Introduction: The Missing Piece in India’s Net Zero Puzzle to Embodied Carbon

India is on an unprecedented construction spree. By 2030, the country will need to add 700–900 million square meters of residential and commercial space every year. While operational carbon from lighting, cooling, and appliances has rightfully captured policy attention, a massive blind spot remains: embodied carbon.

Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions released before a building is occupied from extracting raw materials, manufacturing products (cement, steel, glass), transporting them to the site, and constructing the building. These emissions are locked in the moment a building is built and cannot be reduced later through efficiency upgrades.

Until now, India lacked a credible, data-driven baseline for embodied carbon in urban housing. That gap has finally been filled.

We at Conserve Consultants Pvt. Ltd. are proud to have contributed to the landmark study: 

“Building the Baseline: Embodied Carbon in India’s Urban Housing – Evidence from South and West India” (Version 1, March 2026) , led by Greentech Knowledge Solutions Pvt. Ltd (GKSPL).

This blog unpacks the study’s key findings, explains why they matter for Indian real estate, and outlines how Conserve Consultants can help you turn these insights into action.

Why Embodied Carbon Matters Now More Than Ever

India’s buildings sector already accounts for 30% of total energy demand and 25.6% of total GHG emissions (excluding LULUCF). With rapid urbanization, the share of embodied carbon in a building’s whole-life carbon is rising, especially as operational carbon falls due to stricter energy codes (ECBC, Eco-Niwas Samhita).

If we ignore embodied carbon, we risk locking in high emissions for decades across millions of new homes. The good news? We can act now, using existing low-carbon materials and smarter design.

But to act, we need a baseline. What is “typical” today? What is “good”? The study provides the first statistically robust answers for Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai-Pune, and Kochi.

About the Study: Scope, Methodology, and Rigour

The study assessed 26 multi‑family residential buildings completed in the last five years (2020 onwards). Key parameters:

• Geography: South and West India (Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Kochi)
• Building height: Low‑rise (≤4 storeys), Mid‑rise (5–12), High‑rise (>12)
• Construction technologies: Monolithic concrete (MIVAN), RCC frame + masonry, hybrid
• Seismic zones: Zone II (Bengaluru, Hyderabad) and Zone III (Mumbai, Pune, Kochi)
• Life‑cycle stages: Focus on A1‑A3 (product stage – raw material supply, transport to factory, manufacturing), which accounts for 90–97% of upfront embodied carbon.
• Normalisation metric: Built‑up area (BUA) consistent with Indian practice.

Data was collected from real Bills of Quantities (BoQs), material specifications, and on‑site fuel use. Wherever possible, India‑specific emission factors were used – including plant data, Indian EPDs, and published research.

Conserve Consultants was one of the key organizations that helped reach out to builders, support data collection, and participate in stakeholder consultations.

Key Findings Every Developer and Architect Must Know

1. Median Embodied Carbon Intensity (Base Case)

For all 26 buildings, the median embodied carbon intensity (A1‑A3) is: > 367 kgCO₂e per m² of built‑up area

The 25th and 75th percentiles are 334 and 415 kgCO₂e/m² respectively. This range defines the central 50% of today’s typical practice.

What this means: If your new residential project exceeds 415 kgCO₂e/m² (A1‑A3), it is performing worse than 75% of the sampled buildings. If it is below 334, you are in the top quartile.

2. Low‑Carbon Material Case – A 27% Reduction Is Achievable Today

The study modelled a low‑carbon material scenario using readily available alternatives:

Under this scenario, the median embodied carbon intensity drops to 267 kgCO₂e/m² a reduction of nearly 27% with no change to building form or function.

This proves that significant upfront carbon savings are possible using materials already available in the Indian market.

 3. Concrete and Steel Dominate, But Design Efficiency Matters

Across all building types, concrete + steel contribute 60% to 91% of total A1‑A3 emissions.

