All new construction that is not built as climate resilient or net-zero presents a huge challenge for India’s climate goals and needs to be addressed through retrofit of existing buildings. About 80% of India’s existing building stock will continue to be residential buildings, where cooling needs attention because of the potential exposure to heat stress, and growth in space cooling energy and related carbon emissions. 

The Residential Cooling Retrofit is a challenge to ‘make’ solutions that improve cooling performance in existing residential buildings, where the solution could be implemented by the resident with minimal assistance from a technician, such as an electrician or a carpenter. Teams can develop solutions in a range of domains, including building envelope, dynamic shading, passive cooling techniques, active cooling, appliances, and smart controls. Solutions can also overlap across these domains. Solutions are expected to be original, unique, creative, innovative, feasible, functional, and of good quality.

For this Division, the following requirements apply:

1. The solution should demonstrate reduction in cooling (thermal) load, or reduction in energy consumption for cooling.
2. The solution should apply to an existing residential space. There is no restriction on the size and typology of the residence. 
3. The solution should be developed as a product, that a resident may be able to buy-off-the-shelf. 
4. The solution should be easy to install with minimal assistance from a technician. 
5. The result should be a tested prototype.

India’s electricity system is changing rapidly. Urbanisation, electrification, and rising cooling demand are increasing electricity use in buildings. At the same time, the current mix of renewable energy (dependent mainly on solar PV) is  creating a growing mismatch between when clean electricity is available (during daytime) and when demand peaks (late evenings). As India’s grid becomes more solar-heavy, buildings will need to do more than consume energy efficiently. The division is intended to help buildings act as flexible assets that can reduce peak demand, shift loads, improve alignment with renewable energy availability, support resilience during grid stress, and create value for users.

The Demand and Energy Flexibility (DFX) division challenges student teams to develop products and solutions that make existing buildings and appliances more responsive to the grid. The focus is on behind-the-meter innovation: solutions that operate at the level of appliances and loads for dynamic Time-of-Use (ToU) tariffs.

Solutions should address electrical energy end uses and may take the form of integrated hardware and software solutions. They may include a combination of  control algorithms, IoT-enabled devices, IR/WiFi overlays, appliance gateways, automation tools, etc.

Teams should identify a clear flexibility opportunity for appliances or a group of loads, understand the user and stakeholder needs, identify contribution to Sustainable Development Goals, prototype a solution, test it in a realistic setting, and demonstrate measurable performance. Fossil-fuel-based backup generation should not be counted as valid demand flexibility.

For this Division, the following requirements apply:

1. The solution should demonstrate measurable demand flexibility, such as peak demand reduction, load shifting, load shedding, improved onsite renewable-energy alignment, in response to ToU tariff.
2. The solution should be implemented and tested in a home, building, campus, or living-lab environment.
3. Teams should establish a baseline and compare it with post-intervention performance using appropriate energy related metrics such as kW or W shifted, W/home, W/m², kWh shifted and optionally consider response duration,  user acceptance, and carbon implications.
4. The solutions should be developed towards a tangible product with a clear value proposition for users and stakeholders such as occupants, aggregators, and utilities.

User Desirability

This contest evaluates the team’s understanding of the users through research conducted by the team. Use the findings from the analysis to understand the users’ latent needs to inform the desirability of the product solution. Teams should conduct research that includes both primary and secondary research techniques, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observations, to understand pain points and aspirations. Teams should develop a user persona for the target users of their product solution.

Sustainable Development 

This contest evaluates the team’s new product development focus towards two of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 interconnected SDGs have 169 targets and related indicators to measure progress. Teams are required to identify two SDGs, each with its target, that the solution would address. The SDGs analysis should clearly demonstrate the impact on the user persona, exploration of ideas, and documentation of the results from user testing. Teams should design their product with the goal of making a meaningful impact aligned with the targets and clearly explain how their products contribute to achieving those goals. Teams are advised to strictly avoid “SDG washing”.

Innovation 

This contest evaluates the team’s work on innovative solutions that solve the problem for the user persona. Teams need to research and analyse existing alternatives available in the market. This should be used to identify technical performance criteria or features relevant to the user that can distinguish the proposed solution from the existing alternatives.

Technical Design 

This contest evaluates the soundness of the team’s engineering approach to the solution. Performance goals that respond to the technical nature of the problem provide a clear direction for product development. Sound understanding of the fundamentals of science and engineering leads to a product that elevates the technical performance and can be validated through testing. Ongoing documentation of flows, components, and materials, as well as engineering drawings, are important to the process of rigorous new product development.

Prototyping 

This contest evaluates the team’s ability to refine their solution by failing fast and learning from each iteration of the prototype. Prototypes at all stages also help communicate all aspects of the proposed solution to potential customers and investors. During the process of product development, early-stage rapid prototyping enables the testing of specific parts of the solution to eliminate certain ideas and reinforce the direction of development. At later stages, teams will create high-fidelity prototypes of the solution, with attention to detail, using actual materials, attempting completeness of functionality, and appropriate user interaction elements.

Technical Testing 

This contest evaluates the team’s understanding of testing techniques, analysis of findings, and approach towards further development of the solution. Technical testing should be focused on demonstrating how the product achieves the performance goals and should follow the technical testing protocols. Teams should demonstrate an understanding of the test results and the insights gained towards further development of the solution.

User Testing 

This contest evaluates the team’s ability and approach to refine the solution based on actual user/s feedback. User testing should be focused on demonstrating how the product addresses the user/s’ pain points identified in the User Desirability contest area (1), as well as how the users perceive the technical performance of the prototype.  Teams should demonstrate an understanding of the test results and the insights gained towards further refinement of the solution.

Value-based Price 

This contest evaluates the financial feasibility of the solution. Value-based pricing provides important checks during the product development process and should be done at various stages of development to understand the price that users are willing to pay for the product and its features.  Value-based price discovery leads to important insights that help to add or remove product features and to develop a value proposition for the product. Value-based price discovery is an important step for developing a business model.

Value Proposition 

This contest evaluates the team’s ability to convey a compelling value proposition to the user/s. A value proposition goes beyond a simple ROI calculation, to highlight important features of the product and its rational, emotional or societal benefits to the user/s. It should be clear and succinct and should convince them to choose the product.

Case for Incubation 

This contest evaluates the team’s clarity of purpose and approach for the immediate next steps during a 1-year incubation period.  A well-written case serves as a persuasive proposal that communicates a clear vision, background research, and the resources to overcome the unique challenge. A strong case for incubation isn’t just about showing off a brilliant idea. It also acknowledges the vulnerabilities and challenges and demonstrates a willingness to learn.