An exploration of emerging building materials and construction practices for thermally efficient and affordable housing suitable for regions in Tamil Nadu

India’s housing deficit, estimated at over 18 million units, is predominantly concentrated in the economically weaker and low-income segments, necessitating affordable yet climate-responsive housing solutions. In states such as Tamil Nadu, rapid urbanization combined with a warm–humid climate, characterized by high ambient temperatures (35–40 °C), high relative humidity, and intense solar radiation poses significant challenges to indoor thermal comfort and energy efficiency. Conventional construction practices using fired clay brick masonry and reinforced cement concrete (RCC) roofs often result in high embodied energy and increased cooling demand, exacerbating energy poverty among low- and middle-income households.  In response, there is increasing interest in emerging building materials and innovative construction practices that can reduce heat gain, lower embodied carbon, and remain cost-effective. This paper focuses on low-rise and mid-rise housing typologies and reviews the applicability of alternative wall and roof materials suited to the climatic and socio-economic context of Tamil Nadu followed by a questionnaire survey using google forms, with key stakeholders; including architects, engineers, builders, and end-users, to capture perceptions of material suitability, barriers to adoption, and socio-economic acceptance of emerging materials and construction techniques. Although the number of survey responses were less than 100, it gave a better understanding of the interests of stakeholders and opportunities for promotion of future low carbon society. Finally, drawing on case examples from India and Tamil Nadu, the study evaluates selected emerging materials such as compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB), fly ash and geopolymer masonry, autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), bamboo-based composites, and bio-based materials, alongside roof innovations aimed at improving thermal performance in warm–humid conditions.