India’s growing power consumption calls for extensive action in the country’s residential building sector. On 15 July, representatives from the GIZ and KfW visited the Mahindra TERI Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Habitats, that dedicates research in the area of sustainable construction. The Mahindra TERI Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Sustainable Habitats is a joint initiative of the company Mahindra Lifespaces and the research institute, TERI. It is based on the institute’s campus in Gurgaon. TERI Senior Director Mr. Sanjay Seth introduced the delegation to three major research pillars of the initiative’s innovative laboratory: material testing, thermal comfort studies and visual comfort studies. Being the first of its kind in India, the laboratory allows third party testing of energy-efficient building materials. To raise awareness for energy efficiency among the Indian population, a certification system identifies companies using these materials. The TERI campus itself hosts many examples of sustainable infrastructures, such as daylight integration, efficient water use and electricity generation from solar energy. After a presentation and a tour around the facilities, the visit ended with a business lunch in the hotel on the campus itself.