Environmental Synergies in Development - ENSYDE

This initiative was implemented in a kitchen responsible for preparing midday meals for 4,000 school children, which traditionally used firewood for cooking. A partial transition to a solar thermal system was introduced to reduce the reliance on firewood. The kitchen had previously consumed approximately 250 kg of firewood per working day, resulting in the emission of about 72.5 tonnes of CO2 annually. This project successfully offsets 20 tonnes of CO2 annually.
Impact: The project not only mitigates 20 tonnes of carbon emissions but also reduces the demand for firewood, decreases particulate matter emissions from firewood burning, and alleviates costs for the NGO managing the kitchen.

ENSYDE was commissioned by The World Bank to conduct a desk study to assess the greenhouse gas emissions associated with power projects they had financed in the Northeast Region of India. This initiative was undertaken in compliance with The World Bank's internal financing protocol, which requires the accounting of all greenhouse gas emissions from power projects they support.
Impact: This groundbreaking study was the first of its kind for a project in India and has laid the groundwork for a systematic approach to greenhouse gas accounting for future projects.

ENSYDE, in partnership with C-Quest Capital, collaborated on the development of four Project Design Documents (PDDs) intended for registration under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). These PDDs were created to outline the development, implementation, and operation of an energy-efficient lighting project. The project's primary objective was to replace incandescent lamps (ICLs) with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in residential quarters across various Railway zones, production units, and workshops in India.
Impact: The project's reach extends to approximately 650,000 households situated in the regions identified by Railways. As part of this initiative, a total of 2.6 million ICLs will be replaced with more energy-efficient CFLs, contributing to significant energy savings and reduced environmental impact.

The Hebbakavadi mini hydro project comprises a series of canal-based mini hydro units with a combined capacity of 2.95 MW. This project involves the installation of four mini hydro units along the Hebbakavadi canal in Karnataka. Unit I, with a capacity of 400 kW, is situated 2500 meters from the Hebbakavadi head regulator. Meanwhile, Unit II, Unit III, and Unit IV each have a capacity of 850 kW and are located at chainages 5550 m, 6920 m, and 7850 m, respectively, from the Hebbakavadi head regulator. Units II and III have already been commissioned and are operational, while Units I and IV are currently in the implementation phase.

Solid waste management in India has become an increasingly pressing issue, with an annual solid waste generation of approximately 300 million tonnes, a number expected to rise to around 550 million tonnes by 2050. Cities are grappling with effective waste management, leading to concerns about public health, soil contamination, and economic strain. Some waste streams, such as e-waste and medical waste, have been inadequately addressed despite their significant impact due to their high toxicity levels.
ENSYDE firmly believes that citizens can and should assume a significant role in taking responsibility for waste management when equipped with knowledge about its impacts and potential solutions.
ENSYDE has developed waste management solutions to bridge the existing gaps in the system. The primary initiatives include the bE-Responsible E-Waste Initiative and Be The Prescription for Change (Management of Expired & Unused Medicines).

The bE-Responsible Initiative, in collaboration with Saahas, has been in operation since November 2016. ENSYDE and Saahas have jointly executed this initiative, encompassing comprehensive outreach efforts, awareness campaigns, collection mechanisms, and recycling systems.
The programmatic framework of this initiative encompasses all facets, including awareness-building, collection methods, disposal procedures, recycling processes, and feedback mechanisms. While the primary aim of the initiative is to promote environmentally responsible consumer behaviour and encourage citizens to adopt eco-friendly practices, it operates through three distinct components:
Awareness
E-waste Collection
Survey and research

ENSYDE in collaboration with Hasiru Dala Innovations has launched the "Prescription for Change" initiative to address the increasing and detrimental issue of waste generated by unused and expired medications. With the rise in medication consumption due to modern lifestyles and environmental pollution, the proper management of such waste has become crucial. Currently, a significant majority (>80%) of citizens dispose of their expired or unused medications along with general dry waste, leading to their inclusion in landfills. This improper disposal contributes to soil, water, and air contamination.
Through this initiative, ENYSDE ensures the responsible segregation, collection, and disposal of expired and unused medications. This initiative is being executed in Bengaluru.

Urban areas in India are grappling with severe water stress due to unregulated groundwater extraction, pollution, and mismanagement, reaching alarming levels. Water scarcity is coupled with compromised water quality, a result of negligence and improper handling. The widespread adoption of water-saving technologies, including rainwater harvesting, faucet aerators, drip irrigation, greywater recycling, and reuse, has the potential to reduce water consumption by up to 60%. At the household level, these measures are cost-effective, straightforward, and feasible.
ENSYDE's water management initiative, "Creating Water-Resilient Communities Through Stewardship," aims to involve urban citizens in the adoption, monitoring, and education of water-related issues, promoting sustainable water practices.

Communities must attain self-resilience and self-reliance in water management by embracing new and holistic approaches that address the challenges posed by urbanization, evolving demands, and changing behavioural patterns. Active community involvement in water management is paramount for progress. Collaborating with partner organizations, ENSYDE aims to tackle the intricate water issues affecting Bangalore city's Urban Water Supply. This involves integrating cutting-edge knowledge and innovation into water projects with the goal of implementing a Pilot Scale Project in an urban area. The objective is to cultivate water-positive communities that efficiently manage their water resources through integrated solutions.
Anticipated Impact: Reduction in water consumption through technology and awareness. Enhanced understanding of community-driven solutions and responsibilities. Increased adoption of rainwater harvesting, water-conservation technologies, and active participation in solutions.

Environmental education in India has made its way into classrooms and curricula, but there remains a significant gap between theory and practical implementation. Students, including children and youth, possess the potential to drive lasting positive change. They can become effective stewards of the environment when they develop a genuine concern for it and believe in their ability to propose solutions.
ENSYDE's distinctive experiential environmental education program, known as "Planeteers," offers students this invaluable opportunity. Planeteers empowers students to comprehend, research, execute, monitor, and educate others about the importance of environmental issues and potential solutions. This educational initiative provides students with a platform to implement straightforward yet impactful projects related to energy, water, and waste management in their homes, schools, or communities.

ENSYDE is actively developing and delivering non-curriculum-based modules using demonstrations, projects, and presentations. These educational modules are designed for students ranging from grade 5 to 10 and provide outcome-based sessions that emphasize environmental, scientific, and social awareness, particularly in the areas of energy, water, and waste management.
Impact Achieved: ENSYDE has successfully sensitized over 500 students to important concepts related to energy, water, and waste. Within a span of 8 months, the organization has facilitated the completion of over 96 environmental projects by these students, fostering practical engagement and learning.