• Monolithic concrete buildings: Concrete share 35–52%, steel share 28–51%
• RCC frame + masonry: Concrete share 29–43%, steel share 27–51%

Masonry, flooring, windows, and plaster make up the remainder. Notably, aluminum window frames have a disproportionately high carbon footprint a key lever for reduction.

 4. Material Use Intensities, A New Performance Metric

The study also established concrete and steel use intensities:

These ranges allow architects and structural engineers to benchmark their designs not just by carbon, but by material efficiency – a critical “build clever” strategy.

5. Height Alone Does Not Determine Carbon Intensity

The correlation between building height and embodied carbon is weak to moderate. Buildings up to 20 storeys show a wide scatter of intensities. This confirms that project‑specific factors, such as foundation type, basement parking, and structural design choices, often matter more than height.

For example:

One high‑rise RCC frame building with pile foundations (28m deep) had steel intensity of 85 kg/m².

Several taller monolithic concrete buildings with raft foundations achieved much lower intensities.

Lesson: Optimizing the structural system can offset the carbon penalty of going taller.

 6. Substructure vs Superstructure

Where data was available (13 buildings), substructure (foundations + basements) contributed less than 20% of embodied carbon in buildings without basement parking. With basements, the share rises significantly. This highlights the carbon cost of underground parking – a trade‑off that city planners and developers must evaluate.

 Policy and Market Implications, A Roadmap for Action

The study does not just present numbers. It proposes a clear action roadmap aligned with NITI Aayog’s February 2026 report on building sector decarbonization.

Short‑term (by 2030)

• Standardize LCA methodology for India
• Create a national database of material GWP (Global Warming Potential)
• Mandate embodied carbon disclosure for large public and commercial buildings
• Introduce EPD requirements for key materials (cement, steel, concrete, blocks)

 Medium‑term (by 2035)

• Set embodied carbon reduction targets for public and commercial buildings

Long‑term (beyond 2035)

• Extend targets to small commercial and residential buildings

For cities and states, the report recommends regional roadmaps that include:

- Embodied carbon benchmarks as compliance instruments

- Low‑carbon material procurement policies

- Supply‑side material transition strategies (especially for MSMEs)

- Circular construction policies (critical for redevelopment zones like Mumbai)

How Conserve Consultants Can Help You Lead on Embodied Carbon

At Conserve Consultants, we have been at the forefront of sustainable building design in India for over two decades. With this new baseline, we are now equipped to help you:

✅ Measure: Conduct whole‑life carbon assessments (A1‑A5, and beyond) using the study’s endorsed methodology and India‑specific emission factors. 

✅ Benchmark: Compare your project’s embodied carbon intensity against the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles for your building typology, height, and seismic zone. 

✅ Reduce: Identify high‑impact materials (concrete, steel, aluminium) and design alternatives (e.g., higher SCMs, green steel, optimised structural grids, alternative walling systems). 

✅ Report: Prepare embodied carbon disclosures for green rating systems (GRIHA, IGBC), ESG reporting, or upcoming regulatory requirements. 

✅ Procure: Develop low‑carbon material procurement guidelines and supplier engagement strategies, including EPD evaluation.

Our services include:

- Early‑stage carbon optioneering (during concept design)

- Detailed Bill of Quantities (BoQ) based carbon calculations

- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) training for your in‑house teams

- Support for green financing and climate‑linked KPIs

Let’s Build a Low‑Carbon Future Together

The baseline is now established. The tools and data are available. The next step is action.

If you are a developer, architect, public agency, or building owner, and you want to:

• Measure your project’s embodied carbon
• Reduce it by 20–30% using proven strategies

Let’s turn India’s construction boom into a low‑carbon opportunity, not a liability.

Credits :

This study was led by Greentech Knowledge Solutions Pvt. Ltd (GKSPL) and all participating builders & technical partners

We thank GKSPL for their rigorous research and leadership. We also thank all the builders, developers, and technical partners who made this study possible

Conserve Consultants is proud to have contributed to outreach, data collection, and stakeholder consultation for this landmark study.
DM us info@conserveconsultants.com or WhatsApp +9190030 97071. more details to give you the right solutions.