ECO-CITY

PARO, BHUTAN
DONE BY :

1500 : NUPUR CHODANKAR

1511 : MRUNALI HOSING

1500 : RACHNA KATTI

1500 : PRATHAMESH LONDHE

1531 : SANKET SALUNKHE

1538 : TANAYA VANKUDRE

1400 : SAI NAIGAOKAR

 WHAT IS A ECO-CITY

• An Eco-city is a city built off the principles of living within

the means of the environment.
• The ultimate goal of many eco-cities is to eliminate all
the carbon waste , to produce energy entirely through
renewable sources and to incorporate the environment
into a city ; however eco-cities have intensions of
stimulating economic growth , reducing poverty ,
organizing cities to have higher population densities ,
and therefore higher efficiency and improving health.

 NEED OF ECO CITY TODAY

 IDEAL ECO-CITY  OBJECTIVES

The main goals for sustainability in the

context of urban development are:
• Minimising use of land, energy and
materials
• Minimising the impairment of the natural

environment.

• The overall ECOCITY objectives give a first

indication of the issues that need to be
considered in the different planning sectors..
• For an ECOCITY, vision consists of a
combination of different features, which, in
interaction with each other, combine to form a
sustainable settlement
 PA R O
AN ECO-CITY OF BHUTAN

• PARO DZONGKHAG (27°11’ to 27°46’ latitude and

89°07 to 89°32’ longitude) lies to the East of Ha
and West of Thimphu.
• It has a geographical area of about 1287.13 km2.
• The Paro Valley is considered as one of the most
beautiful valleys in Bhutan. Pa Chhu, which
originates from Jumolhari mountain range flows
through the Dzongkhag.

• Paro Dzongkhag has an altitudinal range between

2000m to 5600m and has a temperate climatic
condition with warm summer and cold and dry winter. The annual rainfall in the Dzongkhag varies between
500mm
and 1000mm. Dzongkhag lies in the temperate zone, where conifer species (51.64%) dominant forest type.
• The broadleaf forest however constitutes only about 0.37%. The Northern part of Dzongkhag falls under the
Jigme Dorji National Park.
 Factors that makes PARO an eco-city
 It is Carbon NEGATIVE
• Bhutan holds the distinction of being the only carbon
negative country in the world. This is a
monumental title to hold. Think peaceful, untouched
landscapes, punctuated only by the sounds of its rich
wildlife and gurgling rivers. Bhutan’s
Constitution mandates that 60% of its lands be under
forest cover at all times, with the current forest cover
approximated at 72%.
• This of course makes it not only carbon neutral, but
also the only carbon negative country in the world!
They don’t just talk about sustainable development
and ecological preservation as a future goal, but
already practice it in full force.
Agriculture plays a dominant role in Bhutan’s economy and
ecological preservation
Carpeted in forest, Bhutan absorbs more CO2 than it emits.
o WHAT DOSE CABON NEGATIVE MEANS
• Carbon dioxide is the leading greenhouse gas emission produced
by humans.
• So it contributes most dramatically to worldwide climate change.
• Most countries produce far more carbon dioxide than they are
able to absorb. This means they are unfortunately contributing to
the amount of unwanted carbon that makes its way into the
atmosphere.
• Bhutan, however, is an anomaly. Bhutan’s massive tree cover,
72% of the country is still forested.
• The country has become a carbon sink. Being a carbon sink
means that Bhutan absorbs over six million tons of carbon
annually while only producing around 1.5 million tons.
• Bhutan also exports most of the renewable hydro-electric power
they generate from their rivers. This offsets millions of tons of
carbon dioxide. By 2020, Bhutan aims to export enough electricity
to offset 17 million tons of carbon dioxide.
o HOW IT BECAME CARBON NEGATIVE

• The condition of our environment will always be a central

component of humanity’s happiness. Because Bhutan’s

political agenda is based on their GNH index model,

environmental protection quickly became a top priority.

• Here are some of the ways Bhutan became carbon
neutral

- A ban was put on export logging.

Plastic bottles reused as prayer wheels.
- The constitution was amended to include that forested

areas would not drop below 60%.

