Empowering Communities: The Vision of PowerHYDE
Addressing Sustainable Housing Needs
PowerHYDE, devised by Prasoon Kumar and Robert Verrijt of Billion Bricks, India, and Singapore, stands as a beacon of hope for empowering individuals without homes across Southeast Asia. Recognized as one of the winners of the Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction, this innovative housing model explores sustainable solutions to provide growth opportunities and empowerment to marginalized communities.
A Carbon-Negative Solar Home Community
Billion Bricks Community, the brainchild behind PowerHYDE, is hailed as the world’s first carbon-negative solar home community. It endeavors to uplift families out of poverty within a single generation while championing environmental sustainability. The initiative aims to revolutionize the housing sector by offering energy-sufficient and affordably priced homes built using indigenous prefab assembly techniques, ensuring ease of construction even in remote locations.
Addressing the Global Housing Crisis
With over 1.8 billion people currently lacking adequate housing and projections indicating a need for housing for over 3 billion individuals by 2050, conventional approaches to housing are proving insufficient. Moreover, the construction sector’s significant contribution to global energy consumption and CO2 emissions underscores the urgency of rethinking traditional housing paradigms to address both the housing crisis and climate challenges.
The Billion Bricks Community Model
A Billion Bricks community represents a holistic solution, integrating clean energy and social housing into a financially sustainable business model. By harnessing surplus solar energy and leveraging Power Purchase Agreements, these communities generate essential revenue streams to fund housing projects. Additionally, they provide essential amenities such as education, healthcare, and recreational facilities, aiming to lift families out of poverty and improve their living standards.
Plug-and-Play Modular Homes
Billion Bricks homes are designed as plug-and-play modular units, eliminating the need for external services and enabling immediate functionality upon completion. These homes are self-sufficient, generating their energy, harvesting rainwater, managing sewage, and even cultivating food. Furthermore, future iterations will incorporate smart technologies to enhance performance and adaptability, catering to the evolving needs of communities.
Progress and Expansion
The completion of the first prototype in Mathjalgaon Village, India, marks a significant milestone in the journey of PowerHYDE. Owned by the Dokhale family, this prototype has provided a home for those previously homeless. With additional homes constructed and in use in the Philippines, plans are underway for a large-scale community near Manila, aiming to house 500 families and generate 10MW of power, furthering the vision of PowerHYDE to empower communities and foster sustainable development.
