjunction with other technologies.
consumption.

Components of the exterior Components of the interior wall

wall (in mm) (in mm)
RCC RCC

120mm thick with 74mm dia. voids 92mm thick with 53mm dia. voids

Physical attributes of the

external wall
Width 92-120 mm
Mass 140-170 Kg/m2
U-value 2.5 W/m2 K

Imported Equipment
Component
Steel Needed None

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Recyclability component: Economic Viability in affordable

Aggregates from stone, concrete, bricks or AAC housing:
can be reused into the panels.

Recycled component used: The technology can Special equipment requirements:

use bricks, AAC, stones as aggregate for Special equipment from Finland or
manufacturing the panel. China are imported for
manufacturing of panels.
Labor used while working with technology: The panel installation requires
Trained labor required during manufacture. cranes to be used which is not
feasible in a small project.

Notes:
Walltec panels are best used if the entire construction uses precast members.
The technology hasn’t been used for exterior walls much as it becomes difficult to fit a
precast member into a cast-in-situ construction due to defects of a cast in situ construction.
A crane is required for panels installation and hence a small project is not feasible.

Production Penetrability: The technology is being manufactured by B.N.Precast only near

Ahmedabad and hence the transportation is only feasible around 200Kms of the
manufacturing site unless more plants are setup.

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Name Manufacturer
Compressed stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB) Aureka, Auroville, Tamil Nadu
Description of Technology
These are blocks that are made from a mix of soil (gravel, sand, silt and clay), cement and water.
This mix is placed in a steel pressing machine (manual/automatic) where it is compressed to form a
block of a desired dimension. Later, these blocks are stacked together and cured until they are
ready to be used.

Advantages Challenges
Significant reduction in transportation requirements as soil is Requires careful handling and
locally available as compared to other technology. storage until the block is ready.
Production and usage requires little training. Time intensive to produce the
Block finish is better than red bricks hence plaster is avoided. blocks.
CO2 emissions and embodied energy 4 times lower than red
bricks as the blocks are not burnt in a kiln.
Soil does not react with cement hence maintaining its soil
characteristics.

Components of the exterior wall (in mm)

Plaster CSEB Plaster

- 220-240 -

Physical attributes of a load bearing wall Physical attributes of a partition wall

Width 240 mm Width 90 mm

Mass 408 Kg/m2 Mass 153 Kg/m2
U-value 2.47 W/m2 K U-value 3.88 W/m2 K

Imported Component None Imported Component None

Steel Needed None Steel Needed None

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Recyclability component: Economic Viability in affordable housing:

More than 90% of the brick content is soil which A 32 % reduction in cost per sq.m of plinth area
can be recycled back to earth. in a 4 storey load bearing structure, compared to
conventional red bricks, can be achieved.
Structural safety: The blocks can be used to
build as high as 4 storey as a load bearing Special equipment requirements:
structure and can be designed for earthquake Manual/automatic machine for compressing the
prone areas. soil-cement mixture.

Labor used while working with technology:

850 (240x240x90) blocks can be produced by 7 laborers in a full day manually.

Notes:

The technology can provide employment opportunities for semi-skilled labor.

For faster production, blocks can be manufactured before-hand or an automatic machine be used for
faster block production.
There is a societal perception that unburnt soil blocks are low-quality building material.

Production Penetrability: The manufacturing can be set up on the site-itself with enough space for
staking and curing.

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ANNEXURE 2:

HOUSING STOCK AND

COMMON INFRASTRUCTURE
AND UTILITIES

Overall, PMAY will have to align in a more integrated manner with other regulations to maximize
resource savings and improve quality of life in housing and the larger habitat. While PMAY
notification provides for minimum compliance, state governments have the potential to take
further steps by stringent provisioning in resource conservation and sufficiency. For instance,
Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 is a key regulatory tool of the Central
government to reduce the impact of new constructions on environmental resources.

WATER MANAGEMENT
Telangana is geographically located in a rain-shadow area, which faces frequent droughts. In
Siddipet, Sangareddy, Ranga Reddy, Rajanna Sricilla, Nalgonda and Nagar Kurnool districts
the water table has fallen down to 20 m below ground.15 These are also the districts where the
housing demand is the highest. Urban areas including the Greater Hyderabad Metropolitan
region have periodically faced water supply shortages during peak summer. Under such a
scenario, the state needs to prioritize use of alternative sources like rainwater and recycled
wastewater and reduce dependence on potable water for other needs.

The state has taken measures such as mandating rainwater harvesting in plots with 300 m2
area and above and 6 cum. storage for every 100 m2 of rooftop space. A 10 per cent rebate
on property tax is also offered to install rainwater harvesting structures, according to the State
Building Rules, 2012. Under the 2BHK scheme, projects in urban areas (GHMC and other
municipalities) also have provisions for on-site wastewater treatment using conventional
sewage treatment plants (STPs).

ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Power generation in Telangana is dominated by thermal energy. Of the current installed capacity
of 16,302.91 MW, only 23 per cent comes from renewable energy (mostly solar), 15 per cent
from hydel energy and a very small per cent from other sources such as nuclear and biogas.16
Telangana is not a power-rich state. Further, distribution companies (discoms) in the state
recorded a debt of Rs 11,897 crore in September 2015. Nodal agencies for electrification in
the 2BHK scheme projects are Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited
(TSNPDCL) and Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL).

Telangana has recognized the significance of solar energy and the potential to increase its
penetration in buildings. Telangana Solar Policy, 2015 provides many incentives on taxes
and duties vis-à-vis solar power. A Residential Rooftop Solar Policy, 2018 provides 30 per
cent subsidy from Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and 30 per cent from the state
government. State Building Rules also provide a 10 per cent rebate on property tax on use
of solar water heaters and solar-powered street lighting. Solar-powered LED lamps for street
lighting have been installed at many affordable housing projects, such as those in Ahmedguda
(GHMC) and Eravalli (rural).

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A calculation reveals as much as 15 per cent of electricity demand in the 2BHK scheme projects
can be met from on-site solar energy generation, while other projects (under PMAY-urban
and GHMC) have a ground coverage of 20–40 per cent; for instance, D. Pochampally, a GHMC
project, wherein about 30 per cent of the site area is covered by blocks, has yielded a potential
to meet 15 per cent of the site’s electricity demand through solar power.

Computation of solar energy generation

potential
Rooftop area = 9957.90 m2
60 per cent of roof top area = 5,974 m2
Solar PV that can be accommodated (@12 m2for 1 KWp) = 5,974/12 = 497.8 KWp
Dwelling units = 1,620
Load per unit = 2 KWh
Total connected load in site = 3,240 KWh
Per cent of total connected load that can be met by solar = 497.8/3,240 = 15

Many states have mandated the use of solar rooftop under their affordable housing schemes,
especially where land is provided by the government. Gujarat, for instance, is prioritizing at
least 5 per cent of connected load to be met by rooftop generated solar energy. Renewable
Energy Service Companies (RESCO) are offering competitive prices including establishment,
operation and maintenance costs for solar power plants. Latest auctions conducted by Solar
Energy Council of India saw solar power tariffs settle between Rs 2.44 and Rs 6.20 per unit,
which is lower than conventional power tariff.17 On-site solar power generation is an area with
tremendous scope in Telangana.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Municipal collection efficiency is 70–90 per cent in major metro cities and below 50 per
cent in small cities. Of this incomplete collection, only 10 per cent goes for treatment and a
remarkable 90 per cent is dumped in landfills without any treatment.18 The consequence is that
municipal bodies are running out of landfill sites. In addition, the absence of scientific and safe
disposal poses a great threat to the health and wellbeing of the rapidly increasing number of
city inhabitants as well as the environment.

The 2BHK scheme places a need for an organized system for scientific collection, transportation,
treatment and disposal of about 561,232 kg of solid waste generated every day. Solid Waste
Management Rules, 2016 mandate a three-way segregation and the Environmental Impact
Notification encourages on-site treatment of organic waste using natural techniques. However,
municipal bodies are yet to adopt the rules and ensure their effective implementation. For
instance, GHMC distributed 44 lakh bins to segregate dry and wet waste in households and
yet only 27per cent of waste was found to be segregated.

Much stronger efforts need to be put in for efficient and effective waste management. A
calculation reveals that on-site treatment of organic waste using non-mechanized methods
requires less than 5 per cent of unpaved or green space and a miniscule of the site area.
Financial requirement is only towards payment of daily wages to manual labourers to ensure
segregation of waste and look after composting. In order to comply with the provisions of
EIA Notification, especially in larger projects, the state needs to work on how to ensure these
requisites in site layouts.

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

On-site solid waste treatment potential

Area under tot-lots and green area = 2,805.21 m2
Dwelling units = 1,620
Organic waste generation in a day (@ 400 g per capita per day) = 2,592 kg waste generation
during one compost cycle = 2592 x 45 = 116,640 kg
Amount of waste to be treated after compaction = 11,6640/1.5 = 77,760 kg
Volume of waste to be treated (@ 500 g / cum) = 155.52 cum
Area required for pit composting (depth of pit = 1.2 m) = 129.16 m2

AFFORDABILITY TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN

COMMON INFRASTRUCTURE
According to the 2BHK scheme guidelines, operation and maintenance (O&M) of common
infrastructure and utilities such as water supply system, sewage treatment plants and lighting
in common areas is to be conducted by the beneficiaries. This includes contribution of costs.
GHMC has provided commercial areas in their projects to facilitate some of the recurring
O&M costs through commercial rent for beneficiaries. However, O&M costs will peak after a
few years when the infrastructure demands intensive investments. For instance, an STP requires
recapitalization in about 20 years and a diesel generator in 10 years. Concerns arise whether
these costs will render O&M of the infrastructure unaffordable for the beneficiaries. This cost
can be significantly reduced by prioritizing recycle and reuse of water and switching to low-
cost and nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment, or switching to renewable energy,
for instance. Therefore, there is a need for states to look into cost-effective solutions for all
common infrastructure and utilities.

