Quantcast
Channel: Positive Environmental Stories | Environmental Awareness
Viewing all 1252 articles
Browse latest View live

Made From Mud & Upcycled Wood, Karnataka School Teaches 40 Needy Kids For Free!

$
0
0

With a school that has a different approach toward education and is also visually appealing, wouldn’t you be excited to sit in the classrooms every day?

Bangalore-based NGO, Building Blocks has created just such a green haven for pre-primary children from underprivileged backgrounds to express themselves in and learn in the process. What’s better? 40 children in Coorg’s Siddapura district are currently attending this unique and unconventional school.


Here’s a perfect learning tool for your toddler to build words or towers. Check out these unique eco friendly wooden blocks here. 


Building Blocks provides primary education to 840 children aged between 3-6 in its ten centres. James Ambat, the founder of the NGO, feels that children of slum dwellers and wage labourers miss out on kindergarten and are admitted directly in class 1 in government schools. Zero literacy makes it difficult for them to cope up with the syllabus of a higher level when they don’t even know how to hold a pencil.

Morning Glory is an eco-friendly school in Coorg

Speaking to The Better India (TBI) about the dire need of establishing pre-primary schools for underprivileged kids, James says:

On the one hand, we have numerous international and private pre-primary schools across India where the young ones learn basic etiquette, conversational skills, writing letters, and so on. And on the other hand, are kids who spend their early years at construction sites. Our organisation is working toward bridging this gap since 2014. Pre-primary schools are the starting point of a child’s academic journey.

Known as ‘Morning Glory’, the eco-friendly pre-primary school provides free education to the children of labourers.

The school provides free education to children of labourers

With eucalyptus poles hanging from its ceilings; large windows welcoming the sunlight and roofs carved out of upcycled waste wood, this school is different and how. If it is summer, the children do not feel the heat as uninterrupted breeze cools them. And during winters, the mud walls trap the heat to keep them warm.

This English medium school provides the students with books, stationery, and bags along with two meals each day. It also conducts sessions for parents to help them understand the importance of nutrition. The school follows age-appropriate practices aimed at imparting a sense of living with nature which grooms the kids in understanding the value of the environment.

Some of the methods include teaching the children about the three Rs-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle through interactive exercises encouraging student participation. The learners are also encouraged to take care of the plants in the school campus and are trained in waste segregation through practice. All these life lessons are taught with the use of eco-friendly teaching aids like leaves, pebbles, sticks, pressed flowers, sand, bamboo.

The school is funded by Evolve Back Resort (also known as Orange County). The company has a chain of hotel properties promoting green hospitality. The idea to make Morning Glory an eco-friendly school stems from the company’s principles of harmony with nature.

“Morning Glory is an initiative to create a clean, healthy and environment-friendly atmosphere for young underprivileged children to learn in. We want children to grow with an understanding of environmental sustainability and the need to preserve mother nature. This all-inclusive free school is our way of giving back to the community that has been the backbone to our growth and success,” Evolve Back Executive Director Jose Ramapuram tells Edex Live.

A group of architects has designed the school, and one of them spoke to TBI explaining how green schools are a way to raise kids responsibly.

“The environment in which children spend the majority of time has a huge impact on their view of the world at a very tender age. It exposes children to various possibilities and brings them closer to nature. And the people around are also aware that one does not need to step away from nature to create a piece of art,” says George Ramapuram, CEO of Earthitects.

Whether it is the design of a table, a window, the blackboard or the lighting system, this concept that nothing needs to be the way it is, is communicated through design. We have built it in a way that brings children closer to nature by blurring the boundaries between the interior and exterior. The windows are big, with very few railings.

As for the curriculum, it is a balance between numbers and literature; life and leadership skills, hygiene practices and personality development.

Morning Glory is a perfect blend of inclusivity, academics, life skills and a lesson on coexisting with nature!


Also ReadBuilding Low-Cost Green Houses Since 1996: Architect Brings Back Mud Homes In India!


Image Source: George Ramapuram

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.


Recycled Decor, Eco-Cutlery & E-Invites: Mumbai Couple Go Green on Wedding!

$
0
0

What is your idea of the perfect wedding? A grand location, all your loved ones under one roof, celebrating the perfectly dressed couple who are about to take a vow to spend the rest of their lives together?

The Band, Baaja, Baaraat is typical of any Indian wedding. For Prashin Jagger and Deepa Kamath, however, their special day was also a day to celebrate the environment.


Take the plunge! Decorate your own home (new or old) with the perfect, eco-friendly and uplifting decor. Shop for home decor right here


Rejecting the conventional ideas of grand decorations and plastic cutlery, the eco-conscious couple decided to go green. It was, however, their day and they didn’t want to add on to the plastic burden of the planet.

In a humble ceremony in Mumbai, with a few close family members and friends, the couple used recycled, eco-friendly products for decorations. And it was not just replacing plastic products with bio-degradable ones, but making a conscious decision on the utilisation of natural resources in the products.

Deepa told The Better India, “Our first thought was to have only a court marriage. But following our ancient rituals which have their own significance is important to families. And we decided to choose a middle ground between both.

“Now we see its importance because, at each step, the exercise of thinking about each choice seeped through everyone, from us to the close families to the vendors to our friends and finally to all those who graced the day.

The happy couple.

“And now we’re grateful that it’s spreading even further.”

Speaking to the Indian Express, Prashin said, “There is a lot of misunderstanding about what exactly is eco-friendly. Vendors argued that using tissue papers was justifiable as it is bio-degradable, not understanding that to make them, thousands of trees are cut and it’s made from fresh pulp.” Deepa told the publication, “They tried to coax us to give in to the ongoing practice saying ‘log kya kahenge’ (what will people say).”

Deepa told TBI, “Surprisingly, the greenest alternatives are the most hassle-free and at the same time they are more economical. What took effort was to convey the thought behind it. Because the simpler choices left people baffled. It took us multiple iterations to convince the vendors of our decisions. Some took it in good stride and played along and some even completely ignored our directions and went about it their way.”

The couple even refrained from sending out physical invites for their wedding ceremony.

The board outside their wedding hall in Mumbai.

Paper itself costs quite a few trees for manufacture and add to that the ink and plastic embellishments that beautify a wedding invitation and you’re looking at an aesthetically pleasing environmental hazard.

Instead, the couple sent the word out through WhatsApp and by personally meeting their friends and family in Mumbai.

Their journey to an eco-friendly wedding began when Prashin decided to propose to Deepa at a friend’s farmhouse in Kerala.

“I knew a diamond ring won’t work for Deepa,” Prashin told TBI adding that, “That’s when I asked a friend of mine, who makes musical instruments to make a wooden ring for her. He helped me inscribe our initials on the rosewood ring, which actually looks like a design!”

Prashin proposed with a wooden ring.

From there, the couple decided on a local wedding hall that has good ventilation and doesn’t need air conditioning.The decorations were also minimal and the food at the wedding consisted of six dishes–each made of seasonal vegetables, cooked simply and tastefully. The leftover food was taken away by the guests and given away to the needy.


You may also like: 7 Couples Who Changed the Definition of the Big Fat Indian Wedding!


Although Deepa and Prashin’s parents were on board with the idea of a green wedding, certain traditions during the ceremony were not very easy to reject or avoid. Weddings in India are a massive event where hundreds of near-and-dear ones can meet each other and bless the couple.

But soon enough, all the people who mattered to the couple joined in their eco-friendly celebration. They even contributed to making decorations that were eco-friendly!

“Many friends made hand-made posters using old papers and things lying around in their homes, on which we explained what we had tried to do,” Prashin said.

A poster explaining their return gift.

“In fact, the main welcome board with our names was also made from a cardboard box of an LED TV purchased by a friend. With some pens and colours, he turned the board into something special inscribing our names–and it was beautiful,” Deepa added.

The wedding ceremony seemed to be a wonderful event, one that was celebrated with loved ones who genuinely understood Prashin and Deepa’s way of life, one that incurred minimal costs to the environment! What’s more, they even gave “return gifts” to their guests in the form of seed balls–a ball of cow dung, manure and a plant seed that the guests can simply throw out, and grow a plant!


You may also like: Maha Couple Requests Books as Wedding Gifts, Sets Up Library For Needy Kids!


Signing off, Prashin told TBI, “I’d also like to point out that this is not a concept wedding for us- it’s a way of life for us. This wasn’t just for the wedding, this is how we intend to live our life. We believe in bringing something to our home only when there is a real need than a perceived want. So we still haven’t purchased/sourced a fridge, washing machine, microwave and so on. We are planning to continue this till we reach a point where we cannot function without it. We have not reached that point yet. Most of the things in our house are either from our families home (unused/recycled utensils) or purchased second-hand from friends. We hope to continue this in as much detail as we possibly can.”

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

All pictures courtesy: Prashin Jagger.

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!

Cotton T-Shirt Vs Bamboo Blend: Here’s Why This ‘Grassy’ Fabric Is Awesome!

$
0
0

My ‘go-to’ comfort wear is loose, pure cotton T-shirts or kurtasas I suspect is the case for many of us. And I was SO sure that no other fabric will ever be as easy on my skin as pure cotton.

(Silk is a big noI don’t like what happens to the worms, and also static electricity.)


Do you want to switch to a fabric softer than cotton, eco-friendlier than silk and more breathable than nylon? Then, waste no time and check out our collection of bamboo apparel.


But bamboo-blend took little more than one wearing to convince me that this fabric is incredibly soft, quite breathable and flows as smoothly as cotton.

I always thought ‘bamboo cloth’ would resemble jute fabric. Perhaps not that rough, but ‘rough’ nonetheless. This was just the opposite!

Now I can’t exactly share via words how excited I was when I wore a bamboo blend t-shirt for the first time. But I can heartily recommend it as a must-try for those into fashion and comfy clothing!

Why Bamboo?

As sporty as you can get. Source: Bamboo Tribe/ Facebook.

Cotton is vegan (ish), widely produced, and if you are careful where you buy fromorganic.

All of that is true, but Bamboo is all of that and MORE.

Bamboo, as perhaps many of us know, is a fast-growing grass. Some species grow as fast as three feet within 24 hours. Imagine a bamboo stalk that grows as tall as your desk in a day! (They also have a Guinness World Record for it! Who would have thought?)

India grows about 15 species commerciallyall of which are faster, and better, to grow as a cash crop than cotton.

On the sustainability front, cotton’s big curse is water.

The labour-intensive, resource- exhausting cotton needs an alternative to share the burden of the textile industry. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Thirsty cotton plants require about 20,000 litres for every kilogram of cotton extracted. Bamboo uses only one-third of that to grow to harvestable levels.

Speaking of harvesting, you have to pull out the entire cotton plant if you want to harvest the fibre. While Bamboo is cut as needed and the rest is left to grow on. This means it is easier in terms of labour, as well.

However, there are problems with the manufacturing process. The more popular viscose process is similar to that of rayon and uses a lot of chemicals to make the fabric. Lyocell is another process which uses fewer chemicalsbut it is not much better either.

So which choice is better?

via GIPHY

Honestly, why pick and choose? Let’s go for bamboo-cotton blends. They encourage the growth of Bamboo and thus are just that much more sustainable than plain cotton.

Not to mention, they are soft and comfortable like heck, especially for comfy clothing and sportswear.

Yes, we are all attached to our fibres (get it?) and have our favourite T-shirt that we will never part ways with. But try something different this time and let an ancient plant give you some new love!

(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

With Minimal Funds, 28-YO’s Initiative Clears 15,000 Kgs of Garbage From Hyderabad

$
0
0

The past decade saw a surge in the number of citizen-led initiatives cleaning up the mess we have been creating for a long time. Such efforts have picked up pace since the last couple of years, especially in India. From Anand Malligavad reviving Bengaluru’s lakes to Afroz Shah-led beach cleanups in Mumbai, there is a sense of awakening among people to take up the responsibility of the environment.


Ever returned from a trip or a hike to find your pockets, bags and car seats filled with bits of waste? Check out this well-designed kit that helps you segregate waste easily when you’re on the go. 


Hyderabad-based Sriram Arumilli belongs to the same elite club fighting against all the odds to save the world from drowning in its filth. The concerned citizen has been running an NGO—Earthlings, since 2016, which carries out cleanup activities across Hyderabad.

Sriram Arumilli, founder of Earthlings

The NGO joins various marathons organised in the city and cleans up the garbage generated, what’s more, it also spruces up public walls with paintings.

So far, in the 15 marathons that the NGO has participated, it has removed a total of 15,000 kilos of dry and wet garbage from the city, but the best part is that the team does not let a lack of funds stop them from achieving its end, even if it has to dip in its own pockets!

