An Awe-inspiring and Eco-friendly Feat of a Mulund Society
It is not news that global warming is on the rise. There is nothing new about the climatic effects that the phenomenon has, over the past few years. With increasing carbon footprints and widespread pollution, global warming levels have gone up, if that were possible. So much so, that the Paris accord was signed by nations across the globe to control and reduce the emission of harmful greenhouse gases.
With so much effort put in to stave away the effects of global warming at an international level, there are societies within India, that are doing their bit in conserving the environment. One such being Grace Co-operative Housing Society in Mulund West, who switched to solar energy, saving up to five lakhs yearly, and 41,000 rupees monthly on electricity bills.
With around 160 apartments, Grace Co-operative society installed over 94 solar panels to power lifts and common areas spanning across its five building complexes. The 29.4 KiloWatt power setup can generate up to 45,000 and 120 units of electricity yearly and monthly, respectively. The entire setup cost the residents, collectively, around 18.5 lakh rupees.
Despite the installation cost, the residents remain positive about the outcomes of their step to using renewable energy. In an interview with the Hindustan Times, a resident was quoted saying, “We expect to recover the cost of installation over the next three years. We will also be recovering Rs 5 lakh through a subsidy provided by Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) as per government rules.”
The residents also divulged in the interview that they currently use a net-metering system, that sends the excess power generated by the solar back to the grid. Any deficiency in electricity is imported from the panels as well. The system, in the end, not only benefits the residents of the society but also people in the city who experience daily power cuts. For the surplus current can be used to supply electricity to them.
Aside from adopting solar-powered electricity, Grace Co-operative Housing Society also segregates its garbage and recycles the same. They have been following this practice for four to five years now, and have recycled over 3.28 lakh kg organic wastes. Daily, every house segregates its dry, plastic, and organic wastes. The former is picked up by the civic body’s dumper truck, while the latter is dumped in the compost drums.
Inside these four drums, the organic wastes turn in to manure, which is, then, used to supplement the growth of over 100 trees planted within the society. Through this, they generate up to 30 kg of manure for the plants in one month alone. In the interview with the newspaper, a resident said, “We are following a zero-waste concept as there is 100% waste segregation in the society.”
In a world where the US has exited the Paris Accord, what Grace Co-operative Housing Society has achieved with a united wish to reduce their carbon footprints, is awe-inspiring. They, most definitely, set an example that every society should follow for years to come.
