The session commenced with a welcome address by Mr Sanjay Seth, underscoring the imperative nature of the Access to Knowledge (A2K+) Programme in fostering our nation's sustainable built environment. Following this, Mr P. Mudalige delivered a keynote address emphasizing the necessity for collaboration between India and Sri Lanka. This set the stage for a demonstration of the A2K+ portal on Advanced Building Materials and Design for energy-efficient buildings by Ms Tarishi Kaushik, Associate Fellow at TERI. The portal comprising research papers, journals, and case studies, aims to engage all stakeholders in the built environment, offering a forum for user queries answered by industry experts. Subsequently, the panel discussion addressed various challenges and opportunities. Mr Jiwesh Nandan highlighted governmental complexities, while Dr Vandana Kalia emphasized the pertinence of integrating policy with platforms like A2K+. Mr Santosh Muzumdar stressed the significance of industry expertise and overcoming hurdles such as digitalization. Lastly, Ms Shabnam Bassi underscored the necessity of a reliable and credible platform to navigate the evolving landscape of the sustainable industry.

The session delved into the possibilities offered by smart technologies and data analytics for energy management and enhancing building performance. It laid emphasis on the relevance of human-centric design to enhance occupant comfort.

Esteemed speakers during the panel discussions underscored the significance of performance testing in dedicated building laboratories and the latest developments in eco-friendly, energy-efficient building materials. Discussions covered bridging knowledge disparities in sustainable building practices and the application of technological advancements from research labs to real-world implementation in organizations, incorporating insights from academia.

One of the key moments of the session was the launch of the Mahindra TERI Centre of Excellence (MTCoE) Daylight Plugin Tool, which enables precise calculation of illuminance simulations based on India’s tropical climate, encompassing both point-in-time and climate-based scenarios such as daylight autonomy (DA) and useful daylight illuminance (UDI). The precision offered by this plugin tool enhances the overall quality of building design and performance evaluation. By providing accurate illuminance levels, designers can make informed decisions regarding the placement of windows, shading devices, and interior layouts to optimize daylight utilization while minimizing energy consumption.

The launch of the Daylight Plugin Tool marked a pivotal advancement in the field of building design and energy management, particularly tailored to address the unique challenges posed by India's tropical climate. This innovative tool offers building practitioners the capability to conduct precise illuminance simulations that account for the specific environmental conditions prevalent in India.

TERI along with Deakin University, Australia organized a roundtable discussion, Reducing Carbon Footprint and Developing Climate-resilient Infrastructure, on 5 March 2024, at TERI, New Delhi. This session brought together a select group of experts to craft strategies, discuss challenges, opportunities, and on-going work in low-carbon pathways and climate-resilient infrastructure, aiming to forge collaboration between TERI and Deakin University, Australia.

Various dignitaries along with their teams visited the Mahindra TERI Centre of Excellence (MTCoE) lab to gain insights into sky modeling of Indian cities using sky scanners, and the thermo-optical characterization process for both opaque and transparent materials, leveraging cutting-edge tools and techniques. TERI team provided a walkthrough tour of the CoE along with a demonstration that made visitors acquainted with the various sustainability principles and design strategies espoused by the CoE building.