Hombelaku Green Home

22/06/2013

Karunaprasad Kanavi HSR Layout, Bangalore

Hombelaku 2006-07

Hombelaku 2013

Construction & Material

Site 80X50 Start date: Oct 2004, End date: March 2006 Built area 2650 sq ft (Ground + First) Space for Garden 2400 sq. ft Earth 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 blocks
Mixture of fine clay, Quarry dust & Cement Prepared 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 - Hombelaku

Sun light seeping through big skylights No light is switched on from 6AM to 6PM

Golden Light - Hombelaku

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

Average Electricity consumption 160 Units/month Future plan Complete house on solar power and moving to LEDs 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

Water
No borewell... Use Corporation & Rain water Rain 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 garden Future Grey water recycling system and another sump/tank for rain water

RWH - Filter

Washing M/c soap water recycling tank

Separating 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.

Waste

Compost Preparation

4 Rs 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

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

Garden

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

Habitat

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