India has emerged as one of the leading economies in the green building market, and this growth will help the nation reap enormous benefits. One particular area in which green buildings present great opportunity for India is the housing market. Rapid urbanization has created a huge demand for new construction and infrastructure in India, and new homes will need to be constructed to accommodate this population shift.
Resource-efficient homes are key in urban India, and form a crucial part of the strategy to alleviate the impacts of development, increased natural resource use and climate change. In addition to reducing impact on the environment, green buildings also have significant benefits for the people living or working in them. Studies show that living or working in a green building reduces the cost of electricity bills, in addition to improving overall quality of life, including lowering the risk of respiratory diseases and depression.
One such remarkable project in Bengaluru, “Kurunji,” recently became India’s first EDGE-certified individual residence. An innovation of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, EDGE is a green building certification system focused on making buildings more resource-efficient. By pursuing and achieving EDGE certification at his residence, Mr. Selvarasu, the owner of Kurunji, has been able to achieve predicted energy savings of 99 percent, water savings of 35 percent and embodied energy in materials savings of 30 percent.
In order to achieve these results, Selvarasu employed various green building strategies at the design stage, including the use of solar water heaters, solar photovoltaics, low-flow faucets and fixtures and rainwater collection and harvesting. According to both Mr. and Mrs. Selvarasu, living in their EDGE-certified green home has not only helped them to achieve resource efficiency, but it has also enhanced the health and well-being of their family. Though the project is small in size, it is making a remarkable statement in the sustainability industry.
To learn more about the various sustainable strategies applied at the Kurunji home, and how it is impacting the Selvarasu family, watch our video: