Indian cities are simmering in their own waste heat

Cities in northern plains used to cool down during night, but nowadays they are trapping this heat overnight sending their citizens into a …

कुंभ के बीच बेचैन करते सवाल

अब समय आ चुका है कि धरती की सबसे महान नदियों में से एक के त…

Overflowing pitcher of disquiet

It is high time to start investing and investigating ecological cost of holding the Kumbh 

India's National Action Plan on Climate Change needs desperate repair

India's National Action Plan on Climate Change has been slow to start and its sectoral missions are not aligned with the schemes the government …

Yes, Delhi Metro is more unaffordable than the New York City Subway

My own experience shows that the Delhi Metro pinches the minimum survival expense of a well-off Delhite at least twice as hard as the NYC subway …

Don’t get dazzled by these stars

Bureau of Energy Efficiency has just updated star rating standards for refrigerators and ACs, but the Indian rating system, especially for ACs, …

The fault in our stars

ISEER, the new system of rating and labeling ACs that began this year, seems designed to serve industry interest rather than consumer or climate …

Murky science of comfort part 5: Here’s how being mindful is good for the environment

We cannot wish away air-conditioning in today’s world, but we can be reasonable in choosing where, when and how to resort to the energy guzzlers

Debunking science behind 'comfortable' temperature

What is a comfortable temperature? The question seems benign at surface but the answer has far reaching ecological consequences

Murky science of comfort part 4: If you are poor, then simply tolerate heat

This is the expectation of the National Building Code, which defines standards for ‘comfortable’ temperatures for buildings in India

Murky science of comfort part 3: Industry defined standards make us feel uncomfortable without ACs

The Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning industry has made sure that we get used to heating and cooling appliances by setting arbitrary …

Murky science of comfort part 2: Why we feel suffocated in a building even when it is pleasant outside

Humans are built to get used to local environments but unfortunately industry interests have come to define what ‘comfortable’ room …

Murky science of comfort part 1: Debunking science behind 'comfortable' temperature

What is a comfortable temperature? The question seems benign on the surface but the answer has far reaching ecological consequences

Yet again, Delhi sets new record for peak electricity demand

The city’s peak demand has been consistently higher than that of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai combined during this time of the year

If sanitation is treated as a community problem, we can make something happen for very little money

Just like a better iPhone is not the solution to poor telecom connectivity, sanitation cannot be solved by a smart, well-designed product, sold …

Not as Cool: Ensure real world energy savings from ACs

With extreme weather events, heat waves and heat island effects becoming common, testing of ACs must become stringent to ensure real world performance

Notes on 100 smart cities

The new government is on a techno-heavy mission to create modern cities. Does it have the vision it takes?

Jostling for jhuggi land

The Shakur Basti eviction drive calls for a thorough review of the railways’ mandate, politics of urban land and housing of urban poor

Slums and the story of India's housing crisis

The rate at which informal housing is being destroyed probably far exceeds the rate at which formal housing is being constructed

Rescuing the stepwells of Jodhpur

Will Delhi air poison Obama on Republic Day?

Please wear a dust mask at the parade Mr President, for our sake at least

Remembering Charles Correa, one of the pioneers of sustainable architecture

Celebrated architect and urban planner Charles Correa died on June 16 in Mumbai. Down To Earth revisits nine of his architectural gems designed …

Unsteady buildings

Frequency of building collapses a big concern. Authorities are trying to fix the mess by introducing newer complications

After 7.9 shock

The earthquake that shook Nepal and northern India underscores the urgency to understand the seismicity of the Himalayas and to improve the …

Will there be a smarter approach to smart cities in Indo-US deal?

India and the US are expected to sign an agreement to build three smart cities. But these will need more than digital management systems to make …