The kind of work we do is more important than getting regular funds. Being an NGO, we rarely get money from marathon organisers and municipal corporations. There have been instances when my parents pitch in. Times are tough but nothing that we cannot tackle, says Sriram Arumilli.

Sriram’s entry into the world of eco-revival

When I was a student, I saw a tree being chopped down, and I realised there should be someone to protect them. I did some research and ended up working for an NGO called The Green Nest, Sriram told Telanganatoday.

Sriram volunteered with the NGO for its cleanup initiatives till it closed in 2016. Not wanting to slow down the momentum, he launched his own NGO ‘Earthlings’ in the same year.

Image may contain: one or more people, people standing and outdoor

Speaking to The Better India (TBI), Sriram says:

I come from an agrarian family living in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. My father always tells me that trees are a precious resource. I moved to Hyderabad in 2008 for higher studies, and since then, I have seen the city lose its green cover and become dirtier by the day. I always knew that the power of the common man could bring concrete changes. So instead of being just another complainant, I took matters into my own hands.

Gowtham Reddy, a Chennai-based friend who co-founded Earthlings, began the Chennai Chapter of the NGO at the same time to carry out the same initiative in Tamil Nadu’s capital.

Though the NGO may have started with two friends, today, three years later, it has 100+ volunteers who diligently participate in marathons and spread the message with enthusiasm.

Low funds are no deterrent for Earthlings to carry out their numerous activities. During marathons, they do get sponsored for gloves, masks, and bin bags, among others. However, the majority of the time, Srinivas has to rely on his savings and volunteer contribution.

Earthlings aims to be an NGO that means business, and thus, it selects its volunteers through three rounds—Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview and Practical. For the first two, candidates are questioned about environmental issues that affect the immediate surroundings and the world in general. As for the practical, they have to participate in a small cleanliness drive.

The candidate gets selected based on the performance in each of the rounds.

“We want only those people who are genuinely interested in bringing a difference. Apart from judging their level of interest, we also test their knowledge. I have seen many people participate in the drives purely for their social media posts. And because they are selected via rounds, they will not undermine or take the efforts for granted,” says Sriram.

For many, the recruitment process has been a demotivating factor to join the organisation, but Sriram believes that it is an advantage, “If someone wants to stick around and contribute, giving interviews should not be a problem.”

Earthlings also gain a perspective through the questions they ask candidates, especially when they talk about Hyderabad, “The most common problems are water scarcity, overflowing garbage and spitting. Through our volunteers, it becomes easy for us to plan our events,” adds the 28-year-old.

Suvishal is one of the volunteers who went through the selection process, and he has no regrets about joining the organisation. “I did not want my weekends to be unproductive, and I always wanted to help society in some way. I did my research about local NGOs and their work, before approaching Earthlings. The selection process was impressive and a sure shot way to know that I will be working with equally passionate people,” the 23-year-old, an Analyst with Deloitte, tells TBI.

Towards Garbage-Free Marathons

Taking into account the thousands of people who participate in marathons and the number of times marathons are organised every year, the post-event scenario is a sweeper’s nightmare with roads covered with plastic bottles, cups, paper, and food items among others.

It thus becomes an uphill task for the authorities to clear the mess.

To resolve this problem, Sriram collaborates with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and takes responsibility to clear the garbage.

For every marathon, Earthlings hires GHMC workers to segregate the collected waste, “They are much more experienced in waste segregation, so it becomes easy for us to dispose of the garbage,” says Sriram.

The sanitation workers are paid Rs 500 for their services. However, for many workers, lending a helping hand is not just about money.

I have been working with the GHMC for 18 years now, and I know the amount of effort that goes in segregation. We are not helping them. In fact, the youngsters are helping the GHMC by making our work easier, M Tarun, a GHMC worker tells TBI.

The volunteers send the dry waste to local recycling agencies, and food waste is given to piggeries to ensure scientific disposal.

Marathons have also been a great medium to spread awareness says Sriram, “Our volunteers are stationed at every point during marathons. They stand with garbage bags and shout slogans. Seeing the volunteers, many participants make an effort to throw bottles and other items in the bin bags.”

Beautifying the City, One Spot At A Time

Sriram and his team of volunteers made their debut at the Begumpet railway station as they are the entry points for tourists visiting the city.

Like all their activities, the volunteers gathered at the station at six in the morning and each team was given a specific task. While one team cleaned the stains on the walls, the other removed posters and swept the place. The third team painted the walls and wrote informative slogans on them.

Image may contain: 1 person

The quotes differ from area to area. For example ‘Carry cloth bags’ is for market areas and ‘Do not stick bills’ is written near railway stations.

Painting is the most crucial aspect of Earthlings’ cleanliness drives, “No one likes to dirty a beautifully-painted wall. We visit the same places a few weeks later to check the status, and we have noticed that all of them are free of posters and stains,” says Sriram.

Sriram also started a challenge earlier this year. As per the #CleanupChallenge, every volunteer had to nominate their friend or relative. On getting nominated, the person was required to carry out a cleaning drive in their locality and post a photo on a social media platform.

The 4-year-old organisation drops a mail to the GHMC every time it has to conduct a drive, “We have established cordial relations with the corporation, so we do not require permissions, and our process is smooth.”

Earthlings is also expanding its arena of work, starting with seedball plantations.

Recently, the volunteers planted around 1,000 seed balls of trees across the city. “Monsoon is the best time to throw the seed balls as the rainwater ensures that the ball of mud is properly mixed with the soil,” adds Sriram.

Despite having full-time jobs, Sriram and his volunteers are striving to make Hyderabad a clean city.

With so many motivating examples of citizens making an effort to keep their surroundings clean, it is time every person takes some responsibility for a cleaner and greener India.

Get in touch with Earthlings here.

Images are sources from: Earthlings/Facebook


Also Read: Paan Stains to Littered Lakes: Ex-IAF Pilot Inspires 100+ Punekars to Clean Their City!


(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

TN Woman Helps Schools, Anganwadis Build Edible Gardens For Students!

$
0
0

What does a typical day within a school campus look like? Children running around or painting and perhaps even sitting in silence, immersed in reading?


Want to begin gardening in your own backyard? Kickstart your journey with these Grow Bags made of Eco-Friendly Biofabric.


Well, the APL Global School is unlike any other. It is known for its Cambridge IGCSE curriculum and focus on teaching life skills to its students and the fact that it has an edible campus.

With leafy greens

Yes, you heard that right.

Its students, armed with the philosophy of Japanese natural farmer, Masanobu Fukuoka, the principles of permaculture design and the guidance of their teacher, Maya Ganesh, have grown 200+ varieties of plants and more than 50+ local species of biodiverse trees and shrubs.

The Better India, got in touch with Maya to map the journey of how it all began.

Armed with a degree in Economics and an MBA, Maya had a very successful corporate career. However, her heart lay close to nature, so at the age of 39, she decided to switch careers.

She enrolled at the University College London, for a Masters in Environment and Sustainable Development, with a focus on the Global South and the issues that plagued developing countries.

One of her earliest influences was her professor and author, Dr Robert Biel who grew his own food on an allotted piece of land in the city.

When she returned to India, she lived off her savings for almost eight months, due to the lack of work, but used the time to undertake courses in regenerative agriculture, particularly permaculture.

Apart from training under different proponents of natural farming including Dr Debal Deb, Raghava from Aikanthika, Larry Korn, Clea Chandmal, and Narasanna Koppula, she also worked on multiple community-driven sustainable projects.

And yet, one of her strikingly different projects that stands out is spreading her love for the soil to young minds at APL Global School.

It all began in 2017, when the school decided to shift its campus to Okkiyam Thoraipakkam in Chennai.

With the kids

“From dry patches, to creating a biodiverse system that boasts of flowers, fruit trees, herbs, fibre, dye, shrubs, vegetables, birds, insects, worms and microorganisms and small reptiles—we have come a long way in the last three years,” says Maya.

This garden is inspired not just by Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka’s method of natural farming but also puts to use principles of agroecology, permaculture strategies, and the Miyawaki Method of afforestation.

Building their own wild patches

“Under the initiative, kids from Classes 1 to 12 plant native or indigenous varieties in every nook and cranny of the school campus. Every inch of outdoor spaces that the school has, now grows herbs, vegetables, fruits, shrubs, herbs, flowers, medicinal plants, and even fibres. The plantation is diverse with a mix of hardy perennials and fewer annuals to create a permanent, self-sustaining, biodiverse system. And most native seeds that we use are open-pollinated, rare and forgotten.”

The produce is not sold commercially, and is instead distributed among students, teacher-facilitators, staff and everyone within the school community.

To extend the benefits of the garden to the under-privileged and teach the students the importance of sharing, the school is now extending its seeds, cuttings and saplings to anganwadis in Chennai, where Maya works with volunteers to create nutrition gardens.

When Maya started her journey, she had only eight students. Since the slate was blank, and the campus had pockets of land instead of one huge patch, she used her creativity to adopt and tweak several methods to suit the soil and the climate.

“When we first started, the soil lacked biomass. And the housekeeping staff would often sweep away the dead and fallen leaves because they thought it made the campus look dirty. It took me a lot of convincing to avoid them from doing that because these fallen leaves, twigs and branches were the biomass that could nourish the soil.”

The key to making this system successful was biodiversity, just like a forest. So today, even on a small garden bed on the campus, you may find 20 different plants. Most of them are edible, and the biodiversity helps keep pest attacks and weeds at bay.

Since permaculture design is a closed-loop system where all the waste generated in the system has to go back into the system, all the waste generated within the garden goes back into it as compost and to mulch the soil.

Only last year, when Maya came up with the idea of using the Miyawaki method of afforestation, the school decided to earmark two small patches for the experiment. The native seeds were sourced from Chennai.

“In the initial months, these plants only grew about 1.5 feet tall, and we thought that perhaps, the lack of biomass was an issue. So we sourced waste from a local sugarcane vendor, the local vegetable market and an apartment complex in the vicinity. We dug pits and filled them with this biodegradable waste and planted trees in a phase-wise manner. Within a year, these trees have grown seven-eight feet tall!”

Today the school garden, as well as the Miyawaki patch, attracts a host of insects, birds, animals, and reptiles.

From five native varieties of brinjals to Balinese ginger and sweet potatoes that are white—the garden has successfully grown plant varieties that you may not even find in the supermarket.

Meanwhile, the Miyawaki patches operate like a self-sufficient wild forest and have herbs and trees ranging from gooseberry, papaya, pomegranate, henna, wood apple, peepal, lemon, guava, banana, vegetable hummingbird tree, etc.

“We also have a huge family of garden lizards that keep the insect balance.”


Also Read: Engineering Dropout to Organic Farmer Growing 300+ Native Veggies: TN Man’s Inspiring Story!


While most of their seeds are sourced and bought from Sahaja Seeds and Yarroway farm, they are now working on conserving and multiplying open-pollinated seeds themselves.

Maya also uses her network of regenerative agriculture teachers and practitioners all over India to barter open-pollinated seeds or often they send some seeds as a goodwill gesture.

“We also invite special guests to interact with the children. Past guests include Dr Sultan Ismail Ahmed, a soil biologist and ecologist, and Nina Sengupta, the author of ‘Edible Weeds and Naturally Growing Plants in Auroville,” she says.

Their latest experiment is growing indigenous ‘Karunganni’ cotton and brown Peruvian cotton given as a seed gift from safe food activist, Anantha Sayanan.

“While working in the garden, the students often complain about their arms aching after half an hour of work. I then remind them of how much effort our farmers put in to grow food for all of us. This not only teaches them about the importance of hard work but also helps them respect the food on their plates and the farmers that grow it.”

She ends with a message saying, “Our focus will always be Earth care, People care and Fair share—the three permaculture ethics. We want the children to understand that they do not have to stick to conventions; and can also do something different in life, like farming. Regenerative farming that can not only make them self sufficient but also help combat climate change.”

If this story inspired you, get in touch with Maya on her Facebook page, Eat Your School Garden. You can also write to her at mayaganesh74@gmail.com.

Check out a few more pictures from this edible school garden:

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

A Flood of Heroes: 6 People Helping the Stranded With Courage & Compassion!

$
0
0

Nature’s fury raging across the nation has brought people closer to stand united in the face of such unforgiving adversity. This year’s erratic monsoons have brought misery to many. While some parts of the country are parched with people fighting over water, other parts are wading neck-deep in water.

This year’s floods have consumed numerous lives, caused severe damage to property and has plunged vast sections of the population into despair.


Check out these water saving devices you can install in homes.


