Mainstreaming Eco-Housing Partnership - India (2004 - 2009)

The Eco-housing partnership was launched in September 2004 in response to the unchecked and resource-intensive housing construction boom in India. This initiative implemented by IIEC with USAID and GDA support addresses the challenge of containing the ever-increasing demand for resources through interventions spanning policy and market development. The objective of the program is to scale up the use of energy and resource-efficient technologies and practices in the residential sector and support the long-term sustainability of Eco-Housing practices through strategic stakeholder partnerships.

Phase I ( 2004 to 2006)
Interventions

• Policy Interventions -Changes in building bylaws to promote Eco-housing were identified and are being incorporated by Local Urban Bodies.
• Facilitating fiscal Incentives for developers and end-users
• Benchmarking of Eco-housing – Development of Eco Housing Assessment Criteria. The criteria are also developed into a web-based assessment tool (www.ecohousingindia.org).
• Setting up an institutional mechanism for Eco Housing certification
• Training and Capacity Building of key stakeholders

Achievements
The Eco-housing program in the first phase has effectively built significant momentum in the regional market for Eco-Housing practices. Policy support both at the local and state level, tax rebates by the urban local body as well as specific housing mortgage products have played a decisive role in the scale-up of the program. The Eco-housing assessment criteria, which form the basis of the voluntary Eco-housing certification has received an encouraging response from private developers.

In response to the Initiatives of Phase I, there were 4 residential projects in Pune which complied with Eco-Housing Certification.

Phase II ( 2006 -2009)
Recognizing the need for a more long-term and sustained effort to create permanency in eco-housing practices and education of the stakeholders the second phase of this initiative was launched. The objective of phase II of the program was the scaling up of sustainable construction practices through geographical expansion of the eco-housing program, build the capacity of professionals (designers, architects, engineers, and policy-makers), and set up a Sustainable Building Technology Center (SBTC) to sensitize consumers on eco-housing concepts. This partnership complements the eco-housing partnership successfully launched under the GDA funding during 2004-2006.

Some of the key Activities and Interventions of Phase II were as follows

• Development of Eco Housing Assessment Criteria Version II was developed through a stakeholder consultative process, addressing the requirements of the different climatic zones of the country.
• A National Eco-Housing Certification Body was institutionalized with the support of partner organizations.
• An Eco Housing Auditors Training Manual was developed along with an examination for Eco Housing Auditors.

As part of the second phase, the setting up of a Sustainable Building Technology Center (SBTC) was initiated. This Center would showcase and demonstrate the performance of proven and new eco-friendly building technologies and support the scale-up of the Eco-housing program.

Funding Agency/Client: USAID – India Mission and USAID - Global Development Alliance (GDA).