Independent Indian


This month saw us celebrating our 73rd Independence Day. It is a day that fills our hearts with a renewed sense of patriotism and pride. India is on a developmental upswing and there is a palpable energy that one can find everywhere. We have reached Mars – Mission Mangal, the blockbuster film on the historic Mars mission just released this month to rave reviews while our second mission to the Moon – Chandrayaan 2, has successfully locked into the lunar orbit. Despite all the inherent inefficiencies of our cities that we complain about, there is construction everywhere – buildings, metro lines, flyovers, pavements, underground service lines - the list is endless. Broadband penetration across the country is growing at a blazing speed and we are on the verge of getting 5G services. This is all great news!

However as per a recent UN report released in June 2019, India will become the most populous country on earth by 2027 – a mere 8 years from now. The growth that India will see in its housing sector will be unprecedented – never before will the earth have witnessed such large-scale construction. The flip side of this is that we will be stretched for resources to be able to support a population of this size.

Hence the tough question we need to ask ourselves is – are we truly “Independent”? What could we do? Is it possible that we could become self-reliant in our needs for water and electricity? A home in the city but not fully dependant on its resources. Fortunately for us, technology has truly progressed to a point of advancement coupled with affordability.
If you are building a home, here are a few ideas that would go a long way in your independence and hence the nation’s independence from fossil fuels.

Electricity – Reducing Consumption

Water Heating: A significant part of your electrical energy is taken up by water heating. Solar Water Heaters have been around for more than 2 decades. This can become your primary heating source. For days when you have cloud cover or low ambient temperature, then a step-up heater like an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) can be used. ASHP works on the same technology as a AC outdoor unit except that it works in reverse. The advantage of ASHP is that it consumes only 1/3rd of the energy compared with a regular “geyser” (electrical resistance heater).

Lighting: LED lamps have become the norm. In comparison to our old incandescent lamps they provide the same light output at 1/10th of the energy consumption and lasts 40 times longer. Compared with the CFL (compact fluorescent Lamps) they consume only 1/3rd the energy and last about 10 times longer. In the home that you are currently living, you could do a quick replacement of your existing lamps with LED lamps.

BEE rated Appliances: Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Government of India has had excellent success in getting appliance companies to report and further improve the energy efficiency of their products. This has been done through a star rating system. Currently you will find air-conditioners, refrigerators, ceiling fans, TVs and washing machines with a BEE star. A single star is the least efficient while a five star is the most. So, when you choose a new appliance, you can choose the most energy efficient one that is available. Even if it costs a bit more, it will give you savings in the form of reduced electricity bills.

Air-conditioning: Air-conditioning is increasingly becoming prevalent thanks to a combination of warmer climates, availability of AC equipment and affordability. However, this is a huge consumer of electricity. Building sensibly with windows optimised for light while avoiding harsh sun and application of insulation can go a long way in reducing or nullifying the need for AC.

Electricity – Managing Supply

Solar PV: Solar Photovoltaic panels have become easily available. They are also easy and light to install. The capacity is expressed in kWp (Kilo Watt Peak). The thumb rule for area required to install about 1 kWp is 10 sqm or 100 sft. In addition, most electricity supply companies have come up with a net metering policy. This means that you can supply surplus energy into the grid during the day, while drawing from the grid during the nights. An alternative is to have storage batteries that can store the energy produced during the day for supply during night-time.

Water – Reducing Consumption

Water efficient faucets and showers: Faucets & showers let out water at a certain rate. This is called as flow rate. Flow rates are measured in litres per minute. Many companies have come up with faucets and showers that give you the same “wash feel” but with much lesser water. Aerators that come fixed at the bottom edge of the tap are responsible for controlling the flow rate. You can purchase water efficient aerators and retrofit your existing taps to make them more water efficient.

Water closets: Most WCs come with the dual flush option. Dual flush WCs usually use 3 litres for a short flush and 6 litres for a long one. Many manufacturers have started making more efficient flushes.

Water-efficient Landscape: Another significant way to reduce water consumption is by using varieties of plants, trees and grasses that require less water. A good rule of thumb is to use native species as they adjust better to seasonal changes. In addition, it also supports birds and other native fauna thereby enriching the ecology.

Recycling Water: In larger homes with a bit of land, once can install a small sewage treatment plant (STP). Over 80% of the water consumed can be recycled and used for gardening and for flushing. If you would like to go further, there are technologies available that can purify the water to potable quality. 

Water – Managing Supply

Rainwater Harvesting: Rainwater harvesting can be done in a few ways. At the minimum you could collect all the roof rainwater and divert it into a ground water well. This would help in improving the water table in the area. If you would like to go further, you can reuse the water after basic filtration to supplement your regular water supply. If the water tank is sized properly, there are many homes who rely solely on rainwater through the year.

Conclusion

The ideas described above are some essential pointers – there is much more that one could do. Most technologies described have been around for more than a decade at the very least and are available quite easily. Your architect and/or consultant(s) should be able to create a tailor-made solution that will fit the context of your location, building type and size and your needs.

Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Comments

  1. Bharat ChangiaTuesday, July 30, 2024 at 6:44:00 AM GMT+5:30

    Superb suggestions Vasu. These needs to be implemented on immediate basis.

    More time we give, more we lose

    ReplyDelete

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