How to build socially responsible homes? Green home builder Dr. Chandrashekhar Hariharan answers

If you are planning to build a mid-size home, here are some tips on how you can make Socially Responsible Investing in home. Dr. Chandrashekar Hariharan Executive Chairman and Co-founder of BCIL ZED Homes, Worlds number 1 green home builders has answered the queries by CNN-IBN viewers and IBNLIVE readers.

Ques: What is social responsible home?

Ans: A home that saves you money, and reduces the burden of providing your house energy water and managing waste in your home is largely a SRI home. You could extend this to how responsibly you pick the building materials that avoid use of river bed sand [for you kill rivers], granite [for you destroy mountains that are 400 million years old], limestone [that harms other ecosystems where it is mined], steel [which kills forests for you cannot excavate iron ore otherwise]. You get the idea.

Ques: Does it costs more, any ROI from these homes?

Ans: It costs the same as any other. Plus you spend a little on things that you save upon. Solar about 1 lac. Waste Water treatment about 1 lac. Water harvest and vegetable harvest -- depends on how much you want to save and use, grow and use. You get your extra spends back in less than 2 or 3 years. Then for a lifetime you get it free.

Ques: Can it be built in the city or outskirts?

Ans: You can build anywhere.

Ques: Does socially responsible home costs more than the regular home?

Ans: Look for answer to the earlier question.

Ques: What do you think about solar power for homes in the hill? How much does it cost?

Ans: Costs about 1 lac to one KW with batteries, and all other accessories. As long as you get a clear area for the sun, it can be installed anywhere. More remote the location, the greater its relevance for you may not have reliable grid power in such areas.

Ques: Can one build a decent one bed room cottage for Rs.10-12 lakhs in the Western Ghats? Simple one. Land is own.

Ans: Think 2000 per sft, as I said earlier to another query. You decide how big the place can be therefore, depending on what you can afford as money.

Ques: Sir, can you please tell us what are the social aspects we can consider for these kind homes?

Ans: Every unit of energy you save, or generate on your own without the government’s grid, you save 0.7 kg of coal that is mined in some rich forest. The more we save, the less we destroy forest. If you reduce your fresh water demand, by fixing taps that flow less water, or harvesting rainwater, or treating and reusing waste water …, you reduce the enormous cost of transporting water to your house. If you treat kitchen waste in your house and convert to compost that you feed a plant, you don’t contribute to the mess that places like Mandur or Malavalli in Bangalore have with the tons of waste that is dumped there. Daughters and sons in these villages don’t get brides and grooms, because of the ailments they carry. You are responsible for this, too, if you throw your home waste onto the streets.

Ques: What do you think about Solar Power for homes in the hill? How much does it cost?

Ans: Anywhere. Just ask the local expert on the sun’s angles and installation of the system to get the most of the sun given solar axis in your area.

Ques: I want to get in touch with you. How?

Ans: Mail at [email protected]?

Ques: What will be the monthly expenses after building Socially Responsible homes?

Ans: Your energy bill will become half of what it is now! You will have no shortage of water and anxieties on waiting for tankers that bring you water from sources that you don’t even know.

Ques: Are you into the business of building Socially Responsible homes, how much does it costs, where is this located?

Ans: Check out www.zed.in? You will get some idea.

Ques: Is there any government subsidy for these homes?

Ans: None. You buy or build such energy efficient homes because you save money. It is like you buy a fuel-efficient bike because it saves petrol.

Ques: What would be the cost difference in percentage if we build it in a village and city?

Ans: None. Unless there is difference in transport cost, or in the cost of labour you get in the area where you build.

Ques: How make maximum use of rain water for a house?

Ans: Set up a rainwater harvest system. Check the web. Look for expertise in KSCST, Bangalore. Check Zedrainman. There are many other sites which will help you find an expert for installing it.

Ques: I own a property near KGF, is it possible to build a home with all these features? What will be the approx cost?

Ans: Check my earlier responses in this series. And check previous chats on this channel. I have answered them. In short, it won’t cost more. If you take on solar and a couple of other features, you will get your money back in quick time.

Ques: Should we use Mangalore tiles or sheets for roofing?

Ans: Avoid tiles. They are made of clay and topsoil. IT is not ecologically friendly. Avoid sheets. There are many options today on roofing structures. Check them on the web. Or mail me at [email protected].