Page 25 - Shelter - April 2023

THEME PAPER
Fig. 5: Energy Efficient District Cooling
Source: www.giz.de/el
in India have become water
stressed. Only 18% of the
renewable water resource
is being recycled, and only
10% of the annual rainfall is
being harvested in India. To
overcome these problems,
water sources need to be
planned and managed as
circular systems. The water
bodies, wetlands and the
rivers need to be protected
by sanitation/sewerage
interception, and by recycling
and treatment of wastewater.
Zero run-off drainage with the
provision of swales, retention
ponds, etc. can optimize
retention of rainwater locally.
Besides these measures,
water efficient taps/fittings,
dual plumbing, recycling of
wastewater by DEWATS and
adoption of new technologies,
such as Block chain and
SCADA systems, can help in
a more efficient water supply.
LOCAL FOOD
PRODUCTION
The urban farming can be
integrated as part of green
urban planning (GUP). The
system is based on different
waste and resource flows
in agriculture and food
production, focusing on waste
exchange, recycling, energy
efficiency, and innovative
technology.
April, 2023, Volume 24. No.1 - SHELTER
A city should be able to grow
its own food and minimize
its footprint. This is possible
by vertical farms, rooftop,
and household agriculture
and by using wastewater for
irrigation. Satellite controlled
park and lawn micro-
irrigation system cuts water
consumption and pumping
power. Wastewater recycling,
with dual piping would
reduce water demand. Vertical
farms could reduce fertilizer
and freshwater use, shorten
transport and recycle grey
water otherwise dumped by
treatment plants. Collecting
rainwater and growing food
locally in urban areas can
respond to the challenges of
transport, urban-rural divide,
biodiversity, social equity,
waste minimization, and
energy(Fig 6).
Fig. 6: Retrofitted Shipping
Containers used for creating
multi-storied urban farms-cum-
apartments in Seattle’s Proposed
Centre for Urban Agriculture
(Mithun Architects)
Source: Azure, September 2008
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