Back to Malhar

GoodEarth Malhar

eco-features


Sustainability drives our design a nd choice of materials such that you and your environment forge a relationship for life. We use a combination of the modern and the traditional in our materia ls, techniques and details, creating a unique aesthetic that has a global flavour while being decidedly Indian. We integrate traditional crafts into our designs for their inherent value and to promote skilled craftspersons.

Materials

Our choice of material is based on a balance of local availability, efficiency of manufacturing processes and durability over time. Natural materials make your homes more comfortable and age beautifully. Wherever possible we use recycled materials and always use resources optimally.


Earth blocks:

 Soil excavated from foundations, basements, tanks and water bodies is stabilized using a small percentage of cement and moulded into blocks. We use resources from the site itself thereby reducing the amount of materials being transported in. These blocks are specifically designed for the structure and quality control is done on-site.Besides being engineered for strength and durability, walls made of these are aesthetically pleasing when detailed well.

Stone:

Another locally available material with excellent insulating properties and aesthetic beauty. Today building with stone is a craft that is slowly disappearing with the increasing dependence on factorymade synthetic materials, and therefore the need to revive its use.


Wood:

At Malhar, wood is more than just an aesthetic source and is seen as a sustainable resource. To promote its use as a renewable resource, we intend to plant timber species within the community. A warm, intimate material, it replaces high energy consuming steel and aluminium for doors and windows and can be used even for floors.We believe in recycling old timber—from houses that are demolished, from packing cases, and from plantation timber—as opposed to forest timber.

Natural stone and clay for floors:

As natural floor materials, these are good for you and your family’s health. Wood and clay offers better insulation and comfort than synthetic floors. Besides they age beautifully with the years.

Paints:

At Malhar we only use paints that are non-toxic, lead-free and low in V. O C. Volatile Organic Compounds (VO C), commonly found in most indoor and outdoor paints, give out lowlevel toxic emissions into the air for years after application. Lower VO C paints preserve both the indoor and outdoor air quality of your home and help your family breathe easy.

Water


Rainwater harvesting and recharging:

At Malhar eco village, true to its name, rainwater conservation takes on a special significance. Rainwater is harvested and the ground water is recharged through well-spread out percolation channels across Malhar. Roof water will also be channelled through pipes, passed through a series of filters and collected in the water tank. With intermittent rains in Bangalore, this supplements the supply through bore wells. We are also contemplating digging a small open well at the bore wells and direct the rainwater to it.

Water Recycling:

An on-campus sewage treatment plant recycles all waste water. The waste water from the kitchens and bathrooms is collected and treated with a series of bio-filters to emerge clean. This water is then used for gardening and for toilet flushing. 

 


Ecoscape

Integrating ecology with landscape:

Creating an environment for the land to rejuvenate becomes an important aspect of planning, especially for the psychological and cultural values they impart. You will be happily spared of manicured lawns or ornamentation plants that scream out “Touch me not” besides being high on maintenance and water consumption. Your environment at Malhar will be more interactive and engaging, after all you are here to forge a relationship with nature! Your home will be surrounded by a veritable encyclopedia of plants and trees that are local and indigenous and have medicinal values. Relive the nostalgia of your own childhood as your children discover insects and birds, climb trees and create imaginative worlds in the nooks and corners of Malhar. While you also experience the change in seasons as expressed through the flowering and shedding of the trees.








Craft

Traditional crafts like carpentry, stonework and masonry are slowly dying out as they cannot adapt to newer material, technology and requirement. But the value they impart to a space, however, cannot be overlooked. We make a conscious effort to integrate these crafts and their skilled craftspersons in the building process. In all our work, we emphasise human resource rather than material.



















Highlights

Rain water harvesting

Ground water recharge

Water recycling

Non Chemical Sewage treatment

Solid waste management

Green Construction practices

Integrating craft into the design

Use of local materials

Biodiversity and use of indigenous species in landscape


Energy

Design for Natural Light and Ventilation:

All the homes have been designed with adequate natural light and cross ventilation. Large windows, wide verandahs, air channels for circulation, and thermally conducive materials, are all features which reduce the necessity for artificial light and ventilation. You will be the proud resident of an energy efficient home.

Design for solar energy:

Sunlight will be greatly sourced upon at Malhar to light up your homes during the day and to heat water. This in turn leads to lowered power consumption and greater savings on your energy bills. Provisions for connecting solar water heaters and photo-voltaic panels for power will be made on the roof.

Energy-efficient lighting:

We have used, wherever possible, say for instance in common areas and streets, low wattage heating elements like CFL and LED lighting systems to ensure prudent use of power. So you can rest assured that Malhar doesn’t generate carbon footprints by unrestrained energy use.

Waste Management:

We propose to have an efficient garbage disposal system that separates solid and non-biodegradable waste from the organic waste. Organic waste can be collected and composted, and the compost reused as manure. Some of the non biodegradable waste can be incinerated. For the metals and plastics, one could look at recycling agencies which can pick up the waste.






Membership

Would you like to be a member of this community?
Contact us
e-mail: sales@goodearth.org.in
Call  Anand Kumar @ +91 9686676504
or Preetha Shankar   @ +91 9945241616