1 Introduction

COVID-19 is a worldwide pandemic disease that has affected all aspects of our routine lives. WHO (World Health Organization) is constantly monitoring and reacting to this pandemic and regular updating about COVID-19 and its spread ability and causality to people worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 is the respiratory infection responsible for this pandemic disease. WHO primitively observed a new virus in December 2019 and reported that bunch of Covid-19 cases of viral pneumonia in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 belongs to the Corona virus family of Corona virus disease [1]. These diseases mainly originate from mammals bats. However, the indication for this disease includes chill, cough, sneezing, sore throat, difficult inhalation and fatigueless. Spread ability of the disease increased due to breathing or close contact with disease ridden droplets have an incubated scheduled between fourteen days. Furthermore, the identification and analysis of symptoms was carried by collecting samples of respiratory tracts of infected persons. Additionally, chest computed tomography (CT) score used to analyze the outcome of corona infection. Currently, a bundle of infections and causality may occur by the disease. Basically, the specific treatment to cure the disease is not available [2]. So, the precautionary measure has been taken to prevent the disease from spreading. Noteworthy, preventive policies are isolation of the infected person, proper ventilation, hand sanitation and use of personal things [3, 4].

All the nations move towards the restricted movement of people. Lockdown had been implied in the nation to prevent pandemic infection, and they suggested that home isolation is a widely precautionary tool for stopping Corona virus infections and the ‘advice stay at home’ given by the government. The concept of a green smart home plays a major role in combating the COVID-19 infection and minimizing the death ratio. The green smart home provides a facility to quarantine people to avoid spreading infection and complex symptoms that influence death [5].

A green smart home is a defensible home made with the help of environmentally friendly materials that have housing design ideas, building techniques, and products [6]. Basically, it is state-of-the-art technology that makes homes smart and energy efficient, in which automation is able to distantly monitor and manage various appliances via smart devices, likewise smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc. This technology makes our home energy efficient and works in many services, such as home security systems, adjusting temperatures, managing lighting, enhancing the depth of air quality, improving the quality of water, maintaining hygiene conditions, etc. [7, 8, 8, 9].

In addition to smart devices, sustainable infrastructure is also essential to make society stronger during the pandemic. The green building with adequate energy and water consumption is the important requirement in such COVID-19 [6]. The sustainable home with IoT (Internet of Things) applications can be the game changer to tackle any pandemic for human living. In this paper, the overview has been presented for sustainable habitat to combat COVID-19.

2 Smart home solutions for combating COVID-19

The green houses were a lifeline for isolation patients, as the sufficient ventilation and light automatically brighten the environment. The room temperature has been maintained as well as natural light, making the less electric consumption. In addition to such housing, there is a need for smart appliances that are able to control the manual habits and ascertain the livable space.

2.1 Housing need

Home is separate from collective institution of public life. Indeed, home a space that is privileged, enclosed and safer from diseases transmission. As the number of corona virus cases quickly emerge and infected. So the peoples keep to protected themselves, not just at outdoors but indoors also, household spread is one of the common paths to COVID-19 infections. Everyone should keen to maintain cleanliness, hygiene home and follows the guidelines issued by government at time to time. However, smart home devices help to prevent household spread of infection. Many researchers were depicted that a smarter home should be a safer home. Smarter home commonly advances with variety devices such as voice control to avoiding touched surfaces at home from smart phones to TV remotes, light switches, thermostats, door handles and many more. These smart home devices have built up with special features and accommodation that help to protect you and your family against spread of corona virus [10].

2.2 Health effects

Emergence of COVID-19 responses are sorted by green smart home. The smart home equipped with smart tools which manage corona virus infection while collecting data. The data practice related with COVID-19 responses and imparts inferences for home remedies. Indian government was issued policy to stay at home with digitally signed hash tag “stay home, stay safe”. The effect of COVID-19 lockdown was observed in economic cessation and isolation which disturbed individual lifestyles and society priorities [11]. Also, lesser flow of vehicles and industrial movement has compact society’s conservation footprint and as home bounding families’ changes to non-commercialized ease mode and social interfaces. Besides, isolation has been obstructed psyche and physical health, and financial recession has also triggered adverse effect aggravating issues of under consumption and poverty. From 2020, as a result working, studying and socializing at home has become compulsion for global. Digitalized home have became comfortable for staying at home. The technologies embed in home help to produce and mediate our ability to stay or indeed to work from home.

