The challenges our planet is facing nowadays, particularly climate change and sustainable development, are global in nature and thus require global solutions. A major part of this global problem is the building sector. The latter consumes as much as 40% of the world's energy, 12% of its potable water and contributes up to 70% of solid waste. In Mauritius as well, buildings and construction works have a key role to play in overall resource use (energy, water, and materials), wastage and pollution emission. As such, buildings are coming under closer governmental scrutiny and regulations. To respond to this, the Government is now looking at better ways to manage our production and deliver highly efficient energy solutions. The NERG had the following objectives:
(i) To take cognizance of the existing initiatives/measures on sustainable buildings with emphasis on positive renewable energy buildings in Mauritius
(ii) To establish a dynamic energy research alliance in Mauritius regrouping private and public sector stakeholders
(iii) To identify research gaps, overlapping/critical research issues on sustainable and positive buildings in Mauritius
(iv) To prioritise research themes in sustainable and positive buildings
(v) To coordinate and facilitate research activities on sustainable and positive buildings in Mauritius
(vi) To make recommendations to the policy makers with respect to the research findings