Rapidly urbanising countries such as India face unique challenges in achieving net zero carbon emissions. Harley Haddow’s Shweta Salvankar proposes a framework to guide India’s built environment towards its environmental goals
The construction industry is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, responsible for approximately 50% of total emissions in the UK and 23% in India. Developing transformative strategies to achieve net zero carbon emissions in this sector is essential.
India’s rapid urbanisation and growing housing demand present unique obstacles to achieving net zero construction. These include diverse weather patterns, pollution in cities, overheating risks because of global warming in coastal and southern areas, language barriers, and economic constraints. A lack of widespread awareness of sustainability complicates these efforts, and regional differences in building materials and practices make it challenging to standardise low carbon solutions.
To address this gap, a study was conducted to develop an interim carbon assessment framework tailored to the unique challenges faced by the Indian construction industry.
The research paper ‘Paving the way to net zero carbon standards: A guide to designing net zero carbon buildings in a region that lacks carbon assessment frameworks’ offers a critical pathway for designing net zero carbon buildings in regions without standards. It shows how global best practices can be integrated with India’s distinct environmental, cultural and economic contexts.
Shweta Salvankar’s paper ‘Paving the way to net zero carbon standards’ was named the Most Significant Contribution to the Art and Science of Building Services Engineering at the 2024 CIBSE Technical Symposium
Steps to net zero: the framework pathway can act as a guide until carbon standards are developed
The paper also presents a structured methodology for carbon assessment, combining embodied and operational carbon evaluation in India. It incorporates sensitivity analysis, dynamic simulation and thermal modelling techniques to evaluate the lifetime carbon emissions of buildings, highlighting the benefits of integrating renewable energy systems. This approach aligns with India’s international commitments to sustainable development and offers a structured roadmap for emerging carbon assessors.
The assessment of embodied carbon is crucial in identifying the carbon footprint of specific materials. The methodology includes a detailed life-cycle assessment (LCA) of materials, focusing on their recyclability and environmental impact. The framework applies tools such as One Click LCA to evaluate material impacts across key metrics, including global warming potential and biogenic carbon storage.
The operational carbon assessment focuses on evaluating the building’s energy performance and its impact on carbon emissions. This involves dynamic thermal modelling to assess the interplay between passive and active strategies for energy efficiency. Sensitivity analysis identifies critical variables that significantly affect modelled building performance, such as building orientation, window-to-wall ratio, and shading devices. These are then optimised through iterative analysis to enhance the building’s thermal performance.
A key aspect of the operational carbon assessment is the integration of renewable energy systems, particularly photovoltaics (PVs). Exploring the potential of PVs to reduce reliance on Grid-supplied electricity demonstrates how renewable energy can significantly lower operational carbon emissions. This complemented a secondary simulation to select the most efficient active cooling systems.
The framework’s success is evidenced by substantial carbon reductions observed across multiple projects. By leveraging global best practices and adapting them to local conditions, the framework ensures relevance and practicality. It emphasises the importance of early-stage design decisions in achieving net zero carbon goals. By incorporating carbon assessment into the initial stages of the design process, architects and engineers can make informed choices that significantly impact the building’s overall carbon footprint.
The study also highlights the need for training and more awareness around standards and legislation. By providing practical and actionable strategies, the framework empowers designers and developers to implement sustainable practices.
- The CIBSE IBPSA-England Technical Symposium 2025 will take place on 24-25 April at UCL, London. Early-bird discount is available until 16 February. www.cibse.org/technicalsymposium
Aboyt the author:
Shweta Salvankar is a senior building performance and sustainability engineer at Harley Haddow
