Solar Decathlon India is a Net-Zero Building Challenge amongst postgraduate and undergraduate students from Indian institutions to learn and design net-zero-energy-water, affordable, and resilient design solutions for real, live projects, to combat climate change through the buildings sector.

Student teams develop affordable and industry-ready solutions for real projects with the help of online Self-Learning Modules and expert mentorship provided during this year-long challenge. It is a hands-on, practical, innovation-based challenge that moves the construction and real estate industry towards implementing net-zero solutions developed by students.

Solar Decathlon India is conducted by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) under the aegis of the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF). It is supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Climate change is jeopardising our lives and livelihoods. Extreme weather events are more frequent today than ever before. Every summer, more and more Indian cities experience temperatures above 40ºC. Storms, changing rainfall patterns, floods and rising sea levels, water crises and droughts are resulting in loss of lives and property. To limit global warming to 1.5°C and support India’s Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Climate agreement, we must achieve a 50% reduction in building energy demand by the year 2050. Accelerated action starts with net-zero-energy-water buildings that are resilient to climate change. Solar Decathlon India is a harbinger of change that nurtures India’s youth to provide sensible design solutions for communities vulnerable to climate change. It contributes to 11 out of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and paves the way for a low-carbon future.