The Roseland Residency Cooperative Housing Society of Pimple Saudagar, Pune, is a residential society comprising almost 1,000 families that is committed to promoting and implementing environmentally responsible procedures and actions, including a solid waste management system, water and energy conservation, and a rain water harvesting system. The community is also a plastic-free zone.

Roseland Residency work is inspiration because not only do they have an amazing track record of getting result oriented project implemented in a professional way but also share their best practices with communities and help them in implementation.

The society undertook energy conservation project and at the end of the first year, saved 91,389 units (KWh) of electricity, avoided 68 tons of CO2 equivalent emission translating into direct savings of Rs. 103,390 in energy expenses.

The society also embarked on a rain water harvesting project in the year 2010 – 2011, which helped discharge huge amounts of water into the ground, thereby raising the ground water table which provides water 24 x 7 x 365 days. The proud residents have not ordered a water tanker since 2010.

The society launched a unique initiative of distributing a "Reusable Shopping Bags" to each and every household with a “green” message printed on each bag. The residents carry this reusable bag every time they go shopping, thus avoiding the use of non-biodegradable plastic and polythene bags and helping promote a green and clean environment. 

The society also segregates biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste and has been using the biodegradable kitchen waste for composting, which is eco-friendly option for a clean and green planet.

In order to save native plants and help biodiversity they have planted a lot of native trees within and around society premises. The plantation of native plants not only help in conservation of native plants but also supports native biodiversity like birds, bees and butterflies.

In order to save House Sparrows which have been declining the society undertook habitat creation and installed nest boxes, bird feeders and baths for sparrows. As a result the sparrow population increased and now there are more than 400 sparrows there.

The Roseland Residency family’s success with such green initiatives is an inspiration for other societies and should be replicated by all residential societies across the country to ensure that our world is a green and a clean place to live for us and for our coming generations....