Survey on construction materials and building techniques across India

Introduction to the survey

1. Who are we?
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is a public interest environmental research and advocacy organization based in New Delhi. CSE through its Sustainable Building and Habitat Programme (SBHP) pushes for resource and energy savings in built environment by focusing on thermal comfort and quality of life for all as part of one its initiatives. Under this initiative, research in the housing sector for affordable thermal comfort strategies based on architectural design, layouts and appropriate material choices is conducted. This is done with a view to inform policy decisions and influence practice and implementation by knowledge support and capacity building.

2. Why is the survey being conducted?
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a huge shortfall in housing for the poor especially the migrants and their suboptimal living conditions owing poor thermal comfort. In this wake, CSE aims to instill green recovery in the housing sector during the post COVID-19 era. As a part of this initiative, SBHP is conducting a research to understand the region-wise prevalence of construction materials and techniques in the housing sector with a focus on self-built housing pan-India.

3. How does the survey work?
The survey comprises of 12 questions to answer and will take not more than 15 minutes to answer all of them. The questions are a mix of multiple choices, yes/no, ranking based or have a value scale. Response to this survey will be purely used for research purposes.

4. Contact us:
We will be happy to answer your questions regarding this survey or the project in general. Write back to us at – prathama.dolas@cseindia.org or mitashi.singh@cseindia.org

5. Terminologies used:
Traditional construction materials/techniques - These materials/techniques have been traditionally used in a region since multiple generations.
Example: Lime plaster, timber and bamboo roof, thatch roof, country tiles, etc.

Modern construction materials/techniques - New age materials/techniques, majorly factory made and are largely known to boost the pace of construction. These techniques have been witnessed in the past 10-15 years.
Example: AAC block, monolithic concrete, sandwich panels, etc.

Please note: Burnt bricks should not be considered while answering the questionnaire.

Let us begin!

Question Title

* 1. Which of the following traditional construction techniques/materials are you aware of? (multiple options may be chosen)

Lime plaster

Mud plaster

Brick arches

Adobe bricks

Bamboo/wooden attu - poles stuck close to each other and plastered with earth

Laterite bricks and khondalite blocks

Ekra construction technique

Gable roofs made using timber and bamboo

Thatch roof

Kadi baraga roof

Double roof

Country tiles

Wattle and Daub

Cob based walls

None of the above

Question Title

* 2. Which of the following modern construction material/technique are you aware of? (multiple options may be chosen)

Flyash bricks

AAC blocks

Rat trap bond

Compressed stabilized earth (CSE) blocks

Rammed earth

Ferro-cement roofing channels

Funicular shells

Plank and Joist roofing

Precast arch panels

Micro concrete tiles

Filler slab

Monolithic constructions

Hydraform blocks

None of the above

Question Title

* 3. What do the traditional construction materials/techniques resonate with –

Kachha house

Pucca house

Sustainable house

Economical house

Question Title

* 4. If you were to build a house for yourself, which of the following factors would impact your ideas? (multiple options may be chosen)

Social media

Houses existing in the neighbourhood

Magazines and catalogues

Recommendation from Architect or Contractors

Educational background

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 5. What kind of houses/materials/techniques do you have in your surroundings?

75% - traditional and 25% - modern

50% - traditional and 50% - modern

25% - traditional and 75% - modern

Question Title

* 6. Rank the key drivers which increase presence of modern construction materials/techniques in your surroundings? (Most important gets Rank 1 while the others follow)

	Rank 1	Rank 2	Rank 3	Rank 4	Rank 5	Rank 6	Rank 7	Rank 8	Rank 9
Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 1	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 2	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 3	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 4	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 5	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 6	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 7	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 8	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 9
Material availability	Material availability Rank 1	Material availability Rank 2	Material availability Rank 3	Material availability Rank 4	Material availability Rank 5	Material availability Rank 6	Material availability Rank 7	Material availability Rank 8	Material availability Rank 9
Availability of skilled labour	Availability of skilled labour Rank 1	Availability of skilled labour Rank 2	Availability of skilled labour Rank 3	Availability of skilled labour Rank 4	Availability of skilled labour Rank 5	Availability of skilled labour Rank 6	Availability of skilled labour Rank 7	Availability of skilled labour Rank 8	Availability of skilled labour Rank 9
Pace of construction	Pace of construction Rank 1	Pace of construction Rank 2	Pace of construction Rank 3	Pace of construction Rank 4	Pace of construction Rank 5	Pace of construction Rank 6	Pace of construction Rank 7	Pace of construction Rank 8	Pace of construction Rank 9
Disaster resilience/proofing	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 1	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 2	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 3	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 4	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 5	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 6	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 7	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 8	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 9
Sustainability parameters	Sustainability parameters Rank 1	Sustainability parameters Rank 2	Sustainability parameters Rank 3	Sustainability parameters Rank 4	Sustainability parameters Rank 5	Sustainability parameters Rank 6	Sustainability parameters Rank 7	Sustainability parameters Rank 8	Sustainability parameters Rank 9
Aesthetics	Aesthetics Rank 1	Aesthetics Rank 2	Aesthetics Rank 3	Aesthetics Rank 4	Aesthetics Rank 5	Aesthetics Rank 6	Aesthetics Rank 7	Aesthetics Rank 8	Aesthetics Rank 9
Advertisements	Advertisements Rank 1	Advertisements Rank 2	Advertisements Rank 3	Advertisements Rank 4	Advertisements Rank 5	Advertisements Rank 6	Advertisements Rank 7	Advertisements Rank 8	Advertisements Rank 9
Cost of construction and maintenance	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 1	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 2	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 3	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 4	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 5	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 6	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 7	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 8	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 9

