Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a Low-Cost Conventional Building in Rishra, West Bengal: A Case Study

The rapidly expanding population of India, of which a sizeable portion is from low-income groups, makes affordable, low-cost housing an absolute necessity to meet the country’s housing needs. The Government of India has so far been implementing various initiatives, such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to provide affordable housing options. In this chapter, we have explored a low-cost housing project in Rishra, West Bengal, built under the PMAY scheme. Although buildings under such low-cost housing initiatives are constructed to meet the needs of the people, considering the increasing impact of global climate change, it is nonetheless crucial to ensure that they are not only affordable but also sustainable and environment-friendly. To address this concern, we have conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of these buildings to determine their environmental impact and carbon footprint, such that the findings can pave the way for future low-cost construction in India. By identifying areas for improvement and implementing sustainable practices, we can adopt future construction to build affordable and eco-friendly buildings that are built upon the principles of sustainability and economic viability.