2.3 Internet of Things (IoT) based devices for smart homes

Smart thermostats have advantages to presetting thermostat of the body, and this automation is an important feature during the pandemic Corona virus. The smart thermostat assisted in controlling speedily and efficiently the spread of virus infection at home, merely by regulating the humid temperature. The scientific evidence proved that humidity is considered to slow down and deteriorate the spread of the Corona virus. The disease-ridden cough droplets are preserving in the dry air, which allows them to remain and spread the virus. However, the presence of humidity in the air is a contrast effect, weighing down the virus and insisted it to the floor, where it is significantly minimized to spread the infections.

Smart light bulbs are a smart home device that control lighting to avoid touch in a home light switches and probability of spread infections. Installation of motion detectors for additional and hands-free is suitable for saving electric energy. In COVID-19, isolated person from family member are convenient to used smart lighting for kept a visible in quarantine zone and the isolate person in the specific area of home, then set the light beam in red for alert other family members to stay out.

Smart door locks warrants that peoples adore touch free access at home using either smartphone or a remote. Optionally, voice control and timer is more convenient. This is better for the guest or vendor to avoid exchange germs.

In green smart home equipped with video doorbells is helpful in saving spread of corona virus. This can be provides effective way to manage distance of people at door only by the device connected to smartphones which provide notification regarding someone at door.

Security cameras is helping for to avoid direct contact with visitors, deliveries and services calls and thus, prevent the spread of corona virus inside home. It has features like night vision and motion controls that offers clear images of areas.

All kind of smart devices have to control therefore need of smart hub working as the brain of smart home. The smart hub eradicates the need for physical touch, especially convenient solution for combating Covid-19 and also fruitful for elderly people those struggle with physical movement [12, 13].

The data of no. of IoT based devices used for home are reviewed from 2012 to 2023[7, 8]. It is observed (Fig. 1a) that during Covid-19 period, the no. of IoT devices used has suddenly increased.

Fig. 1
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a No. of IoT based devices used from 2012 to 2023. b % Green construction materials used for sample data. c Precast Concrete Panels for rapid construction

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3 Green solutions for sustainable housing

Countries which are vulnerable to COVID-19 are facing major challenges for improvement in housing environment and looking for modern solutions. Numerous aspects have been involved in micro, mezzo and macro environment in housing affected by COVID-19. In order to do work from home suitable environment must be present inside home. As results, the necessity of new solutions is predominant. Such new solutions involved effective resources utilization for building lifespan as well as smart solutions for major contact places. Thus the homes after Covid-19 must be require more space i.e. more rooms as well as more accesses [14]. The sustainable homes just cannot be only smart but it must be healthier and more energy efficient. The open spaces inside the rooms can be designed for office requirement [15]. Daily hygiene also should be maintained inside the home on regular basis. For hygiene, the checklist or alarm system can be employed. BIM (Building Information Modeling) and other digital means of management facility need to be employed for fighting COVID-19. The system may involve digital alerts system, CCTV surveillance, IoT, digital temperature monitors and data analyzers [16]. The accessibility for outsiders should be plan in such a way that the entry and exit as check points. The daily health monitoring through remote stations facility may be employed [17]. The facilities can be taken into considerations by full focus on energy consumption, optimal usage of space available and considering minimal environmental impact.

In addition to inside home sustainability, the construction material used for housing must be sustainable. The selection and execution of eco-friendly materials having better features than traditional materials is the key considerations in green building. On the basis of technical, financial and functional usage the selection of construction materials is done [15]. In recent times the construction sector is causing most damage to environment thus it’s time to look towards sustainable resources. Among the various green building materials, the material which can be reuse and recycle can be the best solution for quick sustainable construction. The usage of eco-friendly material involves zero social and environment cost, only the onetime cost of transportation to be bear by the contractor [18]. In such COVID-19 era, the research community is giving more focus on such sustainable construction materials which is in accordance with comfort requirement in pandemic time [19]. The performance such sustainable materials cause least damage to the environment.

