Welcome to a community with a shared commitment to build a more sustainable, greener, cleaner and secure future for Bangalore. As residents of apartments we acknowledge the profound impact we can make, not only within our living spaces but across the broader spectrum of our shared environment. 

Our community embodies the belief that every individual, every household, and every endeavour has the potential to shape a brighter, more sustainable world. Together, we navigate a landscape where challenges are opportunities, where our actions today lay the cornerstone for a community grounded in resilience, sustainability, and shared achievements. Welcome to a place where each resident is an indispensable thread in a narrative woven with unity, accountability, and the promise of a more enlightened future.

Join us in celebrating the success of our RetroFit event, where we witnessed incredible outcomes that are shaping the future of our apartment community:

• Building Connections: RetroFit fostered strong connections among fellow apartment residents who gained a better appreciation of collective challenges and found innovative ways to overcome them while evaluating and installing Retrofit solutions in our apartments.
• Value of Sustainable Solutions: Participants gained valuable insights into various energy and water-related solutions that not only save costs but also significantly reduce any adverse environmental impact. (More details about the Solution Providers in Annex 1)
• Policy Understanding: We delved into the nuances and gaps in policy and regulations related to water and energy in apartments, empowering us to advocate for better policies that support sustainable RetroFit initiatives.
• Resource Constraints: We came to appreciate the constraints of existing resources and ways to overcome them.
• Fun and Togetherness: While working together for a common cause, we had a fantastic time and built a sense of community.
• Carbon Neutral: We are proud to announce that our event was carbon-neutral, aligning with our commitment to a sustainable future.

The activities conducted during RetroFit were: 

• Bangalore's Context: We began by discussing Bangalore's unique context, including the startling fact that population density is set to double compared to 1970 figures. This highlights the pressing need to address water, energy, and waste constraints, which are further exacerbated by climate change.
• Policy Insights: We shared insights into the policy landscape, emphasising everyday climate action steps that can be taken. We also highlighted our collaboration with the Karnataka Apartment Cell to address policy gaps and ensure the viability of Retrofit solutions.
• BAF Champions: We showcased BAF champions who had successfully identified opportunities to reduce costs and environmental footprints, evaluated vendors and solutions, and presented strong cases to their Managing Committees.
• Solution Presentations: Solution providers presented a wide range of possibilities, explaining their advantages, drawbacks, financing options, and clear ROI. Examples included smart water metres, energy-efficient sewage treatment plants, reuse, and sale of treated water, and rainwater harvesting.
• Interactive Games: We engaged in group games designed to tackle real-world constraints and reduce maintenance costs creatively. (Link to Case study 1 and Case Study 2, for reference only)
• Results and Rewards: We shared the results of our collective efforts and distributed prizes to participants who contributed significantly to the success of our event.

As we look to the future, here's what lies ahead for Hasiru Communities:

• Knowledge Sharing: We will continue to collate knowledge on solution possibilities and share insights within our community. We have begun collating this on the Hasiru Communities Webpage.
• Strengthening Our Community: Our commitment to strengthening the community remains unwavering. Together, we will work towards a more sustainable future. We will continue to utilise the BAF Hasiru WhatsApp group for further communication.
• Marketplace of Verified Solution Providers: We are in the process of putting together a marketplace of verified solution providers, making it easier for you to access trusted Retrofit solutions vetted by our partners.
• Policy Advocacy: Our engagement with the Apartment Cell at BBMP will persist as we strive to close policy gaps and ensure that Retrofits remain a viable option.
• Momentum Building: We are planning more activities like this to maintain the momentum and dedicated effort towards RetroFit. Together, we can create a greener, more sustainable tomorrow for our apartment community.

We would like to thank the solutions providers who came together to share their solutions and experiences in deploying them in apartment buildings:

• EcoSoch Solar : A solar rooftop company with a ROI calculator and an opportunity to finance the solar installation with innovative solutions.
• AB Ceramics : A inventor led company with cool roof tiles (High Solar Reflective Index) and cool roof paints that can reduce the temperature by 1-3 *C
• Boson White Water:  An innovative and cost effective way to treat, reuse and sell treated Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) greywater.
• Rainy Filter : Rain water harvesting solutions, including recharge pits and nature based filters for basic filtration.
• ECO STP : An innovative no-energy and cost effective Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) for treating greywater effectively.
• Urban Civic : An ultrasonic water metre that can help measure water consumption.

While Retrofits are relevant for existing apartments, the Greenest buildings are the ones that are designed to be resource efficient right from the design and construction phase. This is the path that Brigade Enterprises Ltd. has committed to, and hence were the main sponsors of the RetroFit event and Hasiru Communities initiatives. 

Established in 1986, Brigade Enterprises Ltd. is one of India’s leading property developers with over three decades of expertise in building positive experiences for all their stakeholders and winning their customers’ trust. Brigade has developed many landmark buildings and transformed skylines across South India in the cities of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi with developments across Residential, Office, Retail and Hotels.

Thank you for being a part of this inspiring journey towards sustainability. Let's continue to work together for a brighter future!