Technology and Innovation in Low-Carbon Built Environment: A Case-Based Strategic Exploration

Abstract

The global building and construction sector, a leading contributor to climate change, demands urgent transformation through low-carbon design, construction, and operational paradigms. The building and construction sector, one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, faces an urgent need for transformative, low-carbon solutions. This paper presents a comprehensive, case-study-driven investigation into the pivotal role of technology and innovation in enabling low-carbon architecture across diverse climatic and geographic contexts. This research synthesises empirical performance data to identify scalable, context-responsive strategies for a low-carbon built environment. Particular emphasis is placed on the challenges and opportunities unique to India's composite climate, highlighting the necessity for regionally adapted, technologically integrated solutions.
The paper culminates in the development of an integrated strategic framework for whole-life carbon mitigation. This framework advocates the synergistic deployment of passive design strategies and advanced technologies, the adoption of whole-life carbon assessment benchmarks, and the alignment of supportive policy instruments and workforce capacity building. Recognising the importance of both new construction and the retrofitting of existing building stock, the proposed design solutions offer adaptable pathways toward achieving a resilient, low-carbon built environment. Ultimately, the findings underscore that technological innovation alone is insufficient; successful decarbonisation demands a holistic, lifecycle-based approach grounded in contextual awareness and systemic transformation.