Beyond shelter, dweller needs within the four walls

Syllabus: GS- I

Subject: Society and social justice

Topic: Poverty, hunger and development related issues

Issue: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G)

• In the interim budget (2024) announcement was made for construction of two crore additional house in next five years and new housing scheme for middle class.
• Rapid housing sector expansion prompts consideration of trade-offs between quality of life and environmental concerns.
• Affordable housing often prioritizes speed, cost, and ease of construction over factors like thermal comfort and low-carbon infrastructure.
• Light House Projects (LHPs) under PMAY utilize modern technologies to build resilient and affordable houses.
• Technologies like Mivan offer efficiency but may contribute to increased heat gain and reliance on cooling appliances, elevating GHG emissions.
• Integration of passive design strategies is crucial for ensuring thermal comfort and aligning housing initiatives with environmental goals.
• Implementation of guidelines like Eco Niwas Samhita can facilitate a thermally comfortable environment within built spaces.
• The Smart Ghar III project in Rajkot, serves as a model for achieving indoor thermal comfort through passive design implementation
• An ecosystem change is needed to incentivize developers and raise awareness among stakeholders for passive design adoption.
• Weaving environmental consciousness into housing initiatives ensures resilience to climate change and contributes to a sustainable future.