On March 6, twenty inspiring winners were announced for the What Design Can Do Clean Energy Challenge, during a special edition of Stadsleven Amsterdam. The international jury of experts selected 3 winning ideas for each of the five cities around the world which took part. Today, we are shining the spotlight on the exceptional designs that triumphed for Delhi.
The growing population and the rapid growth in purchasing power in Delhi, means that the energy demand in buildings is only increasing. Reducing the energy that is used to heat, cool and light buildings is a crucial step towards lowering emissions. The winning ideas provide low carbon-footprint solutions to air cooling and purification as well as building materials.
THE WINNERS
BEEHIVE: BIOMIMETIC COOLER AND AIR PURIFIER
BY MONISH SIRIPURAPU & ANT STUDIO | WINNER STARTUP TRACK
This design balances art, nature and technology and consumes 40% less energy compared to other systems. Airing pass through terracotta pots soaked in water, becomes cooler. The use of vernacular material reduces embodied energy, the use of passive energy strategies reduces environmental impact, and the use of craft gives it a distinct character and encourages local employment by incorporating traditional craft. Additionally, the flexibility in design allows varying the scale of the installation, ranging from open public spaces to semi-open indoor spaces like railway stations, airports and atriums.
COMMENTS FROM THE TEAM:
“We believe that functional art is the future. Beehive provides a piece of art to bring awareness to traditional methods and environmentally friendly solutions. It is also a testimony that innovative, informed design can incorporate traditional air cooling methods with modern technology. Creating a sustainable, zero emission, zero plastic and inexpensive alternative.”
comments FROM THE JURY:
“The Beehive speaks to ancient cultural practices that are global in scope and brings them to a new, really urgent purpose. At the same time, it is beautiful and poetic. And because it is made of terracotta, this design can be executed in many other countries where cooling is needed and clay is available. It supports livelihoods and communities and shows that not everything has to come at the cost of existing communities and countries. It offers a nice balance of beauty, function, economic livelihoods and community.”
AGROCRETE: CARBON-NEGATIVE HOMES
BY TARUN JAMI & GREENJAMS INFRASTRUCTURES | WINNER STARTUP TRACK
Agrocrete is made from a mix of agricultural waste such as wheat straw and locally available lime and clay. Together they produce a light-weight building material with adequate strength, durability and thermal needs. Essentially, a carbon-negative alternative to bricks and concrete. Furthermore, by using a by-product as a material source, farmers who would normally burn their agricultural waste will instead have an alternative income.
COMMENTS FROM THE TEAM:
“If only we paid enough attention to how nature works, and derived some of its creativity and design in how it functions. That way we could transform our societies while ensuring a healthy life and the promise of a bright future. As for our product, we seek to create an identity amongst our customers for thinking beyond the status quo and creating a product that performs better than our competitors.”
comments FROM THE JURY:
“Agrocrete simply turns a waste problem into a solution. The circularity of this project is gorgeous. And the hidden benefit that is usually not considered is how expensive and energy consuming it is to transport heavy items like bricks. This could have revolutionary impact. Meanwhile, this design can help to end child labour in the brick industry in India and make an end to crop residue burning which is common practice in India and causes a lot of air pollution in cities like Delhi.”
PRAANAM — For your home
BY PRANKUR KATARIA & PRIYANKA RAI | WINNER STUDENT TRACK
This product is a window attachment which cools the air coming from outside by around 4 degrees Celsius, as well as purify it. As a product for lower income groups, it is an alternative to expensive and high energy consumption air conditioners. Therefore, portability is important so that those who rent their accommodation can use it wherever they live.
COMMENTS FROM THE TEAM:
“We need more new approaches and unconventional but novel and valuable solutions. Our next steps are to further enhance material research, refine the product and explore mass manufacturing to bring down the cost. We also want to come up with a prototype for its Beta Testing. Further on, we intend towards expansion in other cities facing similar problems both national and international.”
comments FROM THE JURY:
“This project emerged from one of the design jams, coming from an engineering student and a design student who met in the jam. Therefore, the project speaks to the power of collaboration. It has a nice simplicity to it. It’s not an elaborate technical solution, yet it is both cooling and reducing air pollution. That makes it extremely topical to the context of Delhi.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
All twenty winners of the Challenge will now enter a dedicated accelerator to help develop their projects further. The 4-month program includes a production budget and expert mentorship, and is designed to give each finalist the tools they need to make their innovation ready for market and financing.
Visit our platform for more information about the timeline, and to view all the submissions in our project gallery. In the coming weeks, we’ll highlight more winners for each city right here on the blog, as well as on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.