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The Hindu : Reduce, reuse, recycleThe simple formula of using the three ‘R’s in the property industry will help in creating cleaner living spaces and preserving nature, says MYTHILI G. NIRVANThe pollution level in the city is increasing every day. The number of vehicles has been steadily increasing. And the number of trees on either side of the roads has been reducing. Road widening and property development have taken a toll on the city’s green cover. Lack of adequate space for rainwater seepage into the ground has led to dropping water tables. Discharge of industrial effluents has led to polluted ground water.What is the answer to the problem of environment degradation and pollution?There is no point in berating development. There is bound to be a rapid growth and the city’s boundaries are bound to go further. More vehicles will ply on the roads and there will be lesser number of trees in the city limits. This is the price one has to pay for development.“The answer lies in innovation and eco-friendly measures in production and built environments. We need to ensure that as many products as possible are made using bio-degradable materials. Also, we need to minimise cutting down trees or tapping fossil fuels. This certainly is possible without putting the brakes on the pace of commercial development,” advises Ramakumar Purushotham, Associate Vice-President, Energy Upstream, Enzen Global Solutions, an energy and environment consulting firm.Formula for conservation“There is a simple formula to conserve the environment: The Three ‘R’s — Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle,” explains Ramakumar. “Every manufacturing industry can adapt these methods in the processes easily. A national environment policy will soon be put in place. This policy aims at creating cleaner manufacturing processes that will not endanger the environment.”In the context of the property sector, it is possible to create a more eco-friendly environment using the simple formula of the three ‘R’s.Reduce strainIt is necessary to reduce the…More