Environmental Impact of Building Technologies. A Comparative Study in Kutch District, Gujarat State, India

Background and Objectives

This paper is based on the findings of a research project co-financed by the Rector’s Conference of the Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences (KFH)1 and carried out in 2008-2009 in collaboration between the World Habitat Research Centre, University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)2, Lugano, the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology University, (CEPT)3, Faculty of Architecture in Ahmadabad, India and Hunnarshala Foundation for Building Technology and Innovations in Bhuj, Gujarat, India. The project aims to fill a gap in assessing the environmental impacts of building technologies in India. Previous research on the global sustainability of post-disasterreconstruction clearly identified the lack of scientific data on such impacts in this country (Ding 2008; Duyne B. & Pittet 2007; Gumaste 2006; Jönsson 2000). The lack of data hinders agencies and professionals from making informed choices of materials and technologies aiming at reducing the environmental impacts of construction. Based on these considerations the project’s specific objectives were:

• to design and test a methodology for assessing the environmental impact of building materials in a specific context;
• to provide data on the environmental impacts of building technologies in Kutch District;
• to provide and disseminate knowledge for increasing the sustainability of housing projects;
• to exchange and transfer knowledge and research capacity on environmental impacts of building materials assessment.