One of Bangalore’s finer eco-friendly homes is in HSR Layout!

Mr & Mrs Krishnamurthy’s eco-friendly abode in Sector 6 deserves to be emulated across Bengaluru

By Zahid H Javali

Imagine a mud house in HSR Layout that is self-sustaining all the way. Take that to mean, no wet waste being given to the BBMP. The biogas that is generated goes into cooking, effectively replacing Liquified Petroleum Gas, atleast 90% of it. The waste water is recycled for washing vessels and maintaining their all-organic terrace garden where they grow atleast ten vegetables and ten species of flowers at any given time. Compressed Stabilised Earth Blocks are used to keep the house cool during the summer and warm during the winter. Watch the video above and you will get a better idea.

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Complementing them are earthen pots, earthen cups and Mangalore tiles being used as slab fillers to minimise the use of concrete. Terracotta conical pots in the roof area serve as natural exhaust fans, thereby reducing the use of cement, while terracotta tiles inside the house minimise the use of cement and keeps the house cool. The glass roofing works as a natural source of lighting while the high ceiling, tall doors and large windows ensure natural ventilation. The entire house is lit by LED lamps, effectively reducing electricity bills by 30-50% depending on the season. Stone benches, wooden pillars (reclaimed timber) and steel columns reduce the use of concrete and add to the aesthetics of the house. Hot water is used to mop the floors instead of chemicals. “Sustainable living is easy and economical,” says software engineer Pradeep Krishnamurthy (37) who built ‘Bhoomi’ in 2015. “If I had to buy a flat, it would have cost me more than double of what I have spent on this first floor house.”

Over the years, the inhabitants have become more eco-friendly. “We make bio-enzymes, and cold processed soaps and sanitizers at home,” says Pradeep. “The LED lights offer 60% better fuel efficiency. Our house is almost plastic-free, except for groceries that are still packed in plastic. The only thing that hurts us is the geyser because of the weather in the last four months. The geyser usage is quite regular. However, if we take the year on the whole, there is 60-70% less electricity being consumed. We have a plan to get on to the solar grid, but right now, the economics are not working out.”

Bhoomi is also playing host to school students visiting it to learn about sustainability since 2016. There are an average of 8 visits by children on week days every year. The couple is also planning on starting their YouTube channel. If Ashwini wants to begin one on yoga, Pradeep wants to talk about sustainability. “It will be called ‘nature in you’ and talk about my experience with sustainability and living an eco-friendly life using biogas, water recycling, organic terrace gardening, and so on. I will try to get people to embrace this lifestyle, and also talk about the challenges they will go through.”

Sums up Pradeep: “Through this house, I want to show people that sustainable living is not a myth but actually practical and easy. Our neigbours are inspired. The other day, they saw us using coconut shells as pots. Now, they are doing the same.”

Video and pictures: Pradeep K