The Existing Development Planning approach in India does not integrate energy efficiency in urban areas. The GIS Based AMRUT Master Planning Approach for India does not incorporate GIS Based Data set for sectoral urban energy consumption nor is there any quantification of energy consumption with respect to population, built-up density, land-use mix entropy index and other relevant factors. In the multiple layers of data which are used in existing GIS-based master planning approach, urban energy consumption is not included. There is need to include Urban energy consumption as an important component for guiding future urban development in a more energy efficient way to ensure a sustainable urban future, in the midst of ever-increasing urbanization and carbon footprints.

The global annual energy consumption is estimated to rise by 77% in between 2000 to 2040, to approximately 13,860 Mega Tons of Oil Equivalent (MTOE). 83 % of the global energy used comes from fossil fuels. (Energy Institutes Statistical Review of World Energy, 2023). As per International Energy Agency (2021) India’s share of global energy consumption was 6.1 % in 2021. It is expected to increase to 9.8% by 2050. Cities are the largest consumers of supplied electricity. In India, urban population consumes more than 70-75% of national electricity. (Ministry of Power, GoI,) In India, Sector wise energy consumption is the highest in the Industrial Sector, followed by Transportation sector and Construction Sector. (Source: India Energy Outlook 2021) Globally, Development Planning approach has integrated energy efficiency in various ways like Integrating Energy Issues into Policy Documents (Amsterdam), preparing Energy Atlas, (Berlin), Energy Zoning Concept (Vienna), etc. India also needs to seriously think on similar lines, as in the prevailing scenario of climate change, increasing heat stress, depleting fossil fuel-based energy resources intensifying urbanization, it is essential to conserve energy at building level, neighbourhood level and at urban scale.

At present, Development Control Regulations in India do not consider Energy-Efficiency related aspects. Even though Energy Conservation Building Code (2018) and Eco-Niwas Samhita (2018) for Commercial/Institutional Buildings and Residential Buildings respectively, touch upon some aspects of the above, the provisions mentioned there are not been implemented in a vast majority of cases. In view of the above, it is imperative to assimilate energy-efficiency considerations into the existing building bye-laws and Development Control Regulations of the city, and ensure adherence to the same in select pockets of the city where energy-consumption is higher. The same can be done by a holistic study and analysis of how existing Development Control Regulations (DCR) impact urban energy consumption in Residential and Commercial buildings as well as assessing vulnerable parts impacted by Urban Heat Island phenomenon in the city and assessing the role of DCR modification and land use control for the same.