State-of-the-art of net-zero building standards and benchmarks in India: a comprehensive review with notable case studies

Latif, Eshrar ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3982-6929 and Jain, Vaibhav 2025. State-of-the-art of net-zero building standards and benchmarks in India: a comprehensive review with notable case studies. Energy and Buildings , 116679. 10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116679

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Abstract

India’s building sector is expanding under the 2070 net zero pledge, yet the pathway defined by mandatory codes including the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) for commercial buildings, Eco Niwas Samhita (ENS) for residences, and the newer ECSBC, together with voluntary rating systems such as GRIHA, IGBC/LEED-India, EDGE, and operational benchmarking through BEE Star, remains fragmented in practice. Using a PRISMA-adapted approach, we screened 1,245 records from 2010 to 2025, assessed 371 full texts, and synthesised 78 eligible sources, including sixteen exemplars across India’s climates and typologies. We compile benchmarks for operational Energy Performance Index (EPI), and envelope parameters such as U-values and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and present a code-to-outcome crosswalk linking ECBC and ENS baselines and voluntary ratings to operational EPI through BEE Star, clarifying what better than baseline means in operation. Offices and laboratories commonly report 55–80 kWh/m²·yr EPI when climate-appropriate envelopes with low U-values and effective solar control are paired with efficient cooling systems alongside on-site photovoltaics. Case studies and modelling evidence show photovoltaic and building-integrated photovoltaic are economically viable, though storage costs and tariff structures remain constraints. A brief comparison with the United Kingdom and the United States shows broad alignment on energy targets but weaker requirements in India for airtightness and whole-life carbon. Three evidence gaps persist: routine airtightness testing, multi-year metered end-use datasets, and standardised whole-life carbon accounting. Enforceable next steps include adopting Super-ECBC level U-values as default, mandating ACH50 testing and disclosure, and phasing embodied carbon thresholds within ECSBC and ENS.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Architecture
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > NA Architecture Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QC Physics T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) T Technology > TH Building construction
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	1872-6178
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	6 November 2025
Date of Acceptance:	1 November 2025
Last Modified:	06 Nov 2025 15:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/182136

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