Dr Hariharan is an economist who turned to business in the mid-1980s. He has presided over projects on water, energy and green buildings for over 25 years, from times when green was a word only for the colour. He heads Biodiversity Conservation India, known more popularly as the ZED group for its ‘zero energy development homes’, and Factor4 Foundation, which is leading initiatives to accelerate urban efficiency on energy, water and waste management.
Group ZED is creating nearly 5000 homes that are ‘zero energy developed’ - with near-zero dependence on city civic infrastructure for energy, water and waste.
Factor4 Foundation is dedicated to deep-eco applied action research, and is looking at skill sets training, mentoring eco-preneurs, education and outreach, enabling energy- and water-positive villages, and promoting investments into green companies with an Eco-venture fund.
In 2010, he was conferred the distinguished Udyog Rattan Award for Excellence by the Institute of Economic Studies, New Delhi. The Week magazine chose him to be among ’30 Indian Pearls’ to commemorate their 30th anniversary. The Asian Development Bank in Manila chose him to be the Asian Water Champion from among such experts in 63 nations of Asia.
He has been a builder, innovator, technology scout. He also runs columns in national dailies and portals on urban sustainability.
He has been consultant for governments of Uttaranchal, Kerala and Nagaland on eco-conscious tourism infrastructure and shaped environment policies, apart from serving as consultant for urban water supply and sanitation development for the Asian Development Bank. He has also consulted on energy practices for the Paris-based ADEME.
Wife Prof Kanchan Kaur is Vice Dean of the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore. Son Nirvikalpa is a film-maker, documenting the damage to micro environments across India.
|
|
