FOCUS : Water and Environment Management

Project: Conversion of School Campus into an Environment Friendly Zone 

Funded By: ADOBE Systems India Pvt. Ltd. 

Facilitated By: Charity Aid Foundation (CAF), New Delhi 

Duration: 2 Years

This project on “Conversion of School Campus into an Environment Friendly Zone” is an excellent instance of combined efforts. It is located at an educational institution (Kendriya Vidyalaya), designed and implemented by a not-for-profit organisation (Technology Informatics Design Endeavour - TIDE), is financially supported by ADOBE India Pvt. Ltd. and facilitated by Charity Aid Foundation (CAF), New Delhi.

The project objective is to enhance the 6th and 7th grade CBSE science syllabus of KV students and to offer insight into environmental issues of urban environments. A model environmental lab set up on the KV campus serves to help understand various environment-friendly techniques of energy, water and waste management, etc., which at present aren’t sufficiently addressed in the curriculum. The project site will not only assist the target group students, but will also stimulate general awareness among students of other school communities, by enhancing their knowledge and skill on the importance of natural resource conservation. Currently, many of the schools focus on general science labs. However, this environmental lab set-up on campus promotes a learning-by-doing experience and also encourages healthy interaction amongst students and teachers.

A rooftop rainwater harvesting system was designed and installed for collecting, filtering and storing of rainwater, as well as for recharging of groundwater aquifers. The annual rainwater harvesting potential from the 150 Sq.m of roof area is roughly 1.29 lakh litres. The other rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharging structures installed on campus are one recharge well, one recharge pit and a recharge trench of about 100 meters.

A naturally ventilated greenhouse structure of 40 Sq.m has been installed, with a rainwater harvesting system that collects rainwater falling on its roof. The drip irrigation system is used to water plants in the greenhouse. Monitoring equipments including a thermometer, a soil moisture meter and a water meter are installed in the greenhouse. Foggers and mistings are also installed, for control of temperature and humidity therein. Coloured capsicum plants are grown inside the greenhouse.

In order to create awareness and demonstrate the harnessing of solar energy, solar lighting systems have been installed in the 6th and 7th grade class rooms, the principal’s chamber, the audio-visual room, three laboratories and in a corridor. The system has its own battery, PV panels and lighting system.

A small greywater treatment unit is set up to treat 150 liters of handwash water. A natural wetland treatment (reed bed) method is adopted wherein CATTILE plants utilize the organic matter for their growth, resulting in purification of greywater, without the use of any chemicals, power or mechanical systems. The treated water collected shall later be used for watering of the garden area.

Further, a small composting unit has been installed to demonstrate the treatment of garden waste generated on campus. Raw cow-dung is used to catalyse the degradation process. Vermicomposting, another method, is also demonstrated by facilitating the process of decomposition using red worms (earthworms) in bags. The fertile compost obtained can be used to enhance the quality of soil inside the greenhouse or in gardens.

To stimulate waste management practices through proper segregation at source, 8 different trash cans have been designated to discard paper, plastic, garden, food, metal, glass, electronic and hazardous waste. The organic components shall be used to generate compost, while recyclables & e-waste are sold to recycling agencies and hazardous waste is discarded in a prescribed and safe manner.

Inauguration of the Project at KV School on 15th August 2010
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