Kolkatans have every reason to smile and feel proud. India’s first residential complex, that derives its power solely from solar radiation, got inaugurated at New Town in Kolkata few days back. The complex is one of its kind in India which consumes approximately 60% less energy than the conventional ones. The solar housing complex is named as “Rabi Rashmi Abasan” in Bengali, which aptly means “abode of the sun rays”! The project comprises of 25 dwelling units, sprawling over an area of two acres, and powered by solar electricity supplied in the buildings through solar thermal system. It has been jointly developed by the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA), Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Bengal-DCL and West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HIDCO).

The entire complex would derive its power supply from the grid, which would be renewable as the power would again be exported back to the same grid. This is indeed a unique concept and can revolutionize the power system in India. The initiative has been highly applauded by West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation Ltd (WBGEDC), and is surely something to popularize eco friendly concepts in a city that has been already blacklisted amongst the most polluted cities of the world.

With global warming sending ominous signals and our planet inching towards the indefinite era of energy crisis, people across the globe are trying their best to pitch in their efforts for a greener, pollution fee world. In India also, there have been a conscious effort to gradually switchover to green alternatives. In that respect this is a great, praise worthy effort and we should raise a “green” toast to such a novel, eco- friendly gesture!