Home into low-maintenance eco-friendly options

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

• Discount UK Shopping

Related Articles

Amatrra Spa, pursuing holistic health solutionsBlackberrys unveils Autumn-Winter collectionInfidelity rife in cybersex world: StudyNeeta spreads Indian hues at Bridal Asia

: It’s a tag that is increasingly becoming fashionable with builders and architects. But ever figured out what really makes a home eco-friendly? And what do builders/architects say about the increasing use of this label? The use of locally available materials in construction of a house that makes it eco-friendly, and ideally eco-friendly homes cannot be high-rise buildings: in an ideal scenario they would be low-rise buildings, with just a floor above the ground.

Eco-friendly concept requires “appropriate sustainable architecture,” says Benny M Thankachan, director, projects management, Good Earth Estates and House of Consultants. The building and the people living there need to believe in the harmony of land and nature, and make it practical. High-energy efficiency and low maintenance will be ideal for such homes. Natural resources, such as sunlight, should be used to cut down on the use of electricity. Windows should be located at strategic places to enable sunlight in to save energy.

Rainwater harvesting, solar water heating systems and sewage treatment plants are being promoted by builders in most of their projects. Unitech’s Espace, promises independent villas with meditation gardens, spa club, yoga atrium and a steam room. Alpha G:Corp’s Gurgaon One offers eco-friendly water management and waste management. GurgaonOne has energy efficient windows, building materials, the climate control systems are custom made by Toyotomi climate control, well-known for their compact, efficient and air pollution reducing systems. “The eco-systems at GurgaonOne were incorporated in the design specs of the complex by the architects, ARCOP and there have been due evaluations by them at every stage of construction to ensure 100% sustainability and efficiency of all systems. ARCOP are also architects of other ‘ahead of their times’ landmark complexes like Laburnum and Garden Estate,” elaborated Alpha G:Corp’s MD, Colonel RS Sodhi.

Says Sunit Sachar, vice president, Parsvnath Developers Ltd: “Parsvnath Developers has projects that are environment friendly. Most of our projects have facilities of water harvesting, while all projects enjoy extensive green cover (upto 84%). The homes are designed with care to have excellent space efficiency and have natural lighting and ventilation apart from permanent exteriors. We also want to use solar energy to conserve electricity and for water heating. We are, however, designing buildings that conserve energy and reduce power consumption.”