The usage of green construction materials has been reviewed from the literature [6]. The systematic plot of % material used is given in Fig. 1b. It has been observed that, the society has now approached for sustainable green material for construction purpose.

3.1 Sustainable construction materials

3.1.1 Precast concrete slabs

The precast slab panels are of versatile use. The panels are readily available for construction as a result the quick erection of building is possible. These panels can be used for walls, roof as well as for floors. In addition to quick construction, concrete controls the heat inside the building as well as it is easily affordable housing material. As far as sustainability is concern, the precast concrete panels are more sustainable that that of traditional concrete. Because precast is taking very less energy for production and assembly [20]. Also the precast concrete blocks are casted in lab so the appropriate quality has also been maintained (Fig. 1c).

3.1.2 Recycled plastic

The use of recycle plastic has many advantages in construction industry. The active example is usage of plastic waste for bitumen road construction. Thus it is also most important sustainable resource in such pandemic time. It is used as replacement for fine aggregate in concrete. The usage of plastic reduces the greenhouse gas emission. Also the usage will reduced the water clogging during rains [20].

The recycled plastic is also used for making in house furniture, such as tables, chairs, etc. It is always advantages to recycle the plastic rather than throwing into dump. Thus during pandemic time the usage of plastic as a construction material has increased (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
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Plastic usage for sustainability

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3.1.3 Reclaimed or recycled steel

The steel is the backbone of construction industry. The usage of reclaimed or recycled steel reduced the usage of timber during and after construction. The steel available in scrap is very high thus utilizing such precious material will increase the sustainability. Steel can be fully recycled and useful in reducing the ecological impact on construction. Also the appropriate use of energy during recycle stage makes the reclaimed steel as sustainable material. Once the manufacturing is completed the maintenance cost is very low [20].

3.1.4 Rammed earth

The usage of natural materials such as earth, gravel or lime for construction of temporary habitat is very common in villages. Such habitat is very useful in maintaining the environmental balance. For COVID-19 isolation the inside environment is very suitable. As it is of natural material thus it is most sustainable [20].

Few modifications can also be done in such construction. If the rammed earth is pressed in timber frame then it looking lie concrete wall. The floors are use as thermal storage, in full day it absorbs the sunrays and during cool night it warmth the place.

3.1.5 HempCrete

The concrete like block made of woody inner fiber of the hemp tree is called as HempCrete. These fibers are mixed with lime to produce concrete shape block. These blocks are string and very light. As it is made of natural resources so it is sustainable as well. It has very good thermal and acoustic insulated. It is also fire resistant. Hemp trees generally absorb CO2 and then emits [20] (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3
figure 3

HempCrete—an alternative to traditional bricks

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3.1.6 Ferrock

This is relatively new material. It is made up of steel dust from steel industry. It is as strong as concrete. During hardening and drying process it absorbs CO2. The material is industry waste thus it also sustainable material for construction. Also as it is absorbing CO2 thus it better alternative to traditional concrete [20] (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4
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Ferrock—for flooring purpose

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This steel dust is alternative to fine sand thus can be used in ant construction activity. It is says that the ferrock is more weather proof that concrete [19, 20].

3.1.7 Terrazzo

It is mosaic tile flooring. It is blend of pieces of marble of granite with polished concrete. It is durable floor and one of oldest flooring system. Nowadays it is made with epoxy resin. Also as a modifications, the material like aluminium and zinc with recycled glass, marbles pieces are also used to prepared the terrazzo flooring [20].

As the floor tile is made of industrial waste as well as it is durable material thus this terrazzo is used as a sustainable construction material. Even nowadays the various colors are also used in this. It is used in parking slots, inside house flooring, etc.

