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THEME PAPER
often flouts environmental that effectively integrate low-income households.
norms. For instance, in lower-income groups This variation is attributed
many expanding urban into the urban housing to factors such as larger
areas, wetlands and market, often segregating living spaces, higher
green spaces are being these populations into less energy consumption, and
converted into residential desirable city zones. greater use of carbon-
zones without adequate • Technological Adoption: intensive appliances in
environmental assessment, The slow adoption of affluent households.To
leading to issues like modern construction mitigate these emissions,
reduced biodiversity, technologies hampers the adopting energy-efficient
increased urban heat, and ability to build quickly and technologies is essential.
exacerbated air pollution. cost-effectively. Implementing such
The Carbon Disclosure measures not only helps in
Project (2021) found that • Financial Constraints: reducing carbon footprint
over 70% of Indian cities The financial health of but also aligns with India’s
do not have a robust the real estate sector has climate goals, including
action plan to tackle urban been shaky, with many commitments under the
emissions, despite the developers facing liquidity Paris Agreement and the
growing acknowledgment issues affecting ongoing country’s target to achieve
of the need to incorporate and planned projects. net-zero emissions by 2070.
climate resilience into 3. Environmental Impacts 3.1 Key Energy-Efficient
planning processes. of Urban Housing Technologies for Reducing
• Speculation and Over- • Assessment of the carbon Urban Housing Emissions in
Supply: The real estate footprint from urban India
market often sees housing sector: Urban A. Green Building
speculative investment, housing significantly Materials and Sustainable
particularly in the luxury contributes to India’s Construction Practices
segment, which leads to an greenhouse gas (GHG)
imbalance in the housing emissions. The residential • Using low-carbon
supply. As per a report sector accounts for construction materials
by Anarock Property approximately 22% of the such as fly ash bricks,
Consultants, as of late nation’s total annual carbon bamboo, and recycled steel
2021, the unsold inventory emissions. This substantial can significantly cut down
of luxury homes (priced share underscores the emissions.
above INR 1.5 crores) need for energy-efficient
across the top seven cities practices and sustainable • Precast concrete
technology reduces on-
was over 35,000 units, building materials in urban site waste and minimises
contrasted with acute housing. The disparity energy consumption.
shortages in affordable in carbon footprint
housing segments. among different income • Cool roofs and reflective
groups is notable. High- paints help in lowering
Additional Challenges
expenditure households indoor temperatures,
• Inclusive Development: emit nearly seven times thereby reducing the need
There is a lack of policies more carbon compared to for air conditioning.
April, 2025, Volume 26. No.1 - SHELTER 23
