Proper disposal of waste, constant supply of water and uninterrupted power supply — these are dreams come true situation for residents of Kathmandu.
Being able to solve these perpetual worries — faced by every household — within the periphery of a house would assist in sustainable management of these issues. Thus relieving the residents of major concerns troubling their daily life.

Some environment conscious citizens of Kathmandu are actually addressing these household problems within their house premises. They have made this possible with their ‘eco home’.
Eco home, is designed by incorporating various environment friendly techniques so that while things like waste management and water/power supply is managed nature is also not harmed.
Chief Technical Advisor of UN-Habitat Water for Asian Cities Programme of South Asian Region, Roshan Raj Shrestha took an individual effort to build his eco home. Located at Dallu Residential Area the house was also used to shoot a popular Nepali tele serial Jalpari.
Constructed in four anas land in November 2002, the house is neither connected with city water supply network, nor with the sewer connection. Owner Shrestha claimed of self-reliance, “We are self-sufficed with water and there is no requirement of drainage system too.” Though it is hard to believe, his claim is actually true and this has been achieved by adopting some eco friendly technologies.

Rainwater harvesting
The continuous supply of water at eco home is possible due to rainwater-harvesting system. The house relies on rainwater for nearly nine to ten months. Rainwater is stored in 8,000 litres underground tank and excess water is recharged in the dug well, which provides water for the remaining months. Rainwater for drinking purpose is treated with SODIS (Solar Disinfection) technique, a method where drinking water kept in PET (polyethylene terephthalate)bottle is exposed in direct sunlight for six to seven hours a day. Prior to the SODIS the water in the dug well is treated with bio sand filter.

Grey water recycling
Separate plumbing system has been fixed to collect waste water from kitchen, bathroom and washing clothes. Water thus collected is treated using Reed Bed Treatment System and stored in a 2,000 litres underground tank. The water is then used for cleaning vehicles, gardening and flushing toilet.
Inhibited by five mem- bers, the home requires nearly 1000 litres of clean drinking water per month. By following the above technique it is eco home can save around 40 per cent of clean water thus preventing water shortage. “Our family uses comparatively 50 per cent less water than other households with the same number of members”, claimed Shrestha.

Urine diversion dry toilet
Urine Diversion Dry Toilet system installed in the bathroom of master bedroom has separate collection system for urine and faeces. While less amount of water is used after urination ash is used instead of water to flush after defecation.
Urine is collected in a bucket and its dilution is applied in the garden once in three to four weeks. Faeces collected in bins are left for six months and used in garden as manure. Organic wastes are turned to compost in a compost bin and used as manure for small kitchen garden and terrace garden.

Solar home system
After the installation of Solar Home System (SHS) the residents of eco home have no load shedding problems. The 100-watt SHS provides enough energy to light the lamps in the house.

Economic viability
Integrating eco friendly technologies, while constructing a house, is also economically viable. “It costs nearly two to three per cent more than the amount spent on the construction of normal houses”, informed Shrestha
Motivated by Shrestha’s eco home, environmentalist Bhushan Tuladhar has also incorporated these eco friendly techniques in his house that is under construction at Tyanglafat, Kirtipur. Tuladhar, also an executive director at Environment Protection and Health Organisation (ENPHO), has even installed a biogas system so as to produce gas form organic wastes.

Model attempt
Probably this is the first attempt in Nepal where a house is made integrating maximum number of eco friendly techniques. “Though many people are using one of these techniques in their house this is the first time when all these have been used together in one home”, argued Shrestha
“Anyone who finds it difficult to incorporate all these systems in his/her house can install only one system that is convenient for them to adopt”, suggested Tuladhar.
These two citizens have set an example by taking an initiation to adopt an environment friendly lifestyle. Tuladhar who is involved is advocating people about best eco friendly ways of lifestyle is simply practising what he preaches, “this is the best way to achieve confidence in what I work for”
Meanwhile Shrestha wants to assist other people, “Through this model home, I want to help others to adopt these technologies.” These technologies if applied properly can be longterm solutions to inadequate water problems, solid waste management and discharge of untreated sewer into rivers that is creating much havoc in the whole city.

Source: The Himalayan Times, 19 June 2009