In layman’s language, it means an ecologically friendly apartment complex that has zero emissions, uses no bricks or concrete, no toxic paints, recycles its water and is naturally temperature regulated.

The TZed Homes constructed by Biodiversity Conservation India Limited (BCIL) has won the platinum rating, the Indian Green Building Council’s highest rating for a green building.

‘Platinum’ requires between 60- 80 points on a scale that begins at 0. And Tzed Homes is the first project in the world that has won the award after it was constructed, according to BCIL CEO Chandrashekar Hariharan.

Tzed Homes, located in pensioner’s paradise White Field, is an apartment block spread over and contains 91 apartments. It was completed a year ago. Soil stabilised blocks (hydraulically pressed and sun dried earth) were used in the construction.

“There are no borewells, no chemicals are used for water treatment, we don’t have municipal water supply or sewerage board connections and sewer is not exported outside the building,” said C Hariharan.

So how does the building operate? It uses shallow aquifers, open wells and groundwater recharge systems. Water from flush tanks and baths is recycled through to the garden where it percolates into the soil and recharges the open well. Solid waste is treated for compost or made into gas through biogas digestors. Even the swimming pool (yes there is one) doesn’t use tiles.

“Indians constructed with indigenous knowledge systems for hundreds of years. All we are doing is going back to that technology,” said Hariharan. “Reduction in the use of fossil energy in every form is the need of the hour,” he added.

The homes are built in such a way that the insides are 2-4 degrees Celsius cooler than the outside ambient air temperature.

According to Hariharan, the cost of the houses range from Rs 3,000-3,200 per square feet. There are ‘2 bedders, 3 bedders and 4 bedders’ (2, 3, 4 BHK in other words) and occupancy is at 95 per cent. BCIL is planning to build villas, resorts and more apartment complexes, all ecofriendly of course.