On World Environment Day, meet the man who designed Delhi's first green home

CR Park resident Prasanto K Roy may look like a common man but this 48-year-old media consultant is the owner of the Capital’s first green home, which he proudly calls Green One.

CR Park resident Prasanto K Roy may look like a common man but this 48-year-old media consultant is the owner of the Capital’s first green home, which he proudly calls Green One.

HT Image

Roy’s home can store rainwater, retains less heat because of its smart insulation design, recyles grey water and has a composter to process bio-degradable kitchen waste. The construction material used to build the house was sourced from locally available products and solar panels.

What made Roy take the step towards his green home?

"In 2001, the ITC green centre was being built next to our office in Gurgaon. I was inspired and was keen to see whether it could be replicated in a home. That was when I decided to turn my ancestral property in CR Park into a green home," he said.

But Roy is not happy with the way things are moving for green homes in India.

“Currently, there are 5-6 certified green homes. The non-certified ones will take the count to 10-15, which is a disappointing number. There are no great incentives yet. Many are trying, which is a welcome sign,” he said, adding he was trying to reduce the energy cost in his Gurgaon society, which is the other extreme of a green home.

The reaction this physics major from St Stephen’s College got after he started with his one-of-a-kind initiative encouraged him. It took him two years to make the green home. “My neighbours, family and friends were supportive. Most of them were impressed and interested. Back then, nobody had done it and not much information was available to make a green home,” he said.

Read:Nothing can stop Indra De, 76, from doing her bit for nature
Read: This Delhi resident leads a plastic free life

Full coverage: Fight for clean environment