But hope kindles anew with the kind acts being reported across the nation. People have come forward in aid of others at the cost of their happiness, and at times, even their lives.

In this article, you will read about everyday folks who have become heroes for their selfless deeds.

1. Anas Asna

Anas, a resident of Adoor town in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, had been saving up money for the treatment of his cancer-afflicted son. But, the step he took to help others in need is not only brave but also heartwarming. He has donated the money he intended for his son to the Kerala flood relief funds!

“Yes, my son is suffering, but that is nothing compared to the loss that many others have faced in the state due to the floods.” People across social media platforms have been inspired by his move and have assured him that they will bring this noble deed to the attention of Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja. If this isn’t selflessness, then what is!

2. Noushad

“If one doesn’t help now then when? We came with nothing and will go with nothing,” says Noushad, a garments seller at Mattancheri in Ernakulam. He has donated all the dress material he was going to sell for Bakrid to flood relief.

According to a news report, a group of volunteers led by actor Rajesh Shama were collecting relief material for the Malabar region that has suffered widespread damage due to the devastating floods and landslides.

Noushad, who knew about the collection drive, invited them to his shop and donated all the new clothes, mostly for children and women. In a video posted online, one can see Noushad filling up sacks and sacks of clothes; children’s dresses, new trousers, many of them still with the tag on, and even saree’s.

Though Eid would be a dim affair in his house this year, the clothes-seller has already lit up his home with the blessings of the people who have lost almost everything.

3. Govind Chawda

Govind, a police sub-inspector in Vadodara has become an internet hero due to his sheer selflessness. Upon learning about the flood situation at Devipura locality near Vishwamitri Railway Station, a team of police officers went there to assess and help. It was during this rescue operation that Govind found a one-and-a-half-year-old in distress.

“Other members of the team and I had to walk through flooded roads to reach Devipura. We tied a rope to a pole so that people could move by holding on to it as the water was neck-deep,” he said.

To get the child to safety, Govind asked for a plastic tub and carried the child in it across the flooded streets. He says, “We put some clothes and a bed-sheet in the tub and put the child in it. I placed the tub on my head and walked through five feet-deep water for 1.5 km to take her to a safer place. The mother was also rescued.”

The cop brought the child to safety and won the hearts of people.

4. Constable Prithviraj Jadeja

People usually are prompt to condemn the slow-acting police, but do not shy away from showering praises when they do go above and beyond their call of duty – case in point, Kalyanpur, Gujarat.

Forty-three children were trapped in their school in Kalyanpur due to the floods; the only option left was to call the police to help. Amid the chaos and fast water current, Constable Jadeja of the Gujarat Police was seen carrying two children on his shoulders. The hero walked for over 1.5 km through waist-deep water in a village in Morbi district, about 200 km from the capital Gandhinagar. Despite the strong current, constable Jadeja looked calm as he took the girls to safety.

This act was noticed by many, including politicians and cricketers. Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman praised the constable for his “exemplary dedication and courage”. “What a wonderful and touching video of Constable Jadeja in Kalyanpur village of Gujarat rescuing two children by walking one and a half km in floodwater. Hats off to his exemplary dedication and courage,” he tweeted.

Gujarat Floods: Cop Rescues 2 Girls, Carries Them on Shoulders For 1.5 KM!

Stranded in their school after gushing flood waters made it impossible for boats to reach them, these two girls found their hero in constable Prithviraj Jadeja who risked his own life to get them to safety! #Respect #RealLifeHero

TheBetterIndia ಅವರಿಂದ ಈ ದಿನದಂದು ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ ಮಂಗಳವಾರ, ಆಗಸ್ಟ್ 13, 2019

5. Asif Ali

Asif is a native of Kottakal in Malapurram and works in Saudi Arabia as a waiter. He diligently sends money home for his parents and siblings. The time of Eid he usually gets a bonus helping him to send a substantial amount of money. This year he decided to send all the money he made, including the tips from the foreigners and the bonus he got to the Kerala relief fund.

He took to Facebook to say, “I have my mother, father, and six sisters back at home. Five of them have been married off, but there are still many responsibilities left. I have been working in “Meenkada” Restaurant in Saudi for four years. This money was given to me as tips by foreign customers, got my Bakrid allowance from the boss as well. I will contribute this to the CMDRF. I decided to donate more money than I did last time.” While Asif might be away from his native place, his heart is undoubtedly back home.

6. A Nameless Hero

This hero is a young boy who put his life at risk to guide an ambulance crosses a flood-hit bridge in Bagalkot in Karnataka. In this now-viral video, you can see the young boy running ahead of the ambulance showing it the way across the raging Krishna River that had submerged the bridge.

Karnataka Floods: Boy Risks Life, Guides Ambulance Across Submerged Bridge

Not all heroes wear capes. Like this young boy who braved the raging waters flowing over a flooded bridge in #Karnataka to show the path to an ambulance. Hats off to his courage! #Respect #RealLifeHero #MustWatch #KarnatakaFloods

TheBetterIndia ಅವರಿಂದ ಈ ದಿನದಂದು ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ ಸೋಮವಾರ, ಆಗಸ್ಟ್ 12, 2019

 

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter

Can’t Donate Those Torn, Faded Clothes? 7 Easy & Cool Hacks to Upcycle Them!

$
0
0

If there’s one thing my mum has taught me, its that most things we use can be reused, recycled or upcycled.

This stands especially true of clothes.

Intact clothes are usually passed on to those who would appreciate them. But then some clothes get torn, fade in colour or lose the quality of their stitches.


The simple cotton T-shirt you bought a few months ago can turn into so much more after it fades. From table organisers to single bags, it can be transformed into a variety of things. Don’t believe me? Why not check out our shop to see how versatile an upcycled cloth can be!


What do we do with such items?

Well, using them as rags or throwing them away are two options. But there’s always more to clothes than what meets the eye.

Your favourite T-shirt, sarees and denim need not see the door even beyond their shelf-life. They can stay with you – albeit with a different face. Here’s how:

Blankets:

Representative image of a mozaic blanket. Source: UnLtd India/ Facebook.

Winter is coming, and it will demand that we snuggle up in a cosy blanket every night. While the market is filled with blankets made of synthetic material, here’s an alternative to those expensive choices.

The process is straightforward. I have been following my mother’s projects for years now and can guide you.

First, take a heap of clothes (preferably all cotton) and arrange them to the dimensions you desire. If you want a thicker blanket, add more layers.

via GIPHY

 

Once satisfied with the length, breadth and thickness, strip all the buttons, hooks and everything non-fabric from the clothes. Take a thick thread and a needle and start stitching the clothes together. This step is particularly tricky because each cloth might be of different thickness, and they are not always of uniform shape. But once you start stitching, you will soon get the hang of it.

Soon, you will be done. Cut the edges and sew them shut for a warm night!

Pro-tip: If you like your bed linen to be monochromatic or of one design instead of a collage, find a saree to envelope the mozaic.

Wax strips-

Representative image. Source: Marco Verch Professional Photographer and Speaker/ Flickr.

Waxing at home is a great beauty regime if 1. You don’t want to spend hundreds of rupees for a single session and 2. You can deal with the mess.

I recently discovered that denim makes great reusable waxing strips. All you have to do is cut out rectangles from faded/ torn denim bottoms or jackets and wash it once.

Then, for your next waxing session, place the insides of the denim on the wax you have applied on unwanted hair, press it firmly and pull it in one single go! (Ouch!)

via GIPHY

 

In my personal experience, denim strips hurt less than the disposable ones. But you try it for yourself.

To wash the denim strips, soak them for a couple of hours in warm water. The wax will come off, and then, a single stroke with a brush will clean the fabric easily!

Bags and purses:

This idea is especially awesome because it can upcycle everything from a plain T-shirt to sarees! There are several DIY tutorials available online that use various tactics to make beautiful bags from discarded clothes. Here’s one no-sew technique.

But you can get more complex with your bags too and stitch them to have several compartments.

We have several such bags made from upcycled denim on our shop. From sling bags to messenger bags complete with compartments as also backpacks, we have them all! Here’s where you can find them.

New clothes from old clothes:

via GIPHY

Well, you can turn into a fashion stylist by simply matching various old/ torn/ faded clothes into whole new apparel.

Mix and match the fabric and designs to see what you like.

For example, if you are discarding an old white shirt and have to throw away a pink shirt that has a hole on one side, just cut them in a way that they can be stitched into one shirt. (Visual clue- Charlie Harper’s shirts in Two and a Half Men).

But why restrict yourself to shirts? Stitch together different patches from old clothes to make a skirt, a table runner, dupattas or carpets.

Go crazy with your creativity here and share your ideas with us!

Brighten up old white clothes:

Source: Basheer Tome/ Flickr.

Bring water to boil in a big utensil and add about 1/4th cup of turmeric to it (increase or decrease the quantity according to the colour you desire).

Put the white cloth in it and let it boil for about 30 minutes before taking it out carefully and sun-drying it. There you go, you now have a yellow T-shirt/dupatta/salwar in place of a white one.

You can also experiment with green tea bags, beetroot etc. to explore the spectrum of colours.

(Psst… Learn how to make Bandhani designs, and then you can go pro with the recolouring of fabric!)

Pillows and cushions:

Most of your clothes can go into making cushions and pillows for decoration and comfort! Here’s how.

Snip, stick, stitch and save!

Source: Fancycrave.com/ Pexels.

Between the ages of 12-18, my jeans started getting too short every six months. Instead of going shopping all the time, my mum cut them. Once the denim started getting too short as full pants, they became stylish 3-4ths.

When I got bored with them, they became shorts. The cut pieces would become ‘matching’ sling bags or coin purses for me. Try doing this even if your denim is torn at calf/thigh length and ripped jeans are not your thing.

The cotton clothes that you are throwing away can also be stitched into reusable cloth pads and can help a needy woman have a comfortable menstrual cycle.

Here’s one example of cloth panty liners that are stitched to help you have a happy period.

You can also take inspiration from this brand that makes hair bands from upcycled clothes!

Do let share your experiments with us on Instagram. Don’t forget to tag us!

(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Engineer Builds Cheap Transparent Concrete That Lowers Electricity Use in Homes by 30%!

$
0
0

If the cement industry were a country, it would be the third-largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world with up to 2.8bn tonnes, surpassed only by China and the US,” reports The Guardian.

The article goes on to mention that over the past 60 years, we have produced 8bn tonnes of plastic, but what’s worse? The cement industry churns out twice that amount every two years! While cement continues to remain the go-to material due to its affordability and durability, it’s carbon footprint is devastating to the environment.


We all know that using electrical appliances means high electricity bills. Check out these energy-efficient appliances that you can use at home


Cement produces eight per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide according to the London-based not-for-profit and non-governmental organisation Chatham House that analyses and promotes the understanding of major international issues.

A 27-year-old Civil Engineer from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh had the same worries at the back of his head. This led him to develop a transparent concrete that partially utilises industrial waste in the place of cement. This switch helps in reducing CO2 emissions by reducing the cement consumption and can reduce electricity bills by 30 per cent.

Ramansh Bajpai, currently pursuing his Masters in Environmental Science from Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTU), Kanpur, has developed this eco-friendly alternative as part of his final year project.

Ramansh Bajpai

After ten months of hard work and several failed attempts, Ramansh finally perfected the formula. The rectangular-shaped concrete is made from plastic optical fibres, steel and industry waste (ground granulated blast furnace slag).

The use of industrial waste further ensures that the cost of the transparent concrete is 15 per cent less than regular cement. In terms of durability, it is 23 per cent stronger and 5 per cent lighter.

The concrete can be used in green buildings and in high-rise buildings as curtain walls that do not bear any load of the building. The main advantage is that it allows the natural light to enter the room, but no heat or water can pass through the wall, thus preventing leakages or dampness. Since the room with transparent concrete will get the maximum amount of natural light, the use of electricity will come down, Ramansh tells The Better India (TBI).

Many decorative transparent materials are available in the market, but they are mostly made by fibres which are not fire-resistant. This transparent concrete can withstand much higher temperatures. In case of a fire, only the plastic optical fibres may be damaged but not the wall or building, Ramansh adds.

The final year student tested the material in the university and was certified successful by Deepesh Kumar Singh, Assistant Professor at the university. It was under his guidance that Ramansh made this sustainable invention.

Ramansh’s invention fulfils the criteria of being a cheaper and greener alternative to cement. Using transparent concrete is a viable solution to the problem of cement emitting carbon dioxide and contributing to greenhouse gases. The construction material can also be used in low-cost housing schemes, Singh tells TBI.

Ramansh used his personal savings for the project. However, his project is currently on hold due to financial constraints, “I want to develop the material for commercial use and for that I need investors,” adds the engineer.