- Free hydroelectric power generated by Bhutan’s many

rivers was utilised over environmentally devastating

fossil fuels.

- Free electricity is provided to rural farmers.

Generates hydropower from its mountain streams.
• It’s quite simple really: Bhutan stopped destroying their
environment and started protecting it, something every
country and individual has the power to do.
 Tourism is controlled
• Bhutan makes it work to its advantage and that of the
tourists.
• Following a ‘High value, low impact’ tourism policy, a
holiday to this country can be quite an expensive and
hence, exclusive affair for citizens of most countries.
• Barring Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian passport
holders, any other foreign national is required to pay a
fixed minimum daily price of $250 ($200 in the off-season) Of massive fortresses and near-zero crowds

which covers their accommodation, three meals, a guide, a driver, and admission tickets to all sights.
• A considerable percentage of this fee is contributed back into community initiatives, free healthcare
and right to education.
• With this minimum fee, Bhutan successfully controls the number of visitors and maintains a sustainable
format of tourism, giving way to negligible traffic, near-empty attractions, and an unspoilt vista of
valleys and roads

Visitor arrivals and trends Visitor arrivals by month

Source : Tourism Council of Bhutan Source : Tourism Council of Bhutan
Activities undertaken during the visit
Source : Tourism Council of Bhutan
 Transportation

Energy Efficient Transport Strategies

• There are no traffic signals.

• White-gloved policeman and a firmly ingrained civic
sense seem to suffice to regulate traffic.
 SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
o TECHNOLOGY
LOCAL NATURAL MATERIALS

Local Earth Buildings

Rammed earth and adobe earth brick that is commonly
used for construction in rural areas of Bhutan produces
structures that are strong, and durable.
• Earth is one of the most sustainable building materials
on earth. If used correctly rammed earth building are
the most sustainable material
• It is locally available, and an abundant material
• It does not require a lot of energy to process, and
apply
• It does not deplete any natural resources
• It is extremely durable. Modern rammed earth,
stabilized with rebar and a small percentage of
cement, should easily last hundreds of years,
eliminating the stream of waste as houses need repair
and replacement.
• -Earth buildings have very low carbon emissions and
are therefore very environmentally friendly
LOCAL EARTH BRICKS

• Another alternative local natural material used for building

construction is earth bricks which are also known as adobe
bricks. The use of adobe bricks is extremely green and there
are a number of advantages.
• Adobe brick production is one of the simplest and easiest
construction methods. No costly tools or equipment are
required and no energy or oil is used for its production. With
minimal training anyone can produce adobe bricks and
therefore building owners do not have to depend on
manufacturing companies.
• Adobe bricks are durable if constructed correctly. They are
fireproof, non-toxic water resistant and biodegradable and
give good thermal mass and sound insulation. Adobe bricks
allow far more flexibility compared to rammed earth
monolithic structures as bricks can be easily cut and molded
to fit varying shapes
• In Bhutan adobe bricks are produced manually using simple
wooden molds. The soil is strengthened with the use of straw
and sometimes pine needle leaves and the bricks are simply
left in the sun to dry.
USE OF LOCAL STABILIZED EARTH BLOCKS

• The use of stabilized interlocking earth block buildings

has been initiated by the Ministry of Works and
Human Settlement and the Bhutan Standard Bureau
(BSB).
• According to local manufacturers: while burnt clay
bricks has a compressive strength of 60kg to 80kg per
sq cm, which is second class, the interlocking
stabilized earth block has a compressive strength of
100kg to 120kg per sq cm strong enough to be used
for load bearing wall
SITE-ADAPTIVE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
 PARO VALLEY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
TOWARDS A BALANCED APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
LAND POOLING
• — An Approach –facilitating the stakeholders and affected Landed Property Owners to Participate and own the
Preparation of their Local Area Plans
• — Percentage of property contribution range from 15 to 30 per cent. Beyond this was found technically
inefficient
• — Allows spaces for provision of common basic amenities such as water supply, power & sewer lines, building
set backs for logistical and emergency accessibility -for firelighters during fire accident
THANK YOU…