Habitat for Humanity India successfully completed its pilot project on climate-resilient housing in Odisha, supporting three vulnerable families in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and Jatni Municipality, Khordha District. These families, belonging to Scheduled Caste and general categories with limited incomes and little access to formal housing schemes, were identified based on their vulnerability and urgent housing needs.
Partnering with Habitat India, the families built new homes using green construction technologies. These homes are designed to be flood-resistant, thermally insulated, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable. Key features include raised plinths, solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems and efficient water and waste management solutions.
Among the homeowners is Ms. Susama Das, a domestic worker from Dumduma Pana Sahi, Bhubaneswar. She and her family previously lived in a semi-pucca house vulnerable to flooding and structural damage. Reflecting on her experience, she shared:
“During the rainy season, water would flood our home from every direction. We couldn’t even stay inside. When the Habitat India team visited and listened to our concerns, they promised support. Now, we live in a beautiful home with a kitchen, toilet and solar power. We feel safe and secure in every season. The worry is gone.”
In a significant achievement, all three homes have been awarded the Indian Green Building Council ‘Nest’ (IGBC Nest) Gold rating, recognising their exceptional commitment to sustainable, affordable and climate-resilient housing. 'IGBC Nest' is a first-of-its-kind eco-friendly, self-developed framework and certification that aims to bring awareness and drive the individual owners to build a sustainable home with no or meager additional cost.
The IGBC NEST certification involved multiple stages, beginning with project registration and the submission of detailed technical documentation, including architectural drawings, calculations and photographs. The homes were then evaluated by IGBC’s technical team. Based on the total credits earned across categories such as Site Selection, Water Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environmental Quality, the homes received the prestigious Gold rating.
These certified homes now stand as model examples of green housing at the individual household level. They demonstrate that sustainability is achievable even in small-scale, affordable housing projects, paving the way for the wider adoption of green building practices among vulnerable communities in Odisha and beyond. The IGBC NEST certification also aligns with national priorities such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and India’s climate resilience goals.