We hope that Ramansh’s futuristic invention paves the way for a green future in the construction sector.

You can write to Ramansh at: ramanshbajpai786@gmail.com


Also ReadTBI Blogs: Did You Know ‘Green Buildings’ Not Only Save Resources, but Also Boost Your Productivity?


(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.


Banarasi Saris Powered By the Sun: TERI Helps 40 Boatmen, 400+ Weavers Go Green!

$
0
0

Life for Varanasi-based Mohammad Gulzar and Mahinder Sahni have changed for the better now. Where Gulzar is a weaver, masterfully crafting the famous Banarasi Sarees that bring foreigners to his doorstep in Mahmoodpur village, Varanasi, Mahinder ferry the same tourists around the Ganges on his boat.

What has changed for the duo is that they now work with solar-powered machines that have made their pockets happier, work easier, and the environment greener.


We all know that using electrical appliances means high electricity bills. Check out these energy-efficient appliances that you can use at home


All thanks to the Delhi-based TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) and their solar-powered looms and boats.

For nearly three decades, Gulzar has been working with gold and silver zari (brocade). The weaver has an impressive list of local and international clientele. Till 2000, the 40-year-old handcrafted the sarees and later shifted to power looms. While the looms proved to be a boon that quickened the weaving process, erratic power supply often stalled his work.

Though a generator backup ensured uninterrupted work, it would take a minimum of 10 minutes for the loom to restart. In the meanwhile, the threads broke, got entangled, and chaos reigned every time the system shut down.

It was a time-consuming ordeal to fix the problem, and at times, Gulzar even had to discard the cloth altogether.

Mahinder — a boatman, sold his boat for a diesel-run one. However, due to the rising prices of diesel, he was struggling to meet ends until a year ago. To make matters worse, the sound and polluted air issuing from his boat resulted in a loss of customers.

Apart from being environmentally-unsound and polluting, diesel operated boats also severely impact the daily net income of boatmen. Hand-rowed boats are tiresome to operate, requiring four to five hours of rowing in a day, Jitendra Tiwari, one of the engineers who worked on the two inventions, tells The Better India (TBI).

Gulzar and Mahinder represent the two popular professions in Varanasi beset with many problems.

Until TERI addressed their issues and found solutions in the form of two solar-run interventions.

Solution for Gulzar’s Problem Of Power Cut:

Weaver working at Mohammad Gulzar’s loom

TERI engineers have developed a power back up, which takes a few microseconds to generate electricity. The hybrid solar charge controller transfers the power from solar panels to the inverter which the loom uses. The surplus power gets stored in lithium batteries for back-up in case of load shedding.

The hybrid charging units for power loom are financially supported by Indus Towers under their Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.

The smart hybrid charging (solar + grid) unit power back up requires less space for storage, has faster charging rate, better energy density and much longer battery cycle in comparison to traditional lead acid batteries. Each hybrid charging unit can support four power loom units, says Tiwari

Consequently, Gulzar’s production and profits have increased. His men no longer have to sit ideally during a power cut or work extra hours to meet the orders.

Solution for Mahindra’s Problems of Air Pollution

Mahinder Sahni with tourists

TERI has retrofitted the traditional boats of boatmen with trolling motor and replaced diesel engine with solar-powered lithium batteries for fuel. The hybrid solar-powered model has one lithium battery that runs the e-boat.

Four charging stations that run on solar energy and grid connected power have been established on the bank of the river Ganga in Varanasi to run 40 battery powered boats in the city.

“Clean energy solutions to power boats can solve the problems related to environmental damage, costs and drudgery related to both diesel-operated motorised boats and oared boats in Varanasi,” Tiwari adds.

On a two-hour charge, the boats run for 2.5 hours, which is enough to make a round of a 12 km stretch. The battery is attached to the trolling motor connected to a propeller that controls the movement of the boat.

All retrofitting work i.e. fixing of trolling motors, lithium battery and provision of centralised charging facility is done by a local energy entrepreneur selected by TERI. The charging stations run under ‘Fee for Service’ model and their regular operation and maintenance are taken care of by boatmen collectively.

Besides, Gulzar and Mahinder, around forty boatmen and four hundred weavers have benefitted from switching to clean energy-run technology made under TERI’s Energy Access for Livelihood Promotion Programme.


Also Read50% Cheaper & 100% Green: 22-YO Invents Solar Dryer To Help Boost Farmer Incomes


Image Credits: TERI

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Now, Public Fridges at Railway Stations To Cut Food Waste: 5 Tips for Zero-Waste Train Travel

$
0
0

I recently travelled by the Tejas express from Chennai to Trichy, and one of the highlights of this service is the amount of food that the passengers are given.

It’s honestly not possible to finish it all, and there is almost always wastage.


This cool device easily fits on to your tap to save a significant amount of water. Save on your water bill, and help conserve the most precious resource on the planet.


In a bid to address this particular issue, Railway Minister, Piyush Goyal, recently installed a public refrigerator at the Hubballi railway station in Karnataka.

Public fridge
Source

The fridge stands tall at six-feet and has four racks in it–the first two racks will have cooked food, while the other two will store vegetables and fruits.

Now, instead of disposing of surplus food, passengers and staff can leave it in this fridge, and any needy person has access to it.

While this is a great move and will benefit many, here are five tips to ensure a zero-waste train journey.

1. Carry your own water bottle

Clay water bottle.

Nowadays, most trains give their passengers a bottle of water when they board. However, it is also true that everything depends on demand and supply. If we all start saying no to the plastic bottle that they give us, there will come a time when they do away with it completely.

The market now is filled with alternate options – steel, clay, or even glass. So look for one that suits your need the best and carry it during your travels. You will always find points to refill the bottle.

Here are some eco-friendly water bottle options.

2. E-tickets

There’s no denying that one feels most comfortable and at ease carrying a printout of a ticket. However, just downloading it onto your phone will go a long way in preserving the environment. Not just the tickets but also your itinerary and other important travel documents can all be saved on your phone or hand-held device for both convenience and to save paper. Given that all these printed tickets eventually end up in the bin, refraining from using them will help a great deal.

3. Say NO to disposable plastic

Your own travel cutlery. Source: pxhere.

Just saying no to using disposable plastic is perhaps the only way we can stop our dependence on it. If during your travel you are handed over a plastic spoon or a straw, refuse to accept it. When you are going to be travelling by either train or flight, why not carry your own cutlery – a spoon, a steel straw, if you absolutely need one.

You could consider looking at some options right here.

4. Carry your own snack

Travelling is synonymous with snacking. While the market is flooded with unhealthy snacking options that are all usually packaged in plastic, we must consciously try and stay away from them. Even if you do opt to buy snacks during your travel, ensure that you responsibly dispose of the plastic wrapper.

In case you wish to purchase some healthy snacks, click here for a wide range of options.

5. Say NO to environmentally harmful products

The plastic menace
Source: Plastic Free Seas Worldwide

The ease of reaching out for a wet wipe is not just convenient but has become almost second nature to us. Carrying these wipes while travelling further adds to the convenience. Given that these wipes are plastic in origin, they are non-biodegradable and thus add to the pollution, creating irreversible environmental issues.

According to this report, the polyester found in baby wipes account for around 35 per cent of plastic pollution, and many environmental agencies have even come forward to stop its usage.

So what’s the alternative? Well, opt for environment-friendly wipes instead. Find some wonderful options, here.

These are just a few tips that if followed, can go a long way in helping the environment last longer.


Also read: OTP Frauds on the Rise: If You Rely on Digital Payments, Here’s How to Protect Yourself!


(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Jaalis, Baolis & More: Architect Couple Uses Ancient Designs to Make Sustainable Buildings!

$
0
0

What started in a tiny garage in Delhi, has now grown into one of India’s renowned eco-friendly architecture firms. Sustainability, Optimisation, Unique and Liveability is the ‘SOUL’ mantra that Morphogenesis diligently follows.

Alumni of Delhi’s School of Planning and Architecture and the prestigious Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, Manit and Sonali Rastogi co-founded Morphogenesis in 1996.


Take a step towards protecting the environment. Check out sustainable and handcrafted accessories for your home and kitchen here.


We started Morphogenesis as a two-person practice working out of a tiny garage, with no certainty of what the future would unravel for us, yet with complete clarity of purpose – to contribute to the definition of and to build a global discourse on contemporary Indian Architecture, says Sonali.

While Sonali studied Housing and Urbanism, Manit got a degree in Energy and Environmental studies.

Manit and Sonali, founders of Morphogenesis

The husband-wife duo returned to India in the 90s to put their knowledge into practice and bring an architectural evolution.

I believe we were fortunate to be in India at a time when there was a paradigm shift in the economy which was growing and liberalising, because that lets us experiment with the evolution of corporate offices, shopping complexes, educational institutes, etc. that were pushing the boundaries for new forms of education, health facilities, IT campuses, and more. This helped us get our first project Apollo Tyres Corporate office in Gurugram, says Manit.

Though it was fairly a new industry that the two amateurs were venturing into, the economic shift that India was undergoing during the 90s helped the duo take risks and experiment with their ideas and innovative methods.

The firm uses passive techniques of cooling such as thermal buffers, evaporative cooling, ventilation strategies and water reservoirs.

By integrating traditional concepts like jaalis, chajjas and verandas, all the buildings are designed in a way that consumes 75 per cent less energy than the certified green buildings, like in the case of The British School, Delhi.

The British School in Delhi

Inspired by traditional Indian courtyards, the huge verandas in The British School are constructed to incorporate the old trees in the premises.

Eaves or chajjas provide shade, helping 50 per cent of the building to remain cool throughout the year.

Further, the baolis or subterranean stepped structures harvest rainwater. The jalis (perforated surfaces) lock direct heat and yet allows natural air and light to pass.

The consciously chosen architecture of the eco-friendly school building is inspired by its tagline – ‘An International education with an Indian soul’.

The idea was to inculcate in students a culture of living with climate and imbibing a lifelong learning of adapting to the environment. The architectural response–deeply rooted in the local–provides a strong cultural context, creating a learning environment that promotes social cohesion, says Manit.

With sustainability being the company’s core philosophy, the architect-couple uses ancient techniques of architecture to construct modern buildings.

Image may contain: plant and outdoor
Artisan House, New Delhi. Image Source: Edmund Sumner and Morphogenesis/Facebook

All the construction materials are sourced locally within a 500 km radius of the site. This not only reduces carbon footprint by using the existing materials but also eliminates the transportation cost, thus bringing down the overall cost of the building.

Constructing a baoli or a pond, surrounded by walls, is another cooling method that Morphogenesis uses. This way, the earth is used as a heat sink, and as the water evaporates, it brings the overall temperature down.

How did they (ancestors) think up something so elaborate and yet so simple in its basic philosophy? How do you begin to think that you can dig into the ground and use the earth as a heat sink, have access to water, put a pavilion into it so that it’s comfortable throughout the year? It takes a lot of technology for us to think up something that simple now, Manit tells CNN.

Thanks to this 1500-year-old concept, the temperature inside The Pearl Academy in Jaipur is 20 degrees less than the outside temperature.

The Pearl Academy in Jaipur

Another feather in the firm’s cap is the 140-acre under-construction Infosys campus in Nagpur being designed in a way that reduces energy and water consumption needs to one-fifth of what is consumed in a typical office.

This lowered requirement is serviced by a 30-acre on-site solar plant, resulting in zero energy from the grid. Zero water dependence is achieved by creating a reservoir on site that has been designed as a lake that adjoins the existing water tank in the West and is fed by incident rain and rainwater. As for biodegradable waste, it is treated on-site through a bio-gas plant, explains Manit.

Campus for Infosys, Nagpur

In its 23-year-old journey, the firm claims that the total amount of land it has constructed green buildings on is approximately 50 million sq feet.

We have successfully created exemplars that have conservatively resulted in over nine million sq. metre of built environment benefitting over 560,000 inhabitants. Our construction has also saved 22 billion litres of freshwater, 4.1 billion kilowatts of energy. Overall speaking, it has led to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 3.3 billion kilos, the duo claims.

Speaking of challenges, the couple shares:

We cannot answer what the biggest challenge is, but we can say that everyday must have a challenge, and if it doesn’t, then we find it. There is a gap between academia and the profession with both having different pursuits. While the profession deals with the ground level realities but doesn’t have time for any research, the opposites are applicable for academia.

To bridge this gap, the architectural firm has designed an in-house ‘Knowledge Management System’ that gives information of all their projects done to date. It gives details about what worked best and what didn’t. The software is accessible to all its employees, which makes disseminating knowledge easier.

