Saffron and Silk: Eco-friendly

Showing posts with label Eco-friendly. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Cool stuff!

A well designed product excites me. A well designed product that is functional excites me even more. One that is functional and eco friendly really gets me salivating! And a well designed product that is all of the above, AND affordable and a creation of a man consumed with passion, has me hyperventilating. That's exactly what happened when my husband's aunt, visiting us, told me about Mansukhbhai Prajapati, a potter from Wankaner in Gujarat. Mansukhbhai, a high school drop out (much to the disappointment of his parents) has achieved the enviable! He has been awarded a national medal by the President of India for his out-of-the-box invention - an eco friendly refrigerator called Mitticool made of clay, that cools without electricity, a boon for people living in rural India where electricity is still unpredictable and a luxury!
Pottery has been the family's traditional business. Here is a picture of his father at work.

Mansukhbhai was inspired during the earthquake of 2001 in Gujarat, by a newspaper caption that said that ‘the earthquake did not even spare the poor man’s fridge’, meaning the earthenware pot many under privileged people use as refrigerators. That made him think and that’s when he thought of making an affordable eco-friendly fridge for the common man. The result of 3 years of his efforts resulted in Mitticool, a fridge that is made entirely of clay, runs without electricity and does not require any artificial energy. Touted as a mud fridge, it has 2 large water tanks at the top and the bottom that cool the sides.

Akin to clay pots, or "matkas" that keep water cool in summer, Mitticool can lower the temperature by about 8 degrees Celsius in comparison to the room temperature. The USP of Mitticool lies in the density and quality of the mud used, which ensures that everything kept inside is protected from the heat outside. The upper portion of the fridge can store about 20 liters off water, while the bottom cabinet has separate storage space for fruits, veggies and milk. The natural cooling process inside the refrigerator can keep fruits and veggies fresh for about 5 days, while milk can be preserved for 3 days!

Here is a video of Mansukhbhai talking about the fridge...

Undeniably the low cost fridge which retails for 2500 rupees or approx $50, is his pride and joy, but his small industry also makes beautiful clay water filters. I would love to have one of these in my kitchen.

gorgeous ceramic storage jars....

and believe it or not, a clay pressure cooker! Isn't it beautiful?

At a time when global warming is wreaking havoc and we all want to leave a smaller carbon footprint on the planet by conserving energy, people like Mansukhbai deserve all the support and encouragement possible. It is products like these that will not only help the low income folks, but will also help spread awareness on eco friendly design....not Nano cars being made for the "poor man" at a cost of 1 lakh rupees, that will just choke up the roads and pollute the cities even more!!! Ratan Tata would have been better served putting his efforts into an electric car...but that's another story that I do not want to get started on......!

For more on Mitticool and Mansukhbhai, go here....!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Travel - The Dune at Puducherry

Ever long for a holiday from which you come back refreshed, like getting soaked in the gentle rain in a heated desert? Then head to The Dune at Puducherry.....a sprawling eco-village set on 35 acres along the Coromandel coast of Tamil Nadu. This resort will take you right into the heart of nature for a fantastic experience like no other. The Dune cherishes the spirit "to live in harmony with nature and men". For ages, swamis (Holy Men) from the nearby temples of Mahabalipuram used this scenic beach reserve as a place of pilgrimage and meditation. It features a generous organic garden, a 700m long sand beach, and all that is necessary to take care of the body and soul according to traditional Ayuvreda’s rites. It also has an Artists In Residence program providing work studios for artists from all over the world! I know I'd be terribly inspired to paint if I was there!!
Each of the 36 bungalows and bedrooms presents a unique architecture, style and decoration for a particular experience. The result is surprising, sometimes eccentric, in a zen and green environment
The hotel is fully committed to preserving the environment. As an example, recycled material from South Indian colonial houses, Chettinad palaces and Kerala planter’s mansions was used for a significant part of the building. The hotel also chose not to equip all bungalows with air conditioning (but there is always a refreshing sea breeze). Solar energy, low energy consumption light bulbs, and waste water treatment complete this ecologic commitment.

Fusing modern and traditional architecture, the hotel's cottages are done up in different styles ranging from plush Regency to vibrant Carribean! The vibrant use of colors in and outside the cottages will force you to forget your stress and relax. The rooms full of genuine antiques, statues, idols, chairs, tables, stone pillars, and carved doors have made the interiors charming and serene. Bright blue and hot yellow textures on glasses and walls energise the mind and soul.

If I was going there I would have a hard time deciding which room to stay in. Would it be the Kerela Room with its wood beams and rafters reaching out to my Kerela roots? Or the Nawabi rooms reminiscent of the Hyderabad I live in? Or the Mud Room for its eco friendly nature? Or the Family House with is infusion of raw earthy colors that I adore???? Or then again maybe the Bangle Room because it is so much like my bedroom??? Hmmm..how about you?
Here are some images of the resort:

The Artist's studio