3.2 Energy consumption

The global requirement of energy is increasing rapidly nowadays. The use of energy and its related facilities are increasing to fulfill social and economical demands. During COVID-19, the energy demands even increased more. The scarcity also experience in some countries [21]. The use of renewable energy to combat climatic change is an appropriate way. The performance of renewable energy generation should be sustainable in order to meet the requirement of future generation. The present section discusses on the emerging topic of usage of renewable energy sources such as access to energy, social and economic development, climatic change mitigation and reduction in health impact [22, 23]. Though there are many opportunities to use renewable energy, but the same amount of challenges are also involved to make it sustainable for climate change mitigation. The challenges mostly cover the excessive carbon emission, appropriate use of raw materials, market demand fulfillment, etc. [24]. Thus there is need to propose some major policies and recommendations to be considered for usage of renewable energy sources so that the low carbon emission, mitigation to climatic changes as well as provision of clean environment for future generations can be possible.

One of best sustainable energy source is Bioenergy. It is derives from biological sources. Bioenergy [21] can be used as diesel for transportation, electricity generation as well as for cooking. The sources come in the form of wood remnant from forests, rice husks, sugarcane trash, and other agricultural wastes, as well as animal husbandry residues like cow manure. Since waste products are the only source of energy generated, this is the most sustainable energy source. Additionally, specific location is not needed for generation; the only issue is transportation costs [16]. In present era, the production is low but by years it will definitely emerges as best energy source. Thus during COVID-19 times, when energy demand is very high, so at such time the sustainable energy sources can be best possible solutions. It automatically resolves the problem of waste decomposition [14].

3.3 Water usage

Water is lifeline of every human being. The demand of water is very high with respect to industry, domestic, social involvement, etc. But its source is limited as far as availability, quality and quantity [25]. Generally the limited source is called as water scarcity. The whole word is facing the problem of water scarcity. Nowadays, the development in water conservation has taken place in many countries but the demand of water users is very high [26]. As an individual it’s our duty to use the water appropriately. During the COVID-19 pandemic the demand of fresh clean and contact less water has been increased. Thus the families with appropriate domestic demand have managed to survive with all water related hygiene [24, 27]. The involvement of every family to make minimal use of water has also increased. By taking into consideration the future demand the authorities has now planning the water distribution systems. The individual would definitely think about how to recycle domestic water so that reuse can be possible.

The availability of water is very important for socio-economic growth of country. But the pressures from infrastructure development, population growth and climate change reduce its natural sources [28]. The water scarcity becomes complex problem for authority as well due to its excess use. The projects like rain water harvesting must be adopted in all new construction activity. The last way to appropriate use of water is its management.

The IWRM (Integrated Water Resource Management) is the management technique which works for development and co-ordination of water, land and other related sources so that appropriate economic outcome will get without harming the sustainability of natural sources. IWRM balances the economy, social equity, efficiency and environmental sustainability.

4 Discussion

The combination of smart appliances as well as green housing is very useful in combating COVID-19. Majorly it has been seen that the house with appropriate light and ventilation has seen lesser COVID-19 influence. Also the smart appliances make the after COVID-19 life easy. Though the technology is advantageous but there are some limitations as well. Also the green home solutions have many socio-economic and medical benefits. The comprehensive discussions have been represented in this section.

4.1 Advantages

Green smart home is an association of green and eco-friendly living geographies assembled with smart home technologies to exploit comfort ability, energies and water efficiency. Highly advantages of green smart home to combating in COVID-19 and decreases the severity of death [29, 30]. The key advantages are depicted in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5
figure 5

Advantages of green smart home in COVID-19

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4.2 Disadvantages

Although the green smart home are beneficial to healthcare system still, fewer disadvantages are observed to address before full scale implantation [30, 31]. Some disadvantages of using smart home devices in healthcare are as follows:

4.2.1 Safety and confidentiality

Safety and confidentiality are remain a major concern relate users from using smart home devices for health purposes, as the healthcare monitoring solution have the probability to be breached or hacked. The leaking of sensational information of patient’s health and location and interference with sensor data than can leads serious consequences to COVID infected person.

