Lights, Solar, Action: How a Mira Road society slashed electricty bill by 65% – from Rs 52,000 monthly to Rs 18,000

At the Nav Yuwan Housing Association on Mira Road (East), the monthly electricity bill once stood as a terrible line element. The inhabitants of this 30 -year -old complex were used to bomb approximately 52,000 RS every month for the consumption of power with 280 apartments from compact 1RK to modest 1BHKs. Today, this figure has shrunk significantly up to 18,000 RS, Toi.

A 65 % decrease is not the result of cutting the corners, but embracing smart, sustainable solutions.

Rahim Karalovia, a member of the Housing Association Management Committee, said, “This small change has completely changed our approach to electrical use,” he said. Toi.
Green ideas, big impact
The transformation began in October last year when the community partnership with Aga Khan Habitat Agency (Akah) to implement a pilot green reinforcement program.

Toi He also reported that the changes were widespread and that they were considered carefully. A total of 150 motion-sensor lights were installed on corridors, lobbies and stairs, and allowed the energy to be used only when necessary. Fourteen high -efficiency projectors now illuminate the parking area and consume much less power than its predecessors.
Perhaps most importantly, a 44 KWP sun photovoltaic system was installed on the terraces and provided clean power to support these upgrades. In order to complete energy saving, the inhabitants also turned into water savings and established productivity measures throughout the complex.
A kitchen garden is now developing in a corner of the property and a composting unit is installed to recycle home waste to fertilizer and closes the cycle between sustainability and daily life.
The strengthening did not stop in common areas. In individual houses, each apartment is equipped with brush -free DC (Bldc) fans consuming less than half of the power of old models. Parvin Jasani, 64 differences for residents concrete: monthly household people’s bill fell from 1,800 RS to 1,000 RS.

“We didn’t realize that small changes may have such great effects.” He said. Her husband Bahadur, “People can do at the level of households needs to be aware of what needs to be built,” he says.

Akah confirmed technical interventions with capacity development programs and helped residents to understand the value of energy -saving devices and simple behavioral changes. It was an eye opener for many.

We always believed it was more cost -effective if you use a device. We did not realize that an old, energy -consuming device could be more expensive in the long term. We were also unaware of the benefits of high -star devices, “48 -year -old Anisha Maknojiya Toi.

Recognition and fluctuation effect
The numbers describe the success story: 41% in energy, 35% in water usage, 59% in material efficiency and 232.78 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. These achievements brought Nav Yuwan to the agenda when he became the first residential community to receive the prestigious advantageous Green building certificate in Asia.

Developed by International Finance Corporation, EDGE is a global standard that recognizes buildings that meet the ambitious sustainability and emission reduction goals. Toi.

For Karalvisia and its inhabitants, the certificate is more than just one praise. “This shows our sustainability efforts to residents, sellers and municipal company. Certainly, it will increase the value of our apartments.” He said.

Beyond the pride of property, the project proves that strengthening is a suitable climate solution for India’s old housing stock. Unlike the new environmentally friendly developments, Nav Yuwan thirty years. His success proves that existing buildings can be raised without demolition, which is a fact that echoed by global research.

A Specified Study Toi Rocky Mountain Institute found that the strengthening of an existing structure produced 50-70% less carbon emissions than reconstruction.

Akah India CEO Perana Langa, “Green strengthening increases thermal comfort, reduces energy demand, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and extends the life of existing buildings.” He said. “Nav Yuwan Pilot is a proof of concept for interventions on energy and water efficiency in the housing sector and corporate buildings. Practical, low -cost interventions show how significant measurable results can provide and increase flexibility without the need for new construction.”

A model for the future
The project is properly with the Mira Bhayantar Municipality Company and a joint attempt by Akah, Mira Bhardar Climate Action Plan (MB CAP) 2024-2050.

The MB CAP, which was released in January this year, focuses on heat elasticity and low -carbon body, aiming a 36% deduction in emissions until 2047. The housing sector constitutes 62% of Mira Bhalaydar’s electricity use and 40% of its energy emissions, making Nav Yuwan’s initiatives such as strengthening.

In encouraging, the model is spreading. The word Nav Yuwan’s success reached neighboring housing societies, many of which are willing to reproduce the formula.

According to the report, strengthening costs 17,500 RS per society-a price willing to pay for long-term savings. Meanwhile, Akah applied similar strengthenings to three municipal schools in Mira Bharendar.

According to Langa, it can be scaled if it is supported by model policy, municipal financing and community participation.

“By connecting the returns to routine care cycles, municipal budgets and commercial investment returns, the model goes from one -time projects to adopt the main current,” he said. Toi. “This makes the structural scaling in Mira Bharendar and makes it repeatable in other cities.”