CRUX Alliance has funded GBPN and RAP to establish a framework for government-facing living labs in India. Monash University provides key research management and its India partner connections, funded by GBPN. This effort is expanding.
India has highly progressive national building policies: how can these be configured and implemented rapidly at the state level?
A quarter of the world’s young people live in India and they want their own homes. India has lifted 500 million people out of poverty since 2017 largely with social and affordable housing. Often for the first time, new housing occupants have 24/7 electricity and running water. How can these homes, with 24,000 being completed each day, also be made grid interactive, energy and cooling efficient and low embodied carbon? Missions and regulations for sustainable buildings and energy are in place in India nationally. How can action research provide new evidence of what needs to happen for state-based implementation?
A group of public and private sector partners in India has assembled to tackle the challenge of decarbonizing India’s building sector. Working together to set up living labs and identify what works for housing and grid agencies, Cellular has written engagement from:
- 2 national NGOs in smart grids and housing
- 2 state energy utilities (“DISCOMS”)
- 4 of the largest property developers in India
- 2 large state universities and one specialist private university in India and two universities from the EU
- 5 local experts in India
- 5 commercial firms in IoT, grid tech, architecture and passive energy
- New partners regularly joining to support key activities
Cellular invites Indian and international organisations to fund its trials. Each trial has set goals in avoided carbon, human development, policy support and reducing energy poverty. Cellular will run 50 living lab trials to 2035
Cellular invites Indian and international organisations to fund its trials. Each trial has set goals in avoided carbon, human development, policy support and reducing energy poverty. Cellular will run 50 living lab trials to 2035
What is a Living Lab?
A living lab is a research project taking place in living buildings and people’s homes — while they go about their lives. Testing new technology and energy practices in this environment is challenging, but it is very important because:
- Building operators, owners and household members benefit in real time or they are studied on how they adapt the intervention. Or the intervention is changed by them so it works for them.
- Participating universities can connect their research programmes and PhD candidacies to important fieldwork
- Housing and grid agencies are team members who observe and learn about risks and opportunities associated with potentially disruptive technologies
Our Action States
Gujarat
MAHARASHTRA
KARNATAKA
Our NGO Partners
GBPN
GBPN is providing living lab expertise, building efficiency and behaviour change design support. These are the demand side of grid interactive housing.
RAP
RAP is providing energy and DISCOM support for Cellular trials. These are the supply side of grid interactive housing.
MONASH UNIVERSITY
Monash University is providing living lab expertise, a theory base and experimental design support.
Contact Form
If you represent a builder, an innovator or a university that wants to support low carbon buildings and a low carbon grid, please get in touch with us!
Find out more
If you are a government department, building sector company or utility company in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka and you would like to know more about this project or get involved, please contact our team using the form above.
Find out more
If you are a government department, building sector company or utility company in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka and you would like to know more about this project or get involved, please contact our team using the form above.
