Impact of green technology: a case study of the construction sector in India
Student name: Ms Astha Ummat
Guide: Prof Kanchan Chopra
Year of completion: 2013
Host Organisation: TERI University
Abstract: Keeping in mind the increasing pressure on existing resources due to growing population and the limited
capacity of our planet to sustain the effects of modern day human activities, it becomes an imminent
imperative to realize that civilization should be self sustaining and not environmentally draining. The
probable, unintended side effects of economic reforms which contribute to environmental degradation can
be expected to be mitigated by introducing demand side interventions like green technology, ex-ante.
This paper seeks to assess the impact of a transition towards green technology in the construction sector of
India using Input Output analysis on the different sectors of the economy individually, on employment
patterns and on the economy as a whole during the construction of the building and also attempts to gauge
the benefits of the adoption of green technology during the lifetime of a building.
This study finds an increased efficiency in terms of usage of inputs, an initial decrease and a subsequent
increase in employment and a movement towards cleaner inputs with a continued transition towards green
technology. It also finds net positive benefits in terms of energy, water and carbon dioxide emission savings
during the lifetime of the green building.
Keywords: Green technology, Green buildings, Input output analysis, Leontief methodology, Employment.
