Hombelaku – Green Home22/06/2013

Karunaprasad Kanavi – HSR Layout, Bangalore

Hombelaku – 2006-07

Hombelaku – 2013

Construction & MaterialSite – 80X50Start date: Oct 2004, End date: March 2006Built area – 2650 sq ft (Ground + First)Space for Garden – 2400 sq. ftEarth as the primary building material:

Stabilized rammed earth foundations, Compressed stabilized earth blocks for walls, Stabilized earth plaster for walls exposed to rain and sun and stabilized earth mortar. Locally available stone has been used for the foundations and a few walls to accentuate for architectural purposes.

Earth blocksMixture of fine clay, Quarry dust & CementPrepared at the site

During Construction

Preparation of Mud Blocks at site

Preparation of Mud Blocks at site

Arch Panel Insitu-jack arch panel roofing elements to reduce on steel and cement consumption

Hourdi Block Roofing channels, precast sills, hourdi block (Hollow blocks) to reduce solid concrete and acts as a heat insulator- the heat transferred into the indoors is reduced by 4deg with this kind of roofing system.

Local Labor & Material Employing the local skilled labor for doors, windows and other finishes over buying readymade items with high embodied energy.

The wood used for doors and windows is Indian Honne

As the site was lower, the filling was done with the waste building material generated at the site and also the waste generated from other sites was brought in to make the earth fill. Plastic in the surrounding was used.

Sadarahalli stone & slab used for bathroom flooring & compound wall

Kadapa slabs used as shelves instead of wood

All materials sourced within 25-30 kms of Bangalore

Helped in reducing transportation cost & pollution

Flooring – Simple Kota & Clay Tiles

Golden Light - HombelakuSun light seeping through big skylightsNo light is switched on from 6AM to 6PM

Golden Light - HombelakuUse :

Solar Lights during power shutdown. Solar water heater (No electric geysers & UPS)Only CFL bulbs.

Average Electricity consumption –160 Units/monthFuture plan – Complete house on solar power and moving to LED’s from CFL

Cooling

Hourdi blocks are used in first floor roofing(Because of air circulation within the block, heat from terrace is not transferred inside during summer)

Prevailing wind direction was used to orient the openings to have enough

draft which aids in cooling the indoors without the use of electrically run

fans.

Cross ventilation for each room has been appropriately worked with the use

of openings.

Double height spaces were used to allow for air and light movement in the

house.

Ventilators are provided at the skylights for the free flow of the hot air

accumulating below the heated skylight covering.

Terrace is painted white to reflect the light (reduces the temp by few

degrees)

Double Height Spaces

WaterNo borewell...Use Corporation & Rain waterRain water used for all purposes including drinking after filtering. (6000-8000 litres of fresh rain water collected from 25 minutes of heavy shower)

Corporation valve is closed for weeks during rainy days.Soap water from washing machine is used to flush commode and to wash car.Keep talking to maid on minimum usage of water.Kitchen water is used for pots and gardenFuture – Grey water recycling system and another sump/tank for rain water

RWH - Filter

Washing M/c soap water recycling tank

WasteSeparating wet & dry waste and preparing compost, for last 7 years.Waste generated in the house is very less because of careful buying. Old stuff in the house reused with minor repairs.

Compost Preparation

4 R’s – Reuse, Reduce, Recycle & Renewable

Reuse – Cloth bag (Plastic bags are avoided), Use shoe laundry for old shoes and sandals, Old clothes for orphanage, Paint dabbas as buckets

Reduce – Buying (Keep it to minimum), Home delivery of food(creates more waste), Conserve water & electricity, Unnecessary travel, Use bicycle for short distances

Recycle – Wet waste & dry leaves in garden to prepare compost, Washing machine soap water for flushing & cleaning car, Kitchen water for garden, Plastic, card board boxes, bottles, old furniture, pipes, tyres are accumulated and given for recycling.

Renewable – Solar power

Solar Water Heater

Garden 16 Ashoka, 2 Badam, 1 Neem, 1 Coconut, 1 Mango, 1 Sapota, 1 Drum stick, 2 Lemon, 1 Bottle brush, 6 Golden Melaleuca, 10 Bamboo, 6 Papaya, 3 Karipatta, 8 Hibascus, 6 Creepers, 3 Croton, Amruta balli, 2 Patri, 5 Roses and Vegetable garden

Habitat Dog, Cat, Birds, Squirrels, Butterflies, Snakes & other Lizards

Eco Ganapati at Hombelaku

Parisara Ganapati Getting ready for immersion on 5th day

Immersion in tub – filled with rain water

Pooja flowers moved to compost pit Dissolved Ganapa into Papaya pit