Month: January 2024

The vagaries of climate change, an exponential rise in urbanization and an ever-escalating demand for energy have all combined to add to the clamour for more and more sustainable buildings around the world, and the Indian realty sector is no exception. The chorus for green buildings and sustainable living continues to get louder by the day.

So, what is a sustainable building? Sustainable construction is a method of building that minimizes harm to the environment. It’s not only about being energy-efficient, such eco-friendly homes have intelligent design, use sustainable materials and new-age technologies to ensure minimum harm comes to the environment by reducing waste, saving water and cutting energy use.

The number of real estate projects that secured a LEED certification (an approval system for eco-friendly buildings) last year crossed 5000, according to a recent survey, underlining the growing trend towards sustainable construction. This green switch is clearly driving significant growth in the Indian realty sector, with an average growth of 6%-plus forecast till 2026 at least.

Here are some methods of sustainable construction:

# Using solar power: Green building technology uses solar energy in a big way. While solar panels can be used to turn the sun’s energy into electricity, passive solar energy can also be used to keep the buildings warm in cold-climate zones, by intelligent placing of windows.

# Using biodegradable materials: Green buildings use materials like bamboo, wood, straw, cork, etc. which break down without causing harm to the environment.

# Using insulation: Eco-friendly construction uses recycled materials like old denim or paper for insulation to keep buildings warm or cool, thus helping save energy.

# Using intelligent roofing: Sustainable construction uses cool roofs that reflect sunlight, thus keeping buildings cooler. This means less need for air-conditioning and reduction of greenhouse gases emission.

# Using smart water tech: Saving and wise management of water is a key pillar of green buildings. Smart technologies like rainwater harvesting, reuse of greywater and using the right fixtures are all adopted to achieve this.

# Ensuring optimum indoor air quality: In order to control the indoor environment, green buildings use ingredients that don’t emit toxic chemicals while controlling moisture levels, thus ensuring the air inside is safe and healthy.

# Using smart design: A passive house design can help manage temperature without using gadgets for cooling or heating. This can result in up to 90% energy savings.

What are the rewards of sustainable construction?

# Environment protection: It reduces impact on the environment by reducing pollution and waste and wise use of water and energy.

# Boosts economy: By creating more jobs and adding traction to the realty market, it provides a shot in the arm to the economy.

# More resilient: Green buildings offer better protection against climate change and extreme weather events.

# Promotes good health: Thanks to the superior indoor air quality and access to more natural light, green buildings are healthier to live in.

# Cutting-edge tech: Use of more evolved construction technology makes sustainable construction smarter and more environment-friendly.

# Better performance: Green buildings easily outperform their conventional counterparts by using less power and water and reducing waste and pollution.

When we think of colours, we often think of decoration or a spruce-up. However, colours are much more than just embellishment. Different shades have differing impacts on our emotional make-up, chain of thought and even the way we act or react. Not only this, each colour has unique properties that have an effect on our health, happiness, career path, etc, according to Vastu science.

Vastu Shastra or Vedic Astrology is an age-old science that works by harnessing energies, by channeling positive verve into our homes. When done right, this can pave the way for good luck, peace of mind and a sense of positivity in our thought process, the science maintains. Activation of positive energy is done by using specific shades for different directions and zones, designed to abate the negative influence of each element.

Very often, we take care to ensure that all objects are placed in the right direction as per Vastu science, preserving the equilibrium among the five natural elements. Still, we aren’t getting the desired effects. Perhaps, we have forgotten to use recommended colours for specific living spaces as suggested by Vastu.

After all, different colours affect our mood, sentiments and physical energy in different ways, since each shade has its own vibration or wavelength. In our subconscious, we react to the colours surrounding us, soaking in their characteristics easily. A specific wall colour will either make you feel comfortable and relaxed, or cause some unease and stress. Hence, this harmony between living spaces and colours used is very important, according to Vastu.

Appropriate colour schemes for various living spaces

# Living room: This is where we spend a lot of time with our family and also entertain guests. Since this is the section of our home open to outsiders, the place should always exude warmth and positive energy. This happy mood can be accentuated by shades like light yellow, light green, or even beige.

# Bedroom: This is the most private section of your home, where you can just be yourself, without the need for masking your feelings. This is where you can share your innermost sentiments, strengths and flaws. To ward off negative thoughts and energies, you can go for colours like pale green, lavender and a range of shades from the blue family.

# Kitchen: Food is not only for sustenance and nutrition, it also excites us and is a reason to come together. The kitchen is where our meals are prepared with love and affection. It’s wise to use happy colours like orange, yellow, rose or red. Steer clear of black.

# Kids’ room: Children always have energy to burn and they need this boundless energy to be channeled into a positive direction. Vibrant colours like bright red, orange, yellow or pink usually go well in kids’ rooms, promoting gainful engagement.

# Bathroom: This is also a private space where we like to get rid of our negative energies and emerge fresh and clean from. A neutral colour palette should be the ideal choice for bathrooms.