Sanjay Prakash is an authority on energy-efficient architecture and is based in New DelhiI think
Yes, buildings can enable an ecological lifestyle. But environmentally conscious living doesn’t come about by first demanding a lot and then “fixing” the source of energy, water and materials. An architecture of the future, sustainable and resource-efficient, affordable and beautiful, comes about when we accept lifestyles that reduce demands, meet them in the most efficient way, using renewable resources. Greenness then becomes integrated with the house as well as one’s lifestyle.
We can
I have designed my own house in Delhi based on this belief. Whether by carrying reusable shopping bags, managing with natural ventilation whenever the weather or one’s state-of-mind allows it, drinking lots of water and wearing loose cotton clothes to remain cool, it is by making lifestyle choices that we can practice environment sensitivity—not just by building.