Luxe breathes easy: Clean air homes are in demand

Premiums rise as AQI-assured homes attract eco-conscious buyers

- SANKET KOUL & PRACHI PISAL

Rising air pollution in Delhi, Mumbai, and other metros is making clean air and good air quality nonnegotiable for homebuyers. Developers are responding by integrating green living features, including guaranteed air quality index (AQI) levels, into their projects.

These initiatives are typically seen in the luxury and ultra-luxury segments, where prices can be 25-40 per cent higher than standard projects — yet buyers are willing to pay the premium.

“Developers will charge extra if they assure AQI. When air pollution remains high most of the year and spikes in winter— especially in places like Delhi, shrouded in smog— clean air becomes a basic need,” said a senior executive at a National Capital Region (NCR)-based real estate services provider.

Some developers, such as DLF and Pioneer Urban, are creating spaces that actively maintain AQI levels. DLF Homes, for instance, is building a nearly 390,000 square feet AQI-and temperature-controlled recreational area for residents in its upcoming ultra-luxury project, Dahlias, in Gurugram.