A housing society in Mira Road has set a new standard for eco-friendly living. The Nav Yuwan Housing Society is a 30-year-old complex with 280 flats. It has cut its monthly electricity bill from ₹52,000 to just ₹18,000 after adopting retrofitting measures.
With the help of the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), the society made upgrades, including the installation of 150 motion-sensor lights, 14 energy-saving floodlights, and a 44-kilowatt rooftop solar system.
A kitchen garden has already been established, and a composting unit will soon be installed. These changes have brought impressive results: energy use has dropped by 41%, water savings have reached 35%, material efficiency has improved by 59%, and more than 232 tonnes of CO₂ emissions are being reduced every year.
This achievement helped earn the society EDGE Advanced green building certificate. This makes it the first housing society in Asia to be honored with this recognition.
Residents have also seen direct benefits. Many say their household electricity bills have dropped by almost half, proving that small upgrades can make a big difference. Each family spent about ₹17,500 on retrofitting, an amount already being recovered through lower bills.
Experts said that retrofitting old buildings can cut emissions by up to 70% compared to rebuilding.
This success has set an example for other housing societies and even schools in the area to try similar things for the environment. It also gives an example that eco-friendly living is both possible and affordable for all.
This project also supports the Mira Bhayandar Climate Action Plan for the years 2024 to 2050, which aims to achieve a 36% reduction in emissions by the year 2047.
Source
0 Comments