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REFERENCES

1. Available at https://beeindia.gov.in/sites/default/files/Flyer_22nd%20Jan.pdf, as accessed on

12 May 2020

2. Rajan Rawal and Yash Shukla 2014. Residential Buildings In India: Energy Use Projections
And Savings Potentials, Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN). Available at http://
www.gbpn.org/sites/default/files/08.%20INDIA%20Baseline_TR_low.pdf, as accessed on 12
May 2020

3. Available at http://iess2047.gov.in/pathways/primary_energy_overview_chart, as
accessed on 12 May 2020

4. Socio Economic Outlook 2018, Government of Telangana. Available at https://tsdps.

telangana.gov.in/downloads/Socio-Economic-Outlook-2018.pdf, as accessed on 12 May
2020

5. GO MS No.10, 15 October 2015:Guidelines for implementation of 2bedroom housing

programme, Government of Telangana. Available at https://2bhk.telangana.gov.in/getInfo.
do?key=unspecified&id=4&type=2, as accessed on 12 May 2020

6. Maddy Deekshith 2018. ‘Telangana hikes steel price for 2BHK project’, Deccan Chronicle.
Available at https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/170218/telangana-
hikes-steel-price-for-2bhk-project.html as accessed on 12 May 2020

7. G.O.Ms.No.3-Industries & commerce (Mines-I) Department-Dated:08 January 2015: Mines &

Minerals - Regulation Of Sand Mining - New Sand Mining Policy, 2014 – Formulation Of Telangana
State Sand Mining Rules – 2015 (Tssmr-2015) – Orders – Issued, Government Of Telangana.
Available at https://2bhk.telangana.gov.in/getInfo.do?key=unspecified&id=4&type=2, as
accessed on 12 May 2020

8. G.O.RT.No.178-Housing (RH&C-A1) Department- 2 November 2016: Housing Department-

TSHCL-Procurement of cement by the TSHCL for implementation of WSHP under 2BHK for
three years-Finalization of Rates-orders-Issued, Government of Telangana. Available at
https://2bhk.telangana.gov.in/getInfo.do?key=unspecified&id=4&type=2, as accessed on 12
May 2020

9. G.O.Ms.No. 168, 7 April 2012, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Available at https://hmda.

gov.in/Gos/168.PDF, as accessed on 12 May 2020

10. Multi-Attribute Evaluation Methodology for Selection of Emerging Housing Technologies,

Building Material and Technology Promotion Council, Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty
Alleviation Government of India. Available at http://www.bmtpc.org/DataFiles/Content/
Multi_Attribute_Booklet.pdf, as accessed on 12 May 2020

11. Eco Niwas Samhita 2018 (Energy Conservation Building Code for Residential Buildings) Part
I: Building Envelope, Bureau of Energy Efficiency. Available at https://www.beeindia.gov.in/
sites/default/files/ECBC_BOOK_Web.pdf, as accessed on 12 May 2020

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 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THERMAL COMFORT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

12. National Building Code of India 2016, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi

13. Ibid.

14. Ibid.

15. Available at http://gwd.telangana.gov.in/open_record_view.php?ID=141, as accessed on 12

May 2020

16. Telangana State Power Statistics Report -Statement A, Transmission Corporation of

Telangana Limited. Available at https://www.tstransco.in/index.php/power-statistics-report/
statement-a, as accessed on 12 May 2020

17. Kaavya Chandrasekaran 2018. ‘Solar tariffs once again hit all-time low of Rs. 2.44 a unit
at SECI auction’, Economic Times. Available at https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
industry/energy/power/solar-tariffs-once-again-hit-all-time-low-of-rs-244-a-unit-at-seci-
auction/articleshow/64834531.cms, as accessed on 12 May 2020

18. SilpaKaza,Lisa C. Yao, Pernaz Bhada-Tata and Frank Van Woerden 2018. What a Waste 2.0: A
Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050, World Bank Group, Washington, DC.
Available at https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/30317, as accessed on 12
May 2020.

91
Housing for all has for long been the dream
of India's economically deprived sections,
particularly in urban areas, where the
problem is the most acute. Not surprisingly,
it has also been a battle cry of successive
Central governments. Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana (PMAY) is the latest iteration of this
policy desire to provide everyone a shelter.

But how do we marry the need to provide

affordable housing to India's teaming
millions at speed while achieving the thermal
comfort goals as scribed in the India Cooling
Action Plan? How do we bend the energy
consumption curve of the built sector in the
country downwards? How do we ensure
that these dwelling spaces are liveable and
environmentally sustainable?

Centre for Science and Environment did an

in-depth analysis of a few affordable housing
projects in Telangana to find answers to these
questions.

Centre for Science and Environment

41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area,
New Delhi 110 062 Phones: 91-11-40616000
Fax: 91-11-29955879 E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.cseindia.org