How Zero-Waste Homes are Shaping the Future
Zero-waste homes are at the core of sustainable living, where every material, resource, and design choice is made with minimal environmental impact in mind. These homes are designed to reduce waste during construction, optimise energy efficiency, and incorporate systems that recycle or repurpose waste.
Here are four people whose homes prove that living consciously doesn’t mean compromising on comfort or aesthetics.
1. Balasunda Kaushikan
Balasunda Kaushikan, a Bengaluru-based architect from Hanumanthanpatti in Tamil Nadu, had always dreamed of building a sustainable home in his village. After working in cities like Dubai, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, he left his job in 2019 to start his own architectural firm.
What did he do?
In 2020, Kaushikan constructed a sustainable 3,000 sq ft house on his ancestral land using locally sourced materials, focusing on reducing his carbon footprint. “I feel it is high time to work towards reducing the carbon footprint,” he says.
How did he do it?
- Zero waste and waste management: A key feature of the house is its zero-waste system. He installed a biodigester soil tank instead of a septic tank to convert human waste into water used for gardening. Additionally, a biogas tank processes kitchen waste, generating methane for cooking.
- Rainwater harvesting: The house features a rainwater harvesting system with a 10,000-litre capacity and a recharge well to support groundwater levels.
- Energy efficiency and natural lighting: Kaushikan incorporated passive solar designs and natural light strategies to reduce energy consumption. “We have cut down the monthly power consumption by around 70 percent with solar energy,” he says.
The house is called the ‘House of Gardens’ due to its abundant greenery and its Chettinad-style flooring with red oxide and Athangudi tiles sourced locally to maintain earthy tones.
2. Shefali Dudhbade
Shefali Dudhbade, a 46-year-old freelance architect and environmentalist from Nagpur, has embraced waste management as a way of life. “It takes 15 minutes to treat my kitchen waste, which comprises 60 percent of my household waste,” she says, proving that on-site composting can be simple and effective.
What did she do?
Shefali practices waste segregation by categorising her household waste into five groups. The non-recyclables, like used paper towels, are disposed of through the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Recyclables like PET bottles and newspapers are either sent for recycling or creatively repurposed into useful items. She composts all wet waste, including kitchen and garden refuse, turning it into organic compost for her garden. She collects e-waste in a carton and sends it for recycling every year.
How did she do it?
- Refusing plastic use: She advocates for the ‘Jaadu ka Pitara’ (magic box), a bag with essentials like a steel bottle, cloth bags, and paper straws. “Eliminating plastic is not possible, so the next best thing is to refuse,” she avers.
- Composting and medical waste: She composts kitchen waste in a backyard pit, and uses it for plants on her terrace garden. For medical waste, she ensures sanitary pads are properly wrapped and marked with a red dot to avoid exposure to waste collectors.
- Collecting fallen hair: Shefali even collects her fallen hair, washes it, and sends it for recycling. Even though it’s unusual, she follows this to manage her own waste.
3. Abhimanyu Singh and Shilpi Dua
Abhimanyu Singh and Shilpi Dua, a husband-wife architect duo from Jaipur, have reimagined home construction with their startup, Hexpressions. Founded in 2018, their company builds eco-friendly, ready-to-assemble green homes using recycled paper, making them sustainable, fireproof, and waterproof.
What did they do?
Hexpressions builds homes that are installed in just two weeks, significantly reducing construction time compared to traditional methods. Their homes are built with composite honeycomb sandwich panels made from recycled paper arranged in hexagonal shapes. This design makes them sturdy yet lightweight, with the ability to withstand up to 100 kg per square foot. As Shilpi explains, “Since we use recycled paper, the carbon footprint of our structures is 80% less than that of conventional ones.”
These homes not only help the environment but are also economically viable. They cost between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, depending on size.
How do they do it?
- Sustainable materials – Hexpressions uses recycled paper as the primary material for constructing their homes. This choice significantly reduces the environmental impact of their buildings.
- Fireproof and waterproof technology – To ensure the homes are safe and durable, Hexpressions treats the panels to make them fireproof and waterproof. The paper panels are filled with residues like fly ash, and they are dipped in plant-based water-resistant resin. These precautions guarantee the homes’ longevity, providing customers with peace of mind regarding their safety.
- Local production and efficient installation – The duo sources the panels locally, which reduces transportation costs and supports the local economy. They also send trained professionals to install the homes to make the process seamless and efficient. This combination of local production and skilled installation teams helps keep the construction process quick and affordable.
4. Rajesh Kumar Jain
Rajesh Kumar Jain, a Mysuru-based architect, has been following sustainable construction practices since 2005. Through his venture, Regional Low Energy Environment-Friendly (RLEEF), he has been addressing the environmental issues associated with cement production by reusing construction debris to build eco-friendly and zero-waste homes.
What did he do?
Rajesh changed the way buildings are constructed by repurposing construction debris, mainly cement, to create sustainable and energy-efficient homes. His homes are designed with eco-friendly features such as rainwater harvesting systems, solar power, and wastewater treatment solutions. Over the years, he has built 175 houses, including his office, all from materials that would otherwise have been discarded and left to pollute the environment.
How did he do it?
- Recycling construction debris: Rajesh collects debris from construction sites, particularly discarded cement, and processes it manually into fine granules. By assessing the quality and strength of the material, he determines the best use for it, whether it be for walls, foundations, or tiles.
- Sustainable design elements: The buildings are designed with several eco-friendly features, such as rainwater harvesting structures, solar power systems, and kitchen wastewater treatment. He employs interlocking stabilised earth blocks, which are water-resistant, economical, and reduce heat transfer. This helps keep homes cool in the summer without the need for air conditioning.
- Resource Efficiency: Rajesh makes use of soil excavated from construction sites to produce bricks, reducing the need to extract natural resources from quarries. He also prefers rectangular room designs to minimise the use of steel and concrete, lowering construction costs and material waste.
- Cost Reduction Through Alternative Materials: To keep costs low and reduce the carbon footprint, he uses local, alternative materials like clay blocks, cudappah stones, and micro-concrete slabs. These materials are not only cost-effective but also durable and sustainable.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee
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