To Greener Pastures

- Nandini Banerjee

To change the world for the better, all it requires is an idea and the willingness to adapt that idea and thought into your own life. And to create an eco-friendly home and, in turn, to live a life that is healthier and cleaner, we need to first change ourselves and our house— because doesn’t charity begin at home, after all? Read on to know how you can build a green home easily with environment-friendly practices and without spending a bomb.

BUILDING BLOCKS

Let’s first begin with the structure of the house. If you are thinking of building or re-building your home, architects Hardesh and Monica Chawla of Essentia Environments have some tricks to share.

STUDY THE WIND DIRECTION, SUNLIGHT, surroundings and vegetation around the structure you are going to design. Then, use the same natural elements for building the house—this will help you keep it eco-friendly and easy to live in. Large windows and doors, on the north side, will yield maximum benefit of daylight, and this will ensure that the house doesn’t get too hot.

PLAN YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS according to the wind direction to get maximum natural ventilation, and thus, ensure a comfortable and breezy house. This, in turn, will bring down the usage of air-conditioners and coolers. Using glass in the north and in the east brings in ample light, minimising the use of electricity during the daytime.