CHAPTER-2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Affordable housing is a pressing issue in India, especially in urban areas like Delhi, where the demand for housing exceeds the supply and the cost of construction is high. To address this challenge, various alternative construction technologies have been proposed and implemented to reduce the cost, time and environmental impact of building affordable houses. These technologies include Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum Technology (GFRG), Precast Modular Technology, Monolithic Reinforced Concrete Construction System, and others. However, these technologies also need to consider the energy efficiency aspects of the buildings, both during construction and operation, to ensure sustainability and affordability in the long term. Energy efficiency in buildings involves among these aspects, passive building design plays a crucial role in reducing the heat gain, enhancing the daylighting and promoting the natural ventilation of the buildings, especially in warm-humid climates like Delhi. Heat gain refers to the amount of heat that enters the building through various sources such as solar radiation, conduction, convection and internal heat generation. Daylighting refers to the use of natural light to illuminate the interior spaces of the building, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Natural ventilation refers to the movement of fresh air through the building without mechanical means, improving the indoor air quality and thermal comfort. These passive design strategies are influenced by various factors such as building orientation, window placement and size, shading devices, built form and shape, settlement pattern, and locally available materials.

This literature review aims to provide an overview of these alternative construction technologies and their energy efficiency aspects such as factors affecting heat gain, daylighting and natural ventilation for affordable housing in Delhi. A government initiative to source and adopt innovative and sustainable technologies for mass housing projects.