Destined to be a dazzling milestone in India's housing complexes, the country's first solar housing project was inaugurated in Kolkata on July 8. Called 'Rabi Rashmi Abasan,' the complex is the brainchild of West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency and designed, engineered and managed by Bengal DCL, a joint venture of West Bengal Housing Board & Development Consultants Ltd. It stands on a plot of 1.76 acres in New Town, Kolkata. The construction was undertaken by Mackintosh Burn.
WBREDA Director, Gon Chaudhury, who has spent years of research and experimentation working on this green mission, explains his pet project: "The idea was conceived when I visited Europe and studied eco-friendly buildings. The Kolkata housing complex's every owner will not only have his land, but also generate his own power for domestic use as well as for feeding the grid." The name 'Rabi Rashmi' means sun rays, and the project comprises 25 plush bungalows priced at Rs 43 lakh to Rs 45 lakh each for a built-up space of 1,600 sq. ft. The land area for each house is 2,150 sq. ft. Chowdhury added, "We are extremely pleased to explore the benefits of solar architecture with Conergy in the landmark 'Rabi Rashmi' housing complex, which will inspire other green initiatives and projects in India." The solar PV (photo voltaic) technology has a widespread application and is used to convert solar rays into electricity in these houses. The application of building integrated photovoltaic technology is used effectively in the project. The adoption of solar passive architecture features makes a house cool during summer. With passive concepts, the house will get cool breeze from south though water bodies. It also ensures natural light and better air circulation inside the house. In 'Rabi Rashmi Abasan,' each house will generate 2 kW power from solar tiles on the roof for its own consumption and feed the surplus into the grid. The owner will also get power from the grid as and when necessary. The utility will pay the house owner and vice-versa on net monthly metering. The benefits of energy banking will also be available to the owners. Each house will have solar water heaters, solar signage and area lighting by solar streetlights.