The concept of sustainable living has gained momentum over the last couple of years and for all the right reasons; the idea of meeting human needs and improving their quality of life while minimizing the negative impact on the environment is only so important when we consider the looming climate crisis.
Ideal urban housing should satisfy the lifestyle of people and community all the while including elements of environmental-friendliness. But there is a misconception that sustainable housing comes at the cost of luxury. The idea is that one has to be compromised for the other. To contradict that thought – an ideal residency unit can be energy-efficient and luxurious at the same time.
In fact, as the luxury goods market is evolving around the culture of combining luxury and sustainability, the construction sector is going through a similar evolution.
At the center of this homebuilding evolution is Eighteen. A gated housing community located 10 minutes from the New Islamabad International Airport and 20 minutes from downtown Islamabad, Eighteen embodies the intertwining of luxury and sustainability. Consisting of residential, commercial units, the building structures at Eighteen present the cutting edge of sustainable architecture and environmental design. The construction of Eighteen’s luxurious villas and apartments is based around the principle of conserving valuable resources like water and energy.
For energy efficiency, Eighteen will have an allocated grid station as its primary source of power generation but will also be installing its own power generating units as backup. The houses are built keeping in mind the access of sunlight so that each house can have their photovoltaic (PV) installation and use solar power for electricity. Similarly, Eighteen has also planned a PV plant of 1 Mega watt to power the public spaces and roads. Eighteen’s commitment to energy-efficiency is demonstrated by the fact that it aims to generate electricity through solar power for nearly all its structures.
To avoid disruption to the natural water table, there will be minimum boreholes and harvested rainwater will be the main source of water. This water conservation plan has been made keeping in mind the annual rainfall received by the twin cities, which is recorded at 1.2m high for every m2 of land. With Eighteen’s land size sitting at 2.7 million square yards, the annual rain reserve would, be substantial. Harvesting this rainwater and using it, as the main source of water would avoid water wastage, in the long run. As far as the irrigation system is concerned, it is being designed and supplied by a renowned international based firm named TORO. The plan for the golf course is that it will be irrigated by grey water produced from the high volume capacity