4.2.2 Integration

After COVID-19, many smart devices uses increased to measure disease consequences. If the problem arises in the integrity of smart home devices, there is lacking potential effectiveness. This is cause due to devices produces by different manufacturer might be not working in well together. Thus, the lacking of uniformity affect the integration of smart devices in green smart home which disable to solution for fight against corona infections.

4.2.3 Budget

Assembling and maintaining the smart home device is going to costly which failure the budget. While, smart home devices are lessen the cost of healthcare in the long term, but the cost of it in home and training is quite high.

4.2.4 Risk of failure

Healthcare system is directly connected with the smart devices, the failure or even power failure may affect the working sensor and equipment placed the disease ridden person at risk.

4.3 Limitation

During COVID-19 pandemic, the infection uplift the body temperature above than 980F and downward a blood oxygen saturation rate below 95%. Hence, smart devices technologies involved in major role for updating data of temperature and oxygen level in body at time to time. Therefore, any error or delay occurred in the smart devices to collect in data, it may leads to cause loss of valuable human lives. So, in order to update and maintain, smart device is required in particular scheduled [31, 32].

4.4 Economic benefits

In this COVID-19 pandemic, many people suffered financially and economical status. The lockdown in the country switches the economy in world wide. The healthy life is main criteria in human. In corona virus infection, person debited lot money for the treatment and it may causes financial crises in family. Therefore, green smart home offers a number of economic and financial benefits which are relevant to a range of different people or group of people. It involved in secure human life by taking concern of human lives and avoiding huge bills of hospitals. Green smart home has cost saving on utility bills for renters or household [33].

4.5 Medical benefits

Green Smart Home have composed of low emission materials, mitigation system, sealed combustion appliances and improved scientific approaches to building that certified green home have positive impact on public health. Also, other appliances in home such as heating, ventilation, insulation and air sealing also contribute to reducing risks and symptoms of respiratory disease, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, stress and corona virus infectious disease, and more [34]. Medical benefits of Green Smart Home are depicted in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6
figure 6

Medical benefits of Green Smart Home

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4.6 Socio-economical benefits

The pandemic COVID-19 has been rigorously affect routine life of peoples and also health. It produces versatile social and economic consequences for all the countries. Countries have responded with taken efforts to establish public health system and social-economic measures. The spreading of COVID-19 is mainly by climate change, water pollution and outbreak biodiversity, habitat loss and illegal wide life trade. Out breakage of vector borne or waterborne infection is an additional risk environment to influence consequences of pandemic. Therefore, countries had been engage in making plans on short and long term basis for sustain human rights, economic prosperity, decent work and well-being to tackle environmental challenges and recover the environmental health and spirit of living in pandemic situation [35, 36]. Green smart home is benefited towards economic and the environment which have been positively impact to social.

The several key benefits of socio-economically are depicted.

  • Socio-economic system influence standard of living and health which depends upon the health of natural environment and ecosystem. Hence, after COVID-19 have preserve and respond to wildlife and biodiversity pressure.

  • The people have right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment upon which all depend for health and wellbeing.

  • Measure have to be taken for promote environmental sustainability and elasticity which mean generate chances for securing job to rich development and improvisation well-being.

  • The people working at well ventilated offices have highly cognitive and free from anxiety, depression.

5 Conclusions

The paper presents a thorough analysis of sustainable smart habitat for the fight against COVID-19. Given that COVID-19 has impacted numerous nations, a sustainable smart environment is required. Therefore, an effort has been made in this research to present resourcefulness and sustainability that can be used to habitat during such a pandemic. The sustainable smart habitat makes better use of resources while also enhancing living. Such an initiative would undoubtedly be helpful in future study to develop the methods and their more rigorous execution. The article not only discussed conventional sustainable applications, but also IoT applications. When IoT is used properly in conjunction with sustainable housing, the habitat becomes resistant to COVID-19. The inhabitants of the habitat must make extra efforts to keep it clean and hygienic both inside and outdoors in order to make it COVID-19 proof.