Sustainable Home: No electricity or water bill for 8 years for this family because of their eco-friendly house
Gujarat : A large number of people believe that the ongoing pandemic is because of all the damage that humans have done to nature and this is the nature's way of telling us that we have no control and we are it's guests and not it's owners. Nature has taken control and left us stuck at home while it reinvents itself. This is why environmental activities have always asked people to be more aware and sensitive towards the nature. While they are not against development, they are against development that takes a toll on nature and the ecological system. It is essential that we all become pro-sustainable development.
Most of us fail to live a sustainable lifestyle which goes hand in hand with development. But imagine living in a place away from the chaos of a city in a sustainable home which is your sanctuary. A Surat-based Engineer, Snehal Patel lives in a home which is off the grid and smack in the middle of nature's lap. His home is a completely sustainable home and is powered by solar and wind energy and he also has a rainwater harvesting system. He was always very connected to nature and founded the Nature Club, Surat in 1984 which is now a full-fledged NGO.
In 1966, Snehal bought a 4-acre plot of land and started planting trees and developing it. When the time came, he put together a complete plan and design for his home and was sensitive towards nature while he did it. His home is a 3 bedroom house which is made up of upcycled wood which also helps in keeping the house cool during the heat. Snehal also ensured that there was minimal water wastage and does not have a traditional sewage system. Instead, their home has a sustainable and efficient sewage tank. The water from the washing machines is used in the toilet for the flush and the other water is used to water the plants. He lives in this home with his family. Not just that, Snehal and his family do not need electricity or water supply. Kota stone has been used for the floors as it uses less energy.
As per the report in the Better India Snehal said, “For cooling the bedrooms, we passed pipes through the rainwater storage tanks on the ground floor. These pipes open into the room and attach to 30-watt fans at the end. When the fans are switched on, the cool air in the pipe (because of the water around it) provides natural air conditioning”. The house took nearly 3 years to build as it took time to figure out other sustainable ways to make the house eco-conscious. This is also why he has not paid any electricity or water bills for the last 8 years.