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 7. To build your house which factors would influence your choice? (multiple options may be chosen)

Environmental benefits

Financial Benefits

Aesthetics

Maintenance cost

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 8. Would you be willing to spend extra cost for more sustainable construction material/technique?

Yes, range: 2-5%

Yes, range: 5-10%

Yes, range: 10-15%

Question Title

* 9. Some of the sustainability parameters associated with construction materials are listed below. Assign individual weightage to each one of them assuming that you are making a material choice for your own home. (The most important factor should be given 5 while the least important one gets 1)

	Least important	2	3	4	Most important
Heat resistance properties	Heat resistance properties Least important	Heat resistance properties 2	Heat resistance properties 3	Heat resistance properties 4	Heat resistance properties Most important
Recycled/waste content	Recycled/waste content Least important	Recycled/waste content 2	Recycled/waste content 3	Recycled/waste content 4	Recycled/waste content Most important
Reduced carbon emissions	Reduced carbon emissions Least important	Reduced carbon emissions 2	Reduced carbon emissions 3	Reduced carbon emissions 4	Reduced carbon emissions Most important
Indoor air quality and material safety	Indoor air quality and material safety Least important	Indoor air quality and material safety 2	Indoor air quality and material safety 3	Indoor air quality and material safety 4	Indoor air quality and material safety Most important
Functional life period	Functional life period Least important	Functional life period 2	Functional life period 3	Functional life period 4	Functional life period Most important

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 10. In rural/peri-urban areas why do we see traditional construction materials/techniques more? (multiple options may be chosen) –

Local availability and abundance of materials

Skill availability/traditional knowledge

Climate suitability

Cost of construction

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 11. Would you construct your house using traditional construction materials/techniques?

Yes

Please support your choice with a reason here.

Question Title

* 12. Rank the key drivers which can increase the use of traditional construction materials/techniques in your surroundings? (Most important gets 1 while the others follow) -

	Rank 1	Rank 2	Rank 3	Rank 4	Rank 5	Rank 6	Rank 7	Rank 8	Rank 9
Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 1	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 2	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 3	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 4	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 5	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 6	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 7	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 8	Push by the government schemes - Financial aid/subsidies/incentives Rank 9
Material availability	Material availability Rank 1	Material availability Rank 2	Material availability Rank 3	Material availability Rank 4	Material availability Rank 5	Material availability Rank 6	Material availability Rank 7	Material availability Rank 8	Material availability Rank 9
Availability of skilled labour	Availability of skilled labour Rank 1	Availability of skilled labour Rank 2	Availability of skilled labour Rank 3	Availability of skilled labour Rank 4	Availability of skilled labour Rank 5	Availability of skilled labour Rank 6	Availability of skilled labour Rank 7	Availability of skilled labour Rank 8	Availability of skilled labour Rank 9
Pace of construction	Pace of construction Rank 1	Pace of construction Rank 2	Pace of construction Rank 3	Pace of construction Rank 4	Pace of construction Rank 5	Pace of construction Rank 6	Pace of construction Rank 7	Pace of construction Rank 8	Pace of construction Rank 9
Disaster resilience/proofing	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 1	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 2	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 3	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 4	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 5	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 6	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 7	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 8	Disaster resilience/proofing Rank 9
Sustainability parameters	Sustainability parameters Rank 1	Sustainability parameters Rank 2	Sustainability parameters Rank 3	Sustainability parameters Rank 4	Sustainability parameters Rank 5	Sustainability parameters Rank 6	Sustainability parameters Rank 7	Sustainability parameters Rank 8	Sustainability parameters Rank 9
Aesthetics	Aesthetics Rank 1	Aesthetics Rank 2	Aesthetics Rank 3	Aesthetics Rank 4	Aesthetics Rank 5	Aesthetics Rank 6	Aesthetics Rank 7	Aesthetics Rank 8	Aesthetics Rank 9
Advertisements	Advertisements Rank 1	Advertisements Rank 2	Advertisements Rank 3	Advertisements Rank 4	Advertisements Rank 5	Advertisements Rank 6	Advertisements Rank 7	Advertisements Rank 8	Advertisements Rank 9
Cost of construction and maintenance	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 1	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 2	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 3	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 4	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 5	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 6	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 7	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 8	Cost of construction and maintenance Rank 9

Other (please specify)