Rethinking India’s Roofs for Energy, Water, Food, Community and the Environment

The demand for water, energy and food in India is met through centralized collection/ generation and transport over long distances to the urban areas with high wastage rates. The urban residents have grown dependent on the supply of these resources -mass produced by unsustainable means- which have come to symbolize a certain quality of life in urban India. The rapidly growing urban population has put a strain on the availability of these resources with issues such as ground water shortage, power deficits, inflation and recreational spaces making it difficult for the common man to satisfy his daily needs. It is essential for us to look beyond the conventional means of providing urban areas with water, energy and food to ensure long-term sustainability. 

The redesign of the under-utilized, urban rooftops has the potential to dramatically improve the water, energy and food scenario along with the quality of life in Indian cities. The interventions proposed in this thesis will help reduce rainwater runoff from hard paved surfaces, ensure self-sufficiency in electricity and food production, and provide space for recreation on the rooftops of the buildings among other benefits. The recommendations indicate which systems are the most efficient for the different climates considered and will be useful in drafting policies and providing subsidies for the sustainable development of cities in India.