Apart from championing the environmental cause, they also take pride in terms of being the ‘first ones’. The British School was the first net-zero energy enabled school in India. The winner of the Best Learning Building Award for Pearl Academy, Morphogenesis is the first Indian architectural firm to win a World Architecture Festival award in 2009.

No photo description available.
Adapting the traditional jaali to create a pattern rooted deeply in the local context. Image Source: Shimroth J Thomas and Morphogenesis/Facebook

It is the only firm in the World Architecture 100 list, with over 50 per cent of women across all levels.

With projects in eight countries, 95 International and National Awards and 750+ publications globally, it is the first Indian firm to be awarded the Singapore Institute of Architects Getz Award in 2014.

In an age where carbon-producing cement is a go-to construction material, green architecture firms like Morphogenesis are on the right track to a sustainable future.

To know more about Morphogenesis visit here.


Also ReadBuilding Low-Cost Green Houses Since 1996: Architect Brings Back Mud Homes In India!


Image Courtesy: Morphogenesis

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

‘We Need To Get Involved’: Meet the Andhra Man Reviving India’s Forgotten Ecosystems

$
0
0

Siddharth Rao’s life has always been an antithesis to what is conventional.

He grew up on the outskirts of Bengaluru in the ’80s, and his parents, Arun and Sita decided to choose alternative education over mainstream pedagogy for him.

And so they sent him to schools such as The Valley School and Centre for Learning, both part of the Krishnamurti Foundation.


Are you an offbeat traveller? Here are some amazing destinations to check out!


He lived and thrived in the lap of nature. There were lush trees as far as you could see, snakes and cobras hanging off branches, sometimes entering his home, and majestic mammals such as elephants and leopards walking past the school’s football field.

Andhra Pradesh green hero forgotten ecosystem tribal conservation India
Siddharth with an Indian Grey Wolf

Speaking to The Better India (TBI), he recalls, “There was a focus on nature and peaceful coexistence with wildlife not only from my parents but also my siblings, friends, and teachers at school. Back in The Valley School, I remember throwing away all my textbooks to come home with a bag full of tamarinds, and another time with a tender coconut shell filled with fish.”

“Were your parents angry?” is my immediate question.

“Funnily enough, they weren’t. They were thrilled!”

And so he swam in streams, caught fish, chased butterflies, cycled to the Western Ghats and even watched leatherback sea turtles in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

In 1990, the two career choices that he had were to either continue playing professional football for clubs in Bengaluru or enter wildlife conservation. He chose the latter.

Only 17, Siddharth started working as an apprentice with different wildlife researchers, rescuers, conservationists and individuals running resorts in the woods.

He completed his Bachelors from Open University, juggling between self-preparing for exams and spending most of his time in the forests. On the other hand, he took up research jobs to grab all the knowledge and work experience he could attain with both hands.

He also moved on to get a Masters degree in Ecology from the Salim Ali School in Pondicherry Central University and also became a Kinship Conservation fellow in 2015.

Today, the man who has worked as an ecologist and conservationist for the last 18 years is on a mission to protect and revive forgotten savannah ecosystems.

What is a savannah ecosystem?

Kalpavalli Community conserved area

“From the time of the colonial British Empire, India has had a skewed definition of what a ‘forest’ or a savannah ecosystem is. We defined them as ‘x’ number of trees in ‘x’ amount of land and viewed from the extraction point of view for timber. As a result, many of these natural ecosystems faced a gradual degeneration over decades and turned into drylands due to over-exploitation.

Once a source of livelihood for indigenous communities, they have been losing their flora and fauna at a rapid rate, have become hotspots for man-animal conflict. The very policymakers who pay lump-sum packages to go on wild safaris abroad, continue to call these ecosystems, wastelands in India. I call them ‘forgotten ecosystems’ that need revival.”

And so for the last six years, he was working with The Timbaktu Collective as its Director of Ecology, to carry forward the same mission.

Mobilising communities

The groundwork for the regeneration of the dryland though was already laid down by the founders of the Collective, who began their work in the drought-prone Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh almost 30 years ago.

It sparked with the natural regeneration of a plot of arid dryland measuring 32 acres where the people of Timbaktu lived. The founders mobilised the local community to come forward to green as many patches as they could.

At the time, there were no standard activities or strategies that they were following.

But once the land bounced back to life, youth from surrounding villages came forward to seek their help. This led them to kickstart the larger Kalpavalli Community Conservation Area Project, where communities from villages around Urudala Konda and Thumma Konda in the district donated common dryland to be revived.

A space of 100 acres was demarcated as the experimental ground where the team used an array of techniques like protection from fires, protection from overgrazing, protection from tree cutting, construction of soil and water conservation structures (bunds, check-dams, dentures, etc.), seed dibbling and grass seed broadcasting, planting of trees where possible, monitoring of fauna lost and revived, monitoring grass being cut, monitoring the number of sheep, goats, and cows that come for grazing etc.

The success of the Kalpavalli project sparked competition with villages around, where shepherds from neighbouring villages would trespass into the conserved area and steal grass.

When confronted, they said, “Teach us the same technique, if they have done 100 acres, we will do 200 acres and do it better.”

There was no looking back after.

Today the Timbaktu Collective has restored and protected 9,000 acres of dryland and promoted 10,000 acres of land to biodiversity-friendly organic farming.

Ecology is only a part of their development activities. The Collective is empowering 20,000 marginalised families in 180 villages through various activities such as ecological restoration of wastelands, organic farming, and marketing, alternative, thrift-and-credit based financial systems for women, the rearing of small ruminants by the landless, disability rights, creation of child-friendly forums and sites of learning.

Speaking to Mary Vattamatam, the co-founder of Timbaktu Collective, I ask: “How has Siddharth’s work been instrumental?”

With a deer

“The Collective began with experimental regeneration of a completely barren piece of land. And though we were able to scale this up to a great extent and establish a standard set of activities, for a very long time, we couldn’t establish the link between wildlife conservation and the regeneration of these ecosystems. Even for me, these were two different fields of work. But with Siddharth coming on board, especially at a time when a windmill project had been sanctioned on our conserved KCCA which was driving away wildlife from the surrounding forests into the farmers’ fields, damaging their crop, and reducing groundwater levels, it spelt hope. Since he came with a strong research and fieldwork background, he helped us bridge this gap, understand how species of flora and fauna could be brought back and conserved to help maintain a balance in the ecosystem. Today KCCA is a holistic biodiversity and wildlife conservation project with a wolf sanctuary for the endangered Indian Grey Wolves. He has played a role in helping us come up with a management plan for the 9,000 acres we have conserved and brainstorm new methods of generating employment for the indigenous communities living in these areas. He has opened up a lot of newer perspectives on the way forward, and above all, he has helped us recognise and value our work even more.”

When asked about how his experience working with the rural communities, he says,

“The idea of conservation is not just protection. It is also a sustainable use of resources. You cannot walk up to a tribal family whose source of livelihood is honey and tell them; the honey is for the bees; you must not take it. It is an elitist city-based approach. Instead, what you can do is help these families follow techniques to practice beekeeping sustainably.

My experiences have taught me that it cannot be a guards-and-guns approach, you have to include these tribal families in the decision-making instead of alienating them because whatever is left of the ecosystem is still surviving because generations of these indigenous communities have been protecting them in their own ways.”

A community forest watcher with local forest fruits

It is common for many working for the cause of the environment to receive threats. Siddharth too, has faced his share of them.

“It is common to receive threats from the sand mafia and illegal miners when you are not allowing destruction. But it doesn’t stop me. There is pressure. But there is also tremendous support from the local population and good samaritans who believe in our cause.”

The Way forward

As of this month, Siddharth has taken a step back from the Collective to focus on his own Adavi Trust, which is working with nature and wildlife conservation and conservation education.

He continues to live on an off-grid farm away from the city, with no running water or electricity.

“The basic amenities may be a luxury, but the quality of life is certainly better,” he adds.

He and his team, which consists of five people, are now also working towards addressing and resolving issues of man-wildlife conflict. The trust, alongside the Timbaktu Collective, aims to create a space for students for nature education too.

Siddharth shares an important message before bidding adieu.

“People need to start getting involved. The environment or the crisis that it is facing is not the problem of conservationists or activists alone. And please understand that your responsibility doesn’t stop merely at signing up for a newsletter or writing a cheque. People are waiting for you to get involved. The question is, are you willing to step out of your comfort zone and start working today?”

If this story inspired you, get in touch with Siddharth Rao on siddharth@adavi.org

All Photo Credits: Siddharth Rao


You May Also Like: 1420 Varieties, 25 Years: Meet the Man Rescuing India’s Rice Diversity From Extinction


(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Donate Scrap & Fund Your Favourite Cause: Mumbai Duo Raises Rs 20 Lakh in 4 Years!

$
0
0

Growing up, collecting newspapers at home and stacking them neatly was one of my favourite things to do.

My vested interests lay not as much in the content, but the little change (literal) the pile could generate when Dadda and I would secure them with jute ropes and take them to the raddiwala.


Just like donating, do you want to shop for a cause? Click here!


I always insisted on keeping the small incentive we got and added it to the mutual piggy bank my sister, and I shared.

As I speak to Mumbai-based Rahul Nainani, I cannot restrain myself from thinking that if something like Raddiconnect existed at the time, these smaller incentives could have contributed to a larger impact!

Haven’t heard of RaddiConnect? Well, it is Mumbai’s first recycling based fundraising platform for NGOs.

Raddi for a Cause

RaddiConnect not only picks up clean recyclable trash from your doorstep free of cost but ensures it is sent to the right recyclers. The biggest impact is that the money you get in exchange for this recyclable waste can be donated to four diverse city-based NGOs.

So, not only are you saving the environment by recycling your waste, but also empowering the bottom of the chain unsung heroes, the raddiwalas and contributing to a social cause!

Speaking to The Better India, co-founder, Rahul Nainani narrates the humble beginnings of this startup that he founded with his friend, Gurashish Sahni.

Co-founders Gurashish and Rahul with Actor Imran Khan

Gurashish and Rahul have known each other since we were in Class 7. They did not go to the same school but had a lot of common friends. While Rahul is a graduate in accounting and financing, Gurashish graduated with a degree in management.

“I remember looking for job opportunities in the market, but nothing was exciting enough. But we carried on working in our respective fields anyway. Gurashish and I first discussed the idea of RaddiConnect over a few drinks. But nothing materialised.”

It wasn’t until the duo attended the Google startup weekend, that the idea gained momentum. At the seminar, the pair was amidst a crowd of aspiring entrepreneurs who were asked to pitch path-breaking startup ideas.

When they decided to go back in time and pitch the RaddiConnect idea, they were not only shortlisted among the top 10 ideas but beat close to 100 competitors to stand first!

“We researched hard for those days, to check existing models in the market and how we could stand out, made a presentation and won the first prize. The win and positive feedback from the panellists was validation enough to start thinking seriously about this being a sustainable business model.”

For nine months, they worked late nights and spent time working on the ground and meeting people within the ecosystem right from the raddiwalas, ragpickers, scrap dealers, recyclers and customers, to understand where they could fit in.

And in August 2015, they officially launched their startup, RaddiConnect.

The team

Though their business model has evolved over the years, the initial idea, Nainani says, was to create something like Uber-a platform to act as an aggregator for raddiwalas. This was also to bring organisation in the unorganised waste management structure by standardising their rates and services.

“And so we provided them with electronic scales, identity and rate cards.”

How does it work?

RaddiConnect works with an extensive network of about 150 raddiwalas in the area between Churchgate in South Bombay to Borivali in the suburbs.

The process is simple. If you are a household or an institution or a corporate and want to get rid of your recyclable waste, go to the RaddiConnect website here or call on 91-9004240004 to book a pickup.

If you are fixing the pickup online, you have to fill out details including your mobile number, pickup date and time. You will also have to choose between the option to donate or get coupons—if you select the donate option, you can select the NGO you want the proceeds to go to.

Once you fill these details out and click Collect My Raddi, the team will connect you to the closest raddiwalas near your area.

Co-Founder Gurashish at work in training the Raddiwalas.

As per the details mentioned, the raddiwala will be at your doorstep at the appointed time and collect it completely free of cost. In case of a donation, the team has tied up with city-based NGOs that have an 80G certificate, so once the raddiwala gives you the receipt of the donation, you can use it for tax rebate!

Some of the NGOs that RaddiConnect is working with include the Helping Hands Foundation, St Catherine orphanage, World For All Animal Care And Adoption and Make a Difference.

“Over the last four years, we have raised 20 lakh for our affiliated NGOs just through trash.”

