Building climate-resilient Indian cities through regulatory and green rating frameworks

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and the increasing impact of climate change have amplified the need for climate-resilient strategies in Indian cities. Building codes and green rating systems play a pivotal role in shaping sustainable urban development. This article systematically analyzes major frameworks, including the Energy Conservation Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC), the National Building Code (NBC), and various Green Building Rating Systems (GBRS), to assess their contributions to climate resilience. Through a structured evaluation, this study identifies the strengths, gaps, and synergies across existing standards, with a particular focus on energy efficiency, -energy conservation, material sustainability, and the integration of passive design. Peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that enforcement of these policies reduces energy consumption by up to 32% in commercial buildings and 20–30% in residential buildings. This research underscores the imperative of shifting from design compliance to performance-oriented regulation, bolstered by post-construction assessments and enhanced enforcement capabilities within Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), while also advocating for the alignment of mandatory standards with voluntary rating systems and the incorporation of climate resilience metrics to guarantee that buildings are efficient, accountable, and capable of adapting to future risks. Research highlights the need to develop a web-based platform for evaluating the performance of green-rated buildings. This platform could facilitate better communication and collaboration among stakeholders, ensuring that best practices are shared and implemented effectively.