India features Strongly again in the Ashden Awards shortlist

A company selling solar heaters to India’s tea and spice makers and a developer of low-carbon homes in India’s urban areas have been shortlisted for the 2015 Ashden Awards, the world’s most prestigious green awards. Tamil Nadu’s SunBest and Mahindra Lifespaces, which has offices  across nine cities in the country, are two of 10 organisations to be shortlisted for the Awards, which will be announced on 11 June 2015.

Mahindra Lifespaces is transforming urban landscape by creating sustainable communities by developing attractive low-carbon homes in Mumbai and other urban areas in India. Simple techniques like making sure the building faces the right direction and using insulation, efficient lighting and natural light, help home-owners save energy and cut carbon emissions, with the costs of energy-saving measures paid back within seven years through savings on fuel bills. After selling more than 3,000 good-quality homes in the last three years, Mahindra Lifespaces  has also entered into the space of affordable housing.

Said Anita Arjundas, Managing Director & CEO, of Mahindra Lifespaces: “Mahindra Lifespaces is committed towards designing urban infrastructure on the foundation of progressive social, economic and environmental management. We are delighted that our commitment to sustainable development is being recognised at an international forum.”

SunBest is showing how Indian tea and spice makers can save money and reduce their carbon footprints by using solar energy in their production processes. Typically, fresh tea and spices are dried using air that’s heated by burning large amounts of fossil fuels or wood. Indian business SunBest sells solar heaters to large agricultural businesses that do the exactly the same job, but with much less damage to the environment. The large heaters are easily accommodated on the roofs of processing factories.

Said Palaniappan, Managing Director of SunBest: “Solar air heater and solar dryer have proved as a powerful tool to combat the food waste as well as help job creation in developing countries, as well as helping to reduce the use of fossil fuels.  Winning an Ashden Award would help raise our profile and show the rest of the world how effective our products are in helping improve nutrition, cut food waste and reduce fossil fuel use.”

Global solar lantern company Greenlight Planet, which originated in Orissa and has now sold  2.9 million lamps worldwide, has also been shortlisted for the 2015 Ashden Awards. The company is pushing up the quality of solar lighting around the world with its durable, affordable ‘Sun King’ range of solar lamps. Emanating a more powerful light and lasting longer than previous models, the lamps are also very versatile: you can put them on a stand, carry them around or hang them on the wall.
Now in their 15^th year, the Ashden Awards celebrate pioneering businesses and organisations that are helping tackle climate change and improving people’s lives. Over 20 organisations in India have won Ashden Awards since 2001. In 2010, Indian Ashden Award winners formed the Ashden India Renewable Energy Collective which acts as a voice for the sustainable energy sector in India.

A total of 11 Ashden Award winners will be announced at ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society in London on 11 June 2015. Winners will receive up to £40,000 and global recognition as one of 2015’s green energy trailblazers.