The rates for the scrap are decided based on prevailing market rates. They will be communicated to you via SMS or e-mail on the day of your pickup. Ensure once you give away your scrap, you are provided with a collection slip for your trash by the vendor.

You can even schedule a raddi pickup on a fixed date each month for your household. If an entire society plans to do it, they can organise a pick up for your society on a fixed date each month.

Household customers are provided two options in exchange for their raddi.

While Recycling for a Cause is the popular option most people select to contribute to a larger social impact, the second option is to Recycle for Coupons.

You can exchange your recyclable waste in return for coupons. You will be notified about available coupons on their website.

While they request households to schedule the pickup at the end of one month with eight kgs of raddi, corporate office pickups are scheduled when the minimum weight is 150 kg. For smaller quantities, the service is charged. The brownie point here though is that the corporates get a recycling certificate too.

Since corporates generate large quantities of paper waste, they have been given the third option of ”Recycle for ‘Goods’ where they can exchange their recyclable waste in return for eco-friendly goods made of recycled paper from a catalogue of products such as writing pads, printing paper, envelopes etc.

Once picked, the raddi/shredded paper and other recyclable scrap is sent to government authorised recyclers.

In the last two years, RaddiConnect has also started working with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Nainani also adds how the amendment of Solid Waste Management Rules in 2016 was a boost to their business, because it got the conversation around waste segregation in societies in Mumbai going.

After being allocated space and resources by the BMC, Raddiconnect has set up a dry waste collection centre at a ward level in Dahisar.

Waste collection centre

Apart from creating awareness about waste segregation, it collects all kinds of dry waste from societies and corporate offices from paper, chip packet, bottles, cardboard, shampoo packets, glass metal etc everything and segregates it even further, into subcategories such as seven types of plastic, four kinds of paper, type of glass waste etc. All with the help of 15 ragpickers!

“The process is not only helping manage waste at source but helping us uplift ragpickers and raddiwalas who are a blessing in disguise for our country because if it weren’t for them, even the little waste that has been recycled over the years ‘wouldn’t happen. We give them dignified jobs, good wages and safety gears (gloves masks). We are now working to provide them with social security, like helping them start bank accounts, medical camps, etc. We aim to set up such decentralised dry waste centres across the city in every ward.”

Working hand in hand with the unsung heroes

Kapil Vaishnav, who owns a raddi shop in Bandra west, has been associated with the company for almost three and a half years.

“They came to us and spoke at length about their model, and we were impressed. We found merit in their model, and the fact that the proceeds go to a good cause is what makes it meaningful. So I am glad to be working with them,” he says.

The innovative startup is also helping industry biggies like Unilever, and Bhagyalakshmi Dairy Farm become plastic neutral by working with them to collect the plastic they put out in the environment under the Extended Producer Responsibility policy where it has been made mandatory for plastic producers to recycle the amount of plastic they put into the environment.

“Since we already have a network of rag pickers, we aggregate this plastic waste on behalf of these companies and send it to the right recycling facilities and give the credits back to the brand. Thereby helping them go plastic-neutral.”

Co-founder Rahul Nainani

In the last quarter itself, the company has managed to collect 400 tonnes of plastic waste, and the number is only rising.

Madhvi Goenka, the co-founder of Helping Hands Foundation, which has tied up with RaddiConnect, says, “The very concept of RaddiConnect is fascinating. We involve a lot of our students to start recycling under it. And when a child becomes a part of a sustainable initiative like this, by default the change amplifies when they involve their parents, families and communities in it. Recycling is not a concept new to India, nor is it tough. And the very option of donating Rs. 10, 15 or 100 you get from it to a cause of your choice is amazing. It is helping us donate via our trash! The amount may seem low, but we truly believe, ”boondh boondh se banta hai sagar,” and your small contribution can help change lives in the long run.”

If this story inspired you to donate your recyclable waste, get in touch with RaddiConnect here.

Check out their Facebook page and Instagram too!

All photo credits: RaddiConnect

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

75 Bengaluru Kids come Together to Make Environment-Friendly ‘Tree Ganesha’!

$
0
0

While we all enjoy celebrating festivals, doing so in a responsible manner is the way for a sustainable future.

According to Toxics Link, a non-profit focused on pollution, approximately 1,00,000 murthis are immersed in India’s water bodies each year.

Given the precarious situation of our country’s water bodies, and the rise in pollution levels in the rivers, many states are now evolving ways to ensure eco-friendly immersions.


If you are looking to adorn your home this festive season, why not get this beautiful handcrafted brass dancing Ganesh lamp from here.


Along side such policy moves, there are enough examples of communities who have taken it upon themselves to ensure that they celebrate their festivals with devotion, and in a sustainable fashion.

Residents of DSR Woodwinds, an apartment complex in Bengaluru, did just that this Ganesh Chaturthi.

We, at The Better India, spoke to Dr Simi Sugathan, Public Health Scientist, Safety Monitor. Dr Sugathan is one of the residents who has been an active member of bringing about this change.

Here’s what they did

A Ganesha making workshop.

“The intent with which we started off was to ensure that as a community we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with zero waste. One of the ways of doing that was to ensure that we make our own murthis, which were 100 per cent eco-friendly and non-toxic,” says Dr Sugathan.

With the help of Bijal Kinchit Shah, an IT consultant by profession but a craft enthusiast at heart, almost 75 children between the age group of 4 to 15, got to make their own little murthis over the course of two days.

What’s even more interesting is how these idols will now also help grow methi.

When Bijal was asked why she chose to adopt this method of celebrating the festival, she said, “I came across a video on Facebook where they urged people to adopt environmentally friendly ways of worship and celebrations.”

“The video left a lasting impact on me and that is when I decided to use my craft skills to conduct a tree Ganesha workshop.”

Children after the workshop.

“The idols that the children have made are all placed on individual tray pots. Each pot has some methi seeds in them and with water that the plant will get every day, within three weeks we will have methi fit for consumption.” Dr Sugathan says.

This was done last year as well and Dr Sugathan mentioned that the campaigning this year had far-reaching impact.

“Besides putting up posters everywhere detailing the need to prioritise the environment, we also encouraged residents to do away with plastic and other toxic material decorations.”

From last year’s celebration.

“We did not use any cloth decorations; we ensured that we stitched our own and completely stayed away from wasting paper as well,” she says.

A few things you can follow:

  • Ensure that you and your family only get an environmentally friendly idol. Opt for natural, biodegradable material so that after immersions it does not pollute any water body. Encourage the use of natural products such as unbaked clay, coconut, etc.
  • Try and find ways of celebrating in a larger group, reducing the number of idols being used. Festivals are after all best celebrated as a community.
  • Save on energy by ensuring that you do not use too many light-based decorations. Get the children to be creative and find ways of decorating the idol without wasting paper or any other resource.
  • While distributing prasad or food after the puja ensure that you do so in biodegradable cutlery or even better would be to get steel plates and cups from homes.
  • Remember to resuse if you get the chance. If you have decorations lying around from last year do use those. With many festivals coming up now you can most certainly reuse it all.
  • While celebrations are great, do not play loud music and create unnecessary noise pollution.

While this is one building with 250 homes in a large city adopting such measures, the hope is that this inspires many others from different parts of the country to follow suit.

Let this Ganesh Chathurthi, which is a day for new beginnings, be the dawn for many such initiatives across our country.


Also Read: Retd. Civil Servant Now Provides Affordable Coaching to UPSC Aspirants!


(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Bartan Banks to Copper ‘Lotas’ in Govt Offices: Indore Municipality Shows The Way

$
0
0

Earlier this year, Indore earned the title of India’s cleanest city for the third time.

To keep up the good work, the Municipal Corporation of the city has now taken a step towards eliminating single-use plastic cutlery not only in government offices but in food joints and private functions too.


Copper bottles to soapstone vessels– planning to make an eco-friendly switch in your own kitchen? Check this out


What’s more, it is going back to India’s traditional vessels and metal utensils like copper bottles and lotas, steel and glass.

The Better India (TBI) got in touch with Asad Warsi, Indore Municipal Corporation’s advisor for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to know more.

Indore municipal corporation plastic ban bartan bank reusable india
Bartan Bank

“More than 90 per cent of the litter in the city consists of single-use plastics, that are difficult to collect, clog drainage systems and pose a big threat to the environment due to being non-biodegradable. As Indore has won the title of being the cleanest in the country for three years, it is our responsibility to keep it bin-free, litter-free and dust-free.”

This has been ensured by enforcing a strict ban, confiscating tonnes of plastic bags from distributors, dealers and shops, and fining violators amounts ranging from Rs 500 up to 12 lakh!

The corporation conducted large scale awareness drives in its most popular markets including Sarafa bazaar, 65 Dukaan and Meghdoot Gardens where it emphasised the need for elimination of single-use plastic cutlery and become zero-waste.

“Our approach was simple. We met the association of food joint owners and explained to them the math behind it. Many of them spent close to Rs 2000 per day behind plastic cutlery which amounts to Rs 60,000 a month and almost a whopping 7 lakh a year! Instead, if they invested in steel, glass or melamine plates and cutlery, they would be cutting these costs down to 2.5 lakh, while making an eco-friendly switch and using a durable alternative!”

He also went on to add how one of the major reasons these eateries used single-use plastic cutlery is hygiene. To tackle this, the corporation has identified three CSR partners who will set up dishwashers in these markets, collect this cutlery, sanitise them and return it twice a day at a minimal service fee basis.

This will ensure a continuous supply of clean utensils and save water too.

How? Warsi claims that the dishwashers use only 20 per cent of water when compared to a running tap.

To make the larger community a part of this change the corporation has also set up two zonal Bartan (utensil) Banks in the city, where metal utensils are provided free-of-cost to the citizens for use at any get-togethers or functions.

“The idea is not only to enforce bans but provide cost-effective solutions that people can readily accept, and that is how the concept of Bartan Banks came about.”

These “banks” have been set up through CSR funds in the zonal offices of Bengali Square and Sukhlia each. The corporation plans to extend this service to other 17 zones too, over two months, thus covering the entire city.

Indore municipal corporation plastic ban bartan bank reusable india
Say no to disposables, yes to traditional vessels

“Every ‘Bartan Bank’ has more than 3,000 sets of utensils/cutlery (plates, bowls, glasses, spoon, etc.). So, anybody in need of cutlery for occasions can go to the bank and issue these utensils as per their requirements with prior notice of 24 hours, completely free of cost. Once used, these utensils have to be cleaned and deposit it back at the bank. In case a utensil is damaged or lost, the person issuing it will be charged to recover the loss.”

More than 200 people have used the service, and the response has been exceptional, claims Warsi.

“From birthdays to school annual functions, religious celebrations—many citizens have come forward to support the initiative. People from other zones have requested for facility be set up in their areas as soon as possible.”

He shares some of the written feedback of the citizens who used the service.

Nanda Nagar-based Vishal Kulkarni, wrote, “It is a very good initiative by the municipal corporation. It is not only reducing waste that is generated by disposable cutlery but is also cost-effective for users. I have used the utensils from ‘Bartan Bank’ once for a party at home. I will be using it again and will definitely recommend others to use it instead of buying disposable plates, glasses, and cutlery.”

Warsi adds how the corporation is also practising what it is preaching, by banning disposable plastic water bottles, spoons, forks, glasses, and plates from all of its government offices.

It now ensures that in its offices, water is served in a copper ‘lota’ or steel or glass cups or tumblers and its snacks are served in metal, glass or melamine plates.

Right from its peons to the highest officer, the corporation is ensuring that each of the employees is given a copper bottle for personal use too.

Indore municipal corporation plastic ban bartan bank reusable india
Representational image of copper tumbler. Source: Karnival

“With the move, we estimate to reduce 5,000-6,000 plastic bottles and 10,000 disposables cups and cutlery per day from our government offices.”

Indore generates about 100 tonnes of plastic waste per day. The initiative Warsi adds will help “the city reduce plastic waste by two tonnes a day until Oct 2nd and by 10 tonnes by December 2019.”

We hope many more cities and government offices can take a leaf out of Indore’s book, say NO to single-use plastic, and say YES to eco-friendly alternatives!


Also Read: Donate Scrap & Fund Your Favourite Cause: Mumbai Duo Raises Rs 20 Lakh in 4 Years!


Other photo credits: Asad Warsi

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

 

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.


Bengaluru Man Turns Castor Stems Into Eco-Straws, Gives Them to Vendors For Free

$
0
0

As per a study published earlier this year, close to 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world’s beaches. The IT city is not far behind in making its contribution where 20 per cent of solid waste generated is plastic as per a report in The Economic Times. The Karnataka State Plastic Association reports that plastic consumption in Bengaluru is around 16 kg per person every month.

