GREEN INITIATIVES
The Green Initiative’s objective is to offset Greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. While there are innumerable sustainable practices, we at NMKRV endeavored to create an “Environmentally Conscious Workplace” through the following Green Strategy Initiatives
- Leaf litter Digester
- Rain Water Harvesting
- Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)
- E-Waste Management
- Solar Unit Installation
LEAF LITTER DIGESTER (COMPOSTING UNITS)
Objectives
- Minimizing solid waste generation
- Converting the green waste into organic manure
Context
Green manure improves the Physical, Chemical and Biological properties of the soil and the water holding capacity of the soil. It helps in maintaining the C: N ratio of the soil and increases the fertility and productivity of the soil. It checks the growth of the weeds.
The practice
The Botany Department took an initiative of installing Garden leaf composter as a step towards waste management. In March 2018, two units of garden leaf composter were installed. Each metal mesh composter is approx.4.10ft dia X5ft height. One in the Herbal medicinal garden and other in the college campus near the main gate. The vendor is “Soil and Health Solutions”.
The college campus is about 4.5 acres and has many trees. Since the litter is huge we decided to install the composter and convert the litter into green manure. Green litter collected every day is added to the decompost bin. Every 15 days, along with the microorganisms about 10 lts of water is added regularly. By four months the litter converts into organic manure and is collected from the lower strata of the composting unit through a small outlet.
Evidence of success
The compost harvested is rich in nutrient content of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK). The manure from one unit is sufficient for our herbal garden and we market the excess manure. The symbiotic advantages were: promoting the practice of using organic manure and retention of soil fertility among the plant growers, Hands on training for students on the methodology of converting green waste into organic manure, offering consulting services to the public regarding the conversion of kitchen waste into organic manure and marketing of the organic manure to create self-sustainability.
Problem encountered and resources required
Upon perusing the proposal, the Management had reservations about the foul smell usually associated with composting. Later it was substantiated that no foul smell would emit as it was supplemented with microorganisms and natural insect repellent and so would not create any nuisance to anyone in the environment.
RAIN WATER HARVESTING
Green manure improves the Physical, Chemical and Biological properties of the soil and the water holding capacity of the soil. It helps in maintaining the C: N ratio of the soil and increases the fertility and productivity of the soil. It checks the growth of the weeds.
Objectives
Storage of rain water that falls upon the roof and using it as a free water resource. This method reduces the consumption of water on the campus and can be used as back-up for emergencies. The Water Supply Cost is lessened. There is reduced loss in top soil. Rain water being soft it lowers the need for detergents.
The practice
For rain water harvesting the pits were installed in the below mentioned locations
| Location | Description of pits |
|---|---|
|
NMKRV PU College |
03 pits with 15 rings each of thickness 9 inch and 12 feet depth |
|
Basket ball court |
04 pits with 15 rings each of thickness 9 inch and 12 feet depth |
|
Parking lot |
02 pits with 15 rings each of thickness 9 inch and 12 feet depth |
|
Degree college garden |
02 pits with 15 rings each of thickness 9 inch and 12 feet depth |
|
College open field |
03 pits with 15 rings each of thickness 9 inch and 12 feet depth |
|
RV Law college |
03 pits with 15 rings each of thickness 9 inch and 12 feet depth |
|
PU Sports hall |
01 pits with 15 rings each of thickness 9 inch and 12 feet depth |
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT (STP)
The STP usage reduced the usage of Fresh water and thereby helped to minimize the
Cost of Water usage and was an effective Economy Measure.
Treatment of sewage has become a mandatory requirement in today’s world to conserve usage of fresh water by utilizing the treated water for gardening, flushing and floor mopping etc. Therefore, the institution installed and is running a state-of-the-art MBR-Sewage treatment plant.
sewage generation basis
Water demand is calculated based on the actual consumption. Total quantity of water utilized in the premises when it is fully operational is reported to be 25KLD as per actual observations.
Below conditions have been considered to design the MBR STP
- Water consumed on daily basis is 25000ltrs/day
- 80% of the water consumed will be converted to sewage
Based on the above details, sewage generation is as below,
25000 X 80% = 20000ltrs/day
The practice
In 2020, the STP was installed. The size of the Plant is 20 kld. The waste water diverted from Rest rooms and Canteen, after recycling, is used for watering the gardens on the campus.
E- WASTE MANAGEMENT
Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing pollution problems worldwide given the presence of a variety of toxic substances which can contaminate the environment and threaten human health, if disposal protocols are not meticulously managed.
The key to success in terms of e-waste management is to develop eco-design devices, properly collect e-waste, recover and recycle material by safe methods, dispose of e-waste by suitable techniques, forbid the transfer of used electronic devices to developing countries, and raise awareness of the impact of e-waste.
Recycling for e-waste will be a necessity, not only to address the shortage of mineral resources for electronics industry, but also to decline environmental pollution and human health risk.
Objectives
To Re-cycle e-waste and thus address the shortage of mineral resources for electronics industry, and to arrest environmental pollution and human health risk.
The practice
The RSS Trust , of which NMKRV College for Women is a part of , has signed an MOU with a waste collecting agency ,M/S E-WaRDD & Co , to collect and recycle e-waste scrap materials in a scientific and environmental friendly manner. The Waste Collecting Agency has obtained all the necessary clearance/permission from the respective authorities in compliance with the applicable statutory rules and regulations for the above said purpose. The e-waste is collected by all the departments and is disposed once every quarter.
SOLAR UNIT INSTALLATION
Objectives
To generate electricity using solar energy
The context
To capture solar energy as our roof area is large.
The practice
Solar unit is installed on the third floor of the college campus. Solar unit is with 5k Watt back up with battery. There are 20 solar panels, each with 5 lines, and Each line consists 4 panels.
Evidence of success
It is used to generate electricity at a lower cost. The Biotech department and the four classrooms on the same floor gets solar electricity. We have cut down on electricity charges.