24 November 2014: Direct policy action in the residential sector in India can lead to a 57% energy savings by 2050 compared to business as usual, according to a recently-published report. The report, titled ‘Residential Buildings in India: Energy Use Projections and Savings Potentials,’ presents decision makers with recommendations for realizing energy savings from the residential building sector while generating positive economic, environmental and social opportunities.

The report, written by the Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN), a partner of the Clean Energy Ministerial’s (CEM) Clean Energy Solutions Center, identifies energy savings that could be achieved in India by 2050 in the residential sector, using four energy scenarios, each relating to a level of ambition of building performance policies and market efforts. It shows that, with direct policy action, it is possible to substantially reduce future energy demand in the residential sector and help India address challenges posed by a growing population and energy demand, higher comfort expectations and the increased use of appliances.

The report further examines residential electricity consumption projections up to 2050 compared to today’s levels under the four scenarios: business-as-usual (BAU), moderate, aggressive and very aggressive. Under the BAU scenario, electricity consumption could rise eight-fold by 2050 compared to 2012 levels. However, the moderate, aggressive and very aggressive strategies could respectively limit consumption increases to five times, four times and three times current energy use, leading to relative energy savings of 27%, 44% and 57% compared to BAU.

The report recommends: better data; establishment of policy roadmaps; and development of a residential building energy code. Eight-hundred households were surveyed to determine electricity consumption patterns for different sizes of residential units with varying occupancy rates and appliance use, and for four different climate zones.

GBPN prepared the report with the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University. GBPN provides policy expertise and technical assistance to advance building energy performance and sustainable built environments for all. [Clean Energy Solutions Press Release] [GBPN Press Release] [Publication: Residential Buildings in India: Energy Use Projections and Savings Potentials]