BCIL's green home at Coimbatore
Bangalore-based realty firm Biodiversity Conservation India (BCIL), which specialises in construction of ‘green homes’, will develop six eco-friendly residential projects totalling 2.4 million sq ft across southern India with an investment of Rs 380 crore spread over the next four years. These projects will come up in Mysore, Coorg, Goa, Coimbatore and Bangalore. “BCIL homes address global warming. The company has a land bank in excess of 130 acre across these places. Construction work at various project sites will begin in a phased manner over the next 40 months. We are funding them through a mix of debt, internal accruals and pre-sales. BCIL land bank in excess of 130 acre across Coimbatore,Mysore, Coorg, Goa
The company will consider tapping the FDI route as and when necessary,” said Chandrashekar Hariharan, the CEO of BCIL, which has completed four projects to date. The company is set to invest Rs 55 crore to develop an eco-friendly township on the outskirts of Bangalore. Located in Yelahanka, off the Doddaballapur main road, BCIL Collective comprises 116 environment-friendly homes spread across a three-acre patch. The total built-up space at Collective stands at 220,000 sq ft. On offer are one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, measuring between 700 sq ft and 1,500 sq ft. The current price stands at Rs 3,150 per sq ft with the project slated for completion by mid-2010. BCIL will build under 40 homes to an acre in this project, against the market’s norm of over 65 to 90 homes to an acre. The low density translates into greater security for residents in terms of water availability in the future.
Central to the plan are the water treatment systems that help reduce the need for freshwater import on a daily basis by 70%. Treated water will be used in the apartments and common areas. Hariharan said the energy back-up for this project will be provided for by biofuels. This project uses energy-efficient Besser blocks (concrete blocks that are given a grid plaster) that reduce heat gain in every house. The natural A/C system here is a combination of earth tunnel ventilation, night cooling systems as well as ‘a forced ventilation system’. “Simple in creation, such sustainable architecture helps every home save about 30%-70% depending on the appliance without compromising on comfort,” he added.
