Sustainable
Energy Lab
Driving the use of design and technology to create and operate net-zero-energy, climate-resilient buildings.
About
The IIHS Sustainable Energy Lab anchors the design and use of technology to create and operate net-zero-energy, climate-resilient buildings.
It develops and tests solutions that integrate building energy loads, on-site generation, storage systems, and grid supply to strengthen resilience at building, community, and urban scales. The Lab also co-conducts and manages SDI, the world’s largest net-zero building design challenge.
Impact
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Key Focus Areas
Grid-Interactive Buildings
The power sector is increasingly shaped by fluctuating demand and the growing share of renewable energy. Managing this requires systems that can balance supply and demand in real time.
The Lab works on demand–response and storage (DRS) approaches that improve grid resilience and enable more flexible energy use. These approaches help manage peak demand, reduce outages such as blackouts and brownouts, and support continued operation during disruptions.
In urban settings, clusters of buildings can function as microgrids, allowing essential services to continue even during grid failures. The Lab develops and tests intelligent energy management systems that combine real-time forecasting of renewable energy with adaptive demand control, supporting both normal and ‘islanded’ operation when buildings disconnect from the grid.
Sustainable Cooling
Rising temperatures, more frequent heatwaves, and urban heat stress are making indoor cooling a critical need. At the same time, conventional air-conditioning increases outdoor heat and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
IIHS works on sustainable cooling solutions that balance comfort, affordability, and climate impact. This includes blue–green infrastructure, passive design strategies, efficient appliances, and low-energy cooling approaches.
The Lab explores advanced methods such as machine learning–based thermal comfort systems and fan-first cooling strategies that reduce reliance on air-conditioning. Trials at IIHS, Sadashivanagar have demonstrated significant energy savings while maintaining indoor comfort.
Net-Zero Buildings
Buildings account for a significant share of global energy-related emissions, driven by both ‘embodied’ carbon and day-to-day operations. In India, the building sector is a major and growing source of emissions.
The Lab’s work focuses on reducing both operational and embodied carbon through integrated building and energy system design. This includes research on net-zero building performance, simulation modelling, insulation and thermal comfort strategies, and long-term performance monitoring.
Through design, measurement, and analysis, the Lab has supported the IIHS, Kengeri Campus in achieving net-zero energy performance, demonstrating how buildings can be designed and operated for a low-carbon future.
EVENTS
SDI
The Lab anchors SDI, a nine-month challenge for Indian students to design net-zero–energy–water, affordable and resilient solutions for live building projects. SDI is the largest net-zero building challenge in the world, and is conducted by IIHS and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), and supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Since 2020, SDI has built capacity and enabled collaborations between 8,000+ students, 1,000+ faculty members of 300+ academic institutions, and 400+ partners in the building industry.
Learn more about SDI
and how to participate.
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