Rediscovering life in a house with no electricity, gas, or water connections
Even with numerous amenities, living in a city like Bengaluru presents many challenges. One of them is the frequently interrupted water supply. A brief power outage in the midst of concrete jungles renders the place uninhabitable. Yet, in this same Bengaluru, a family lives comfortably without
Even with numerous amenities, living in a city like Bengaluru presents many challenges. One of them is the frequently interrupted water supply. A brief power outage in the midst of concrete jungles renders the place uninhabitable. Yet, in this same Bengaluru, a family lives comfortably without
Even with numerous amenities, living in a city like Bengaluru presents many challenges. One of them is the frequently interrupted water supply. A brief power outage in the midst of concrete jungles renders the place uninhabitable. Yet, in this same Bengaluru, a family lives comfortably without
Even with numerous amenities, living in a city like Bengaluru presents many challenges. One of them is the frequently interrupted water supply. A brief power outage in the midst of concrete jungles renders the place uninhabitable. Yet, in this same Bengaluru, a family lives comfortably without electricity, gas, or even a water connection. The eco-friendly home of Ranjan Malik and Reva Malik serves as a model of sustainable living.
This 770-square-foot house demonstrates how to live minimally yet sustainably, causing no harm to the environment. The house was built minimizing its environmental impact from the construction stage itself. It uses mud, terracotta, and recycled materials. Mangalore mud tiles are used for the roof and terracotta tiles for flooring.
The roof has a 30-degree slope, facilitating rapid rainwater harvesting while keeping the house cool in summer. Less than 5% of the construction used cement. The foundation is made of mud instead of concrete. This is not only environmentally friendly but also increases the house's resistance to earthquakes.
The house functions with minimal reliance on external resources. It has a 10,000-liter rainwater harvesting system. The owners say they haven't needed a municipal water connection. While many parts of Bengaluru struggle with water scarcity, they have never faced such a crisis.
The house stands apart in its electricity usage. There are no electric lights or fans. Large windows and open spaces ensure natural light and ventilation throughout the day. Oil lamps provide light at night. Their only electricity use is for charging their electric vehicle. They also have solar panels for electricity generation. Their lifestyle, aligned with nature's rhythm, helps them live independently of external resources. They use a traditional terracotta fridge to store food, keeping it at 8-10 degrees Celsius without electricity. They recycle grey water for their organic garden, which yields 40 varieties of produce including tomatoes, spinach, and papaya.
They use a solar cooker, eliminating the need for an LPG gas connection. This house is a model of how to create a sustainable living space that incorporates all the amenities of modern life in a natural way, ensuring sustainability without harming the environment.