In this grim scenario, a Bengalurean has come up with an alternative in the form of castor stem straws to do away with the menace of plastic straw.


Bamboo and copper straws make for a great alternative to its plastic counterparts. Check out 100% Natural, chemical-free, odour and stain resistant resuable straws handmade here. 


Castor straws are nothing but leftover stems of the castor plant also known as Ricinus which would otherwise go to waste once farmers remove the seeds.

Shiva Manjesh, a Civil Engineer, is the man behind introducing these biodegradable straws in the city. Shiva is a member of Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC), a non-partisan/political native’s and citizen’s gathering group that works to resolve civic issues.

The eureka moment that culminated into the invention of castor straws came up during a conversation at a family dinner.

Speaking to The Better India, the 28-year-old says:

During one of our dinner table conversations, the problem of plastic waste came in. My father was reminiscing about the days when the presence of plastic was nearly zero. He grew up in Tumkur district where we have our farm. As a kid, he used castor stems to drink coconut water. I thought why not revive this traditional method to solve our modern problems.

Shiva Manjesh (left) & Coconut vendor (right)

A few days later, Shiva headed to his native Tumkur to spend a couple of days experimenting with castor stems. He took close to 80 stems and soaked them in lukewarm water to remove the dirt. Next, he immersed them in hot water and added salt to it to clean it further.

He then divided the stems into two equal sets and kept the first set for sun drying. He distributed the other set among his neighbours who told him that one can store the fresh straws in the fridge, wash and reuse them for up to ten times. As for the sun-dried ones, one can use them for a period of six months.

Castor straws biodegradable and can decompose within a day

Both types are biodegradable and can decompose within a day. The straws are durable unlike paper straws that tend to tear. These will only break if someone deliberately tries to do so, informs Shiva.

Shiva came back to the city bringing several such stems from his farm where the castor plant is grown organically.

On 29 August, he and other members of BPAC approached nearly 50 coconut vendors, juice centres, shops and restaurants near Bengaluru’s Dasarahalli Metro Station. They distributed a thousand castor straws for free in a bid to spread awareness against the use of plastic straws.

Shiva distributed 1000 castor straws for free in Bengaluru to spread awareness

I chose not to sell the straws commercially and distributed them for free because my idea is to first generate awareness about castor straws and tell vendors that non-plastic straws are available. We received a positive response from people and we are planning to carry out a similar exercise again in the city soon, says Shiva.

One of the coconut vendors that they approached spoke about how he had switched back to plastic straws a few months after the plastic ban in Karnataka.

Bamboo and paper straws are very expensive for us small-time vendors. Customers ask for straws so not using them was not an option either. These castor straws are a good option if it will be available at low prices, says the vendor.

The good news is that the castor stem straws are cheaper than their counterparts in the market according to Shiva. Farmers too can benefit from the castor straws, “It is a win-win model for farmers, vendors and the environment. Usually, the farmer discards the stem as it carries no value. But if castor straws are introduced in the market, the vendors can start purchasing them from the farmers,” says Shiva.

Many countries including India are taking steps to ban one-time use plastic and efforts by citizens like Shiva can certainly boost the implementation process.


Also ReadB’luru Folk Help 25 Street Vendors Ditch Plastic Bags & Straws, Keep Profits Intact


Image Credits: Shiva Manjesh

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Gujarat Man Teaches Tribal Women to Make Solar Cookers That Cost Just Rs 100!

$
0
0

At around 9 AM, just before leaving for work, she washes a cup of daal, mixes in pre-cut vegetables, and drops the concoction inside a cooker.

Doing the same with the rice, she leaves to work in the fields. A few hours later, at lunchtime, when she returns home, the food is cooked and ready to eat.


Energy efficiency is a two-way street that benefits not just you but the environment around you too. Check out these items that can help you amp up your lifestyle efficiently and sustainability, here.


This is not a magical⁠—or hypothetical⁠—situation. This is the reality of hundreds of women in rural parts of Gujarat, who, thanks to Alzubair Saiyed, the senior manager at the Gujarat Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network, and his solar cooker, have embraced a new way of cooking.

But there’s more.

As opposed to conventional solar cookers worth thousands of rupees, the cost of this one ranges from Rs 50 to Rs 100!

Owing to this, Alzubair and his product have been able to solve a crucial problem in the rural socio-economic fabric-—dependence on traditional fuels.

“Half of the world’s population is still dependent on fuels generated from wood or cow dung for cooking, and every year, 160 lakh hectares of forests are destroyed to obtain wood. This not only harms the environment but is also a root cause for various severe health issues for those continuously exposed to its fumes. In this case, it is the women,” says Alzubair, whose visits to villages across Gujarat revealed how women would have to travel long distances to obtain wood for cooking.

The Saiyed Model

Alzubair used to be an Assistant Professor in an engineering institute, and his aim was to find an effective solution for the problems induced due to the unhealthy methods of cooking practised in various Indian villages.

After a lot of research, the most straightforward yet most efficient solution to the problem turned out to be a solar cooker.

“Solar cookers are truly a boon⁠—they use renewable energy, reduce pollution and are all-round beneficial for the environment,” he says.

Alzubair quit his job to devote his skills to this project. But there was a practical hurdle in implementing its use in rural areas of the country.

There are broadly two types of solar cookers available in the Indian market⁠—a box type and a parabola. While the former costs between Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 with government subsidies, the latter costs between Rs 7,000 to Rs 11,000.

“A family in these tribal areas earns Rs 5000-6000 per month and affording the available solar cookers worth Rs 2000 and more is not a possibility. So, I decided to create an economical alternative, which they won’t necessarily have to buy, but can even make on their own,” says Alzubair, who then made a viable model of Sharon Clausson’s Copenhagen Solar Cooker and began to help tribal women make a similar version of their own using affordable materials.

Solar Cooking Campaign

Realising its potential for positive change, Alzubair and Virendra began the Solar Cooking Campaign, which involved training rural and tribal women, men, youth and students to make their own solar cookers.

“We began the campaign on October 18, 2016 with the help of the Copenhagen Solar Cooker. I interacted with Sharon and with her encouragement, I made a simpler version of the same and began to teach others to do the same through workshops in various parts of the state,” he says.

Under this campaign, the duo don’t just educate the masses about solar power but also motivate them to make the best use of sun’s energy. So far, they have travelled to more than 100 villages in Gujarat, including Panchmahal, Narmada, Jamnagar, and Jetpur with their solar model, changing hundreds of lives on the way.

“We have organised the Solar Cooker Workshop in more than 100 villages till date. In the last two years, our initiative has reached many parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka as well. While on the one hand, many rural families have already begun using solar cookers successfully, on the other, we are working on setting up a solar cooker laboratory in the tribal village of Casa located in Palghar district of Maharashtra,” said Alzubair.

In 2017, Alzubair with the help of a former student, Virendra Dhakhda, designed a prototype, that can be easily made at home, with the help of paper, cardboard or waste materials.

Talking about this version, he explains, “This solar cooker is light and foldable and can be made from household items. You will need cardboard, aluminium foil, four clothespins and a lanyard. The utensils used should either be of steel or aluminium, and you would need to paint their exterior with black so that they absorb maximum heat. Most of these things are usually available at home, and if not, the maximum expenditure would not go beyond Rs 100. You can easily cook dal, rice, vegetables, dhokla, handwa, cake etc.”

According to the thermal engineer, this easy-to-use model takes around 2-3 hours to cook food for 5-6 people, has a lifespan of approximately 1.5 years, and can be operated by anyone, including children, to cook food.

However, like any other product, it comes with its share of limitations that Alzubair is trying to overcome.

“The cooker is powered by solar energy, so the cooking process can only happen during the day. Also, it takes slightly longer to cook food during winters or on cloudy days. But we are constantly working to improve the model, and despite these limitations, it is undoubtedly a blessing for many women in the rural parts of India,” he says.

Owing to his relentless efforts, Alzubair was awarded the ‘UN V-Award 2018’ on the occasion of International Volunteer Day. His work also received international appreciation⁠—he was selected as Solar Angel (Envoy) at the Gandhi Global Solar Journey (GGSY).

We salute this dedication and extend our support to this brilliant initiative!

If you wish to do the same and extend your support to the cause, please feel free to connect with Alzubair at 9558350506.


Also Read: The World’s Largest Solar Oven Cooking Class Has Taught Over 25,000 Kids to Cook Using Solar Power


(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter

Meet the Architect Behind India’s First Ever 5-Star SVAGRIHA Green Home

$
0
0

The World Green Building Trends 2018 estimate that green projects in India would double from 28 per cent to 55 per cent by 2021.

This is not surprising in a country that has a long history of green structures like walls plastered with cow dung or houses made of mud and stone. However, it is indicative of the rising eco-consciousness among urban residents who had shifted away from the traditional lifestyle in the last few decades. But times are changing, and the same crowd is finding its way back to green homes through the aid of sustainable technology and design systems.


Living an eco-conscious life is now just a click away. From water saving products to energy efficient devices, click here to check out these items that can make your regular home a sustainable one!


One of the architects to dedicate his life and career to the cause of green and sustainable infrastructure, especially in the housing sector, is Nilanjan Bhowal.

Source: Nilanjan Bhowal/Facebook

An expert on green and energy-efficient architecture, he shares with The Better India, the true meaning of green homes, busts myths regarding sustainable homes and talks of the need to change people’s mindset toward their living spaces to curb carbon footprints.

For Bhowal, solar electricity or a rainwater harvesting system is indeed an essential aspect of a green home, but it is just the tip of the iceberg.

The architect behind the construction of Green One, India’s first-ever green residence to win the five-star SVAGRIHA (Simple Versatile Affordable Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) rating of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) says,

A green home is a human-made space which causes zero negative impact on the environment while being completely independent in terms of energy efficiency. And while doing so it also gives back to the ecosystem.

Situated at H-1456 Chittaranjan Park (CR Park) in the heart of South Delhi, Green One is a four-storey home that spreads across 2,842 sq. Ft and is built using fly-ash bricks and upcycled material, thanks to the expertise of Bhowal and his friend and owner of the house, Prasanto Roy.

A true green home

“When I started, energy conservation and sustainability weren’t the buzzwords they are today. But, I knew that it was the future, and the vast scope inspired me to further specialise in the area. I started working on it in 1995 and 2000; I got my first project, a resort camp Cocktail Creek in Jim Corbett. It was exciting and challenging, and we made the structure wholly out of natural materials like stone, mud, bamboo and natural wood. And in the process, we employed local artisans and workers,” says Bhowal, the founder of Design Consortium India.

You see, the journey of building a green home starts with the idea of inclusive harmony, which is mutually beneficial to all invested in it. It’s more like a process of social and community development, adds the 54-year-old architect who made the Green One in January 2014.

 

Shedding some light on the meaning of a green home, he says that making it energy-efficient is indeed the first step to achieving sustainability.

“In a green home, the design is fundamental to influence its ability to be energy efficient. For instance, the windows, ideally need to be placed in the north to maximise the entry of natural light, with minimum glare from the sun. However, the other two good options are to create windows on the east and west side of the house. But, here, these windows need to be made by making a specific balcony projection act like a shade to allow entry of diffused sunlight. Once these basics are in place, we then move on to alternate energy sources, like solar, wind or biomass energy,” explains Bhowal.

The next step is to determine the materials used for construction. As opposed to the conventional use of bricks and concrete, Bhowal prefers using materials like mud, stone, jute, bamboo and wood. For walls, he uses AAC blocks and fly-ash bricks, as used in Green One.

Bhowal, however, adds that one doesn’t always need to demolish the previous structure or start a green-home project on an empty plot. A regular home can be turned green with a few steps.

“Being green is not just about design or technology but also lifestyle. So, an existing house can do several things to transform into a green home. For instance, instead of purchasing brand new furniture, one can either recycle the old or opt to buy recycled furniture. Extensive use of wood is another way, as it works as a natural insulator by helping one to keep the house temperature cool and comfortable,” he suggests.

Furthermore, to make your home green, you can also shift to solar panels, solar geysers, recycle and reuse wastewater with recharge pits, vertical gardens, rainwater harvesting, use of LEDs for lighting and shading devices like pergola and trellis etc.

Addressing the myth

Source: Design Consortium India

Green One’s owner, Roy says that the cost for registration of such a home is expensive. “I realised that what puts people off when it came to building certified green homes was not the cost of building, but the cost of registration. It was a staggering Rs 5 lakh,” he says. Although, after a long meeting between Roy and TERI, the cost of registration was brought down to Rs 1 lakh, today it is further down to Rs 50,000.

