Cityrene is a Chennai-based sustainable construction startup founded in 2016, by Dilipan Bose and A Nivethitha. The duo are civil engineers and design engineers on a mission to design and construct sustainable and resilient homes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cityrene offers two home models to potential clients – The first model is for a \u2018Basic Economical Home,\u2019 where the house is built using eco-friendly technology and comes with features like wastewater recycling, rainwater harvesting and an organic terrace garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second model is for a \u2018Self-sustainable home,\u2019 which includes a solar set up for electricity, a device named \u2018Water from Air\u2019 which generates drinking water from the air, and a bio-digester for wastewater recycling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe bio-digester is buried underground and is an effective replacement for conventional septic tanks and STPs. It uses live bacteria to recycle wastewater instead of chemicals and electricity, is eco-friendly and also maintenance-free,\u201d says Dilipan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cityrene uses modern building materials and technology in their building processes like the GFRG and Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks. AAC blocks are made using fly ash, a by-product in the industrial sector, which makes it eco-friendly and compared to the conventional red bricks, they are much lighter. AAC blocks are also more durable and easy to manage, which helps in hastening the construction process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cityrene also sets up organic terrace gardens for the homeowners so that they can eat the food they grow, informs Dilipan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In future, Dilipan says, \u201cI want to build a self-sustaining township of 100 villas. The township will be completely solar-powered, practice rainwater harvesting, and have wastewater recycling units. Government power and water supply will only be backup options. Imagine if we do this. Wouldn\u2019t it be a great example for builders across the country?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n