Product innovation through solar decathlon India: sustainable cooling solutions for retrofitting residential buildings

Abstract

India’s building stock is rapidly increasing, escalating cooling demands and energy use amid worsening heatwaves. Retrofitting at least 20% of existing buildings is essential for energy efficiency and public health. Integrating Heat Action Plans and retrofitting solutions is critical. The Product Division in the Solar Decathlon India 2023-24 Challenge focused on accessible, effective retrofit solutions for residential buildings. This paper provides an overview of the competition’s structure, participant experiences, and outcomes, highlighting the impact of design thinking on innovation. The Division guided participants through a structured innovation process, with 15 multidisciplinary teams developing retrofit solutions for cooling needs in existing homes. The challenge sparked significant interest in sustainable innovation, with solutions including building envelope improvements, passive cooling techniques, and smart controls. Three teams filed for patents, and one attracted investor interest. Stakeholder feedback emphasised the need for enhanced financial modelling, problem understanding, and technical rigor. The pilot's success promises pathways for transformative innovation in the building sector for sustainable cooling and demonstrates the need and value of introducing product development into the academic coursework in architecture and engineering curricula.