But, looking at the larger picture, Bhowal clarifies, “For a lot of people, the idea that a green home is expensive might be a deterrent. But, the truth is that it is a long-term investment which indeed pays you back in the future. Although, it might be expensive to set up such a home at the initial stage, the savings in terms of energy and other resources reap results in just 3 to 4 years. And, after that, the house runs all by itself, free!”

Challenges so far and the road ahead

Source: Design Consortium India

According to Bhowal, the most basic challenge till date has been to convince people and educate them about sustainability and carbon footprint they will leave behind owing to their lifestyle choices.

“High initial cost of equipment and lack of proper government guidelines, often work against us. So, it all starts with educating the clients. Like convincing them to channel the money toward an investment which pays off in a few years, instead of using it to import materials like Italian marble for flooring etc. It also involves making them realise that the local alternatives are equally good, and rather better suited in the long run,” he says.

Speaking about the future, Bhowal shares that it’s important to embrace sustainable living as a rewarding choice, instead of a compromise.
“It’s a long road, and we aren’t halfway there yet. But, before that, we need to see that a sustainable green home is not a compromise on your comfort or luxury. It is a choice that will bear lasting rewards. As architects, designers and innovators are pondering further into this sphere, the division between the two is indeed fast fading.”


Also Read: Fallen Trees to Old Bike Handles: Goa Man Upcycles Waste, Builds 70+ Eco-Homes!


(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter

This Gujarat Couple Builds Energy-Saving Eco-Spaces With Traditional Materials!

$
0
0

Using locally-sourced recycled construction materials is the USP of Ahmedabad-based couple – architect Snehal and interior designer Bhadri Suthar. For them, sustainability is a way of life which is reflected in the way the duo designs buildings.

Nature, ancient structures and traditional construction techniques are our inspiration and our respective childhood experiences have played an influential role in moulding our professional ethos, Bhadri tells The Better India (TBI).

Bhadri’s most favourite part of childhood was visiting famous heritage spots in Ahmedabad. She would be mesmerised every time she looked at the intricate carvings of Jama Masjid, the carved jaalis (perforated surfaces) of Sidi Sayyed ki Jali or the decorated vavs (step wells) of Dada Hari Ni Vav that resonate with ancient water conservation methods.


Make your home sustainable at affordable rates. Check out a set of eco-friendly, innovative accessories for your home and kitchen here. 


“I was barely six when I first tried to decode the designs of the site by drawing a monument at home. In a way, the city’s heritage kindled my love for architecture,” she says.

Meanwhile, Snehal’s dad was an architect and their family owned a carpentry workshop, “I grew up surrounded by construction materials and those became my toys. Taking up architectural studies was a natural choice for me. I couldn’t see myself working in any other field,” shares Snehal.

While Snehal did his Masters in Sustainability from the San Francisco Institute of Architecture, Bhadri completed her Diploma in Interior Design from Arvindbhai Patel Institute of Architecture in Vidyanagar, Gujarat.

In 2002, the duo founded The Grid, an Ahmedabad-based architectural firm that uses recycled or local materials to build green spaces.

We use regional and recycled materials in place of virgin resources. We make sure that the overall construction material is produced, manufactured or quarried within 400 kilometres of the site so that it reduces the carbon footprint associated with shipping of construction materials, explains Bhadri.

The couple designs each project in a way that utilises maximum natural light and breeze reducing energy usage.

The comparison between a green building and a conventional one gives the notion that green building is expensive. But that is not true. If the building materials are selected systemically, it not only reduces cost but also reduces the environmental impact of extraction, transportation and installation. Green materials also enhance the indoor air quality as they are non-toxic and have minimal chemical emissions, adds Bhadri.

Here’s A Look At Three Sustainable Projects By The Grid

1) Organic Store

When the duo got the project of an organic store in city, the instructions were clear –build a store that reflect the all-organic essence of the store. Since the client was a farmer-turned-entrepreneur, the Suthars delved upon the options that are used and found in a farm.

Adopting the three R’s – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, the duo used a mix of cow dung and hay as the main construction material. The flooring is recycled wood and the store is lighted with energy-friendly LEDs.

“Cow dung is a natural insect repellent. It is also a good thermal insulator that can absorb the perfume of the incense sticks and retain it,” says Snehal.

2) Farmer’s Eco-Friendly Den

To replicate the atmosphere of a farm in their client’s office in Gandhinagar, the company used earthy, and natural materials. The foyer is laid with yellow sandstone bricks and the design allows natural light and air to enter the office during the day and the lanterns with a golden glow provide cosy and warm ambience at night. The trees are placed in southwest side of the office providing shade throughout the year. To add further to the aesthetics, the lawn boasts of a bullock cart and the workspace has clay pots and other accents.

The architectural layout was a simple grid-based plan and the building was slightly raised on a platform flowing into the surrounding landscape. The approach was to maintain the ethos of the traditional with a contemporary design, informs Snehal.

“The office has local species of trees and an artificial pond teeming with fish and turtles creating its own ecosystem,” he adds.

3) Terracotta Restaurant

The couple designed the Terracotta Restaurant in Gandhinagar in clay and terracotta material and colour tones.

“Clay has texture and yet is so soft and malleable that it can be moulded to any form. It is used in daily life and yet has so much aesthetic value,” says Bhadhri.

We suggested the name ‘Terracotta Restaurant’ to our client explaining its significance in congruence with the materials chosen. We carefully selected recycled material palette and the overall feel of the space is seamless. she adds.

Again, the duo used local materials like raw bricks, clay, terracotta and raw wood to bring a rustic charm to the interiors. They used timber panels from recycled wood for the ceiling that covers ACs and electrical conduits.

The restaurant has two-millimetre-thick steel laser-cut screens as partitions giving a feel of the traditional designs of jaalis.

The old-fashioned frames on the wall and the jharokha (a recycled medieval door) that gives a glimpse of interiors is another way in which the couple has tried to pay tribute to bygone eras.

The duo used water-based, non-toxic and eco-friendly paints in the restaurant.

In their 17-year-old journey, the company has constructed ten eco-friendly buildings and received several awards including Gujarat’s First Platinum Certified Green Building for Urban Oasis – Posh in 2015.

Urban Oasis-Posh

Besides, protecting the environment, Snehal and Bhadri hope to inspire fellow architects and designers.

“The use of green ensemble is a way of inspiring our fellow designers and tell them that our passion and creativity can make an ordinary material transform a space. This is our way to integrate sustainable and traditional architecture in the urban lifestyle. Initially one may feel that they have to make extra efforts to design a green building, space or interior but once the practice becomes your belief then it becomes a part of the natural process of designing,” concludes the duo.


Also Read: Jaalis, Baolis & More: Architect Couple Uses Ancient Designs to Make Sustainable Buildings!


(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Go Solar: Govt Schemes & Subsidies You Can Avail to Harvest the Sun!

$
0
0

In all probability, all your household appliances and gadgets run on the electricity that you get from the state run electricity grid which can be unreliable and also a cause of pollution and environmental damage. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could have your own source of generating electricity, with the added bonus of reducing your carbon footprint?

Solar power can provide you with those benefits, and now it is possible for you as a household to harness the power of the sun.


If you are looking for some healthy clean eating snack options, then you could try this 7 day vegan roasted snack bundle available right here.


Given India’s geographical location, there is ample sunlight all year long. According to this report, about 5,000 trillion kWh per year energy is experienced over India’s land area with most parts receiving 4-7 kWh per sq. m per day.

Tapping into this potential, India has earned itself the title of being the fastest developing solar power industry globally, while also boasting of being the lowest cost producer of solar power in the world. With the government is working towards establishing solar power as a primary source of energy, there are various schemes that have been launched to encourage the domestic use of solar power.

Rooftop Scheme

Installing solar rooftop systems can help people generate electricity and use it for different purposes—residential, commercial and even industrial. While this is a great option, there are not many takers for rooftop solar panels due to their huge installation costs.

To make it easier, central and state governments have launched various schemes to encourage the implementation of rooftop solar panels.

What are these schemes?

Solar panels running the Lewis Household. (Source: Dr Reema Lewis)
Representational image (Source: Dr Reema Lewis)

Those who plan to install rooftop panels can avail priority sector loans of upto 10 lakhs from nationalised banks. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the central government pays 30 per cent of the benchmarked installation cost for the rooftop Photovoltaic system.

This is for the states in the general category, while the states and UTs in the special category i.e Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Lakshadweep, get upto 70 per cent of the predetermined installation cost.

Besides this, you can also sell surplus solar power generated in your household solar unit to the grid at Rs 2 per unit. This will be done through the concept of ‘net metering’.

What is net metering?

solar-lokhandwala-war-heroes-mumbai
Net Metering Rooftop Solar – Lokhandwala, Andheri West

Net metering is a process in which the electricity board keeps track of the energy consumed as well as generated by a solar-powered house. It allows consumers to feed surplus solar power into the state’s power grid when they don’t need it, and receive a credit on their electricity bill.

For example, if you live in a state that has implemented the net metering policy, then you get credited for the electricity you give to the grid at the same retail price that you pay for the electricity you take from the grid. For more details on how this works, you can read this article here.

Does this really work?

As this report highlights, Retired IAF officers residing in Trishul Cooperative Housing Society in Mumbai spent Rs 8.38 lakh to install 40 solar panels atop their 14-storey building in November 2016. The electricity generated from these panels is powering the common areas of the housing society (lights, fans, elevators and motors) and has helped reduce the monthly electricity bill from Rs 20,000 to Rs 350 — a drop of almost 98 per cent.

A look at some state policies:

Tamil Nadu

As of January 2017, Tamil Nadu has the highest amount of solar power commissioned at 1590.97 MW. The Tamil Nadu government has taken several steps to promote renewable energy and its adoption. In 2013, the government issued an order offering a capital subsidy of Rs 20,000 for each 1 kW solar rooftop system installed.

Tamil Nadu’s draft policy on solar power mandates that 30 per cent of the energy requirements for street lights, water supply and even public buildings is to be met from solar energy by 2022.

I-SMART – Gujarat

This programme launched by the state government is likely to directly benefit more than 2 lakh families to adopt solar in the financial year 2019-20. Under this scheme,  a subsidy of 40 per cent will be applicable to those who install systems upto 3 kilowatts (kW) and a subsidy of 20 per cent for a system of 3 kW to 10kW. To implement this rooftop solar policy, the state government has made a provision of Rs 1,000 crores. This scheme will only be available for residential customers.

Key points about rooftop PV systems under the subsidy schemes

Roof Mounted Solar System. Source

· Approximately 100 square feet of space is required for the installation of the rooftop PV system.
· The average cost of installation of rooftop PV system without subsidy is around Rs 60,000 – 70,000.
· After availing 30 per cent subsidy, people just have to pay Rs 42,000 – 49,000 for installing a rooftop PV system.
· In order to avail generation-based incentive, the customer should generate 1100 kWh – 1500 kWh per year.
· Under the scheme, a customer can earn up to Rs 2000 to 3000 per annum as generation-based incentive.

Application process for the scheme

· Interested people should contact their electricity provider to express their interest. Next, officials concerned will visit the installation site, assess it and give approval.
· They will also explain the necessary details for installation along with fee structure.
· Users can also seek approval for the installation of monitoring systems from the inspection officers during their visit.
· The customer needs to call the electricity provider for inspection after completion of the installation process as well.
· Next, the officer will inspect the installation and give their approval for availing the subsidy.
· Then, customers can avail the subsidy amount. They can also get tariff details of the excessive units that will be sold to the government.

While there are success stories, there are still many states who continue to be hesitant in providing a conducive environment for the robust growth of rooftop solar. DISCOMS are weary of sacrificing premium customers who pay a rather high tariff for electricity. According to this report, the approval process is yet another challenge for net metering policies in many states. In Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, for example, developers face lengthy approval processes which can last anywhere between three to six months. In contrast, the approval process in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rajasthan are more streamlined and takes anywhere between 25 days to 30 days.

With solar energy being the energy of the present for a better future, India should be leading the way in moving from fossil fuel based energy to solar. It is definitely beneficial from multiple perspectives – including the environment (reduces pollution), economy (creates local jobs in installation, maintenance), and also helps reduce India’s foreign currency burden by reducing imports. Eurpoean countries have demonstrated that large-scale domestic solar energy generation is viable, and it is only a matter of time that India also becomes a domestic solar powerhouse. Solar Energy is a clear winner and literally provides more power to you!


Also Read: Sun-Powered Superfoods: Meet the Hyderabad Entrepreneur Behind This Win-Win Idea


(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Viewing all 1252 articles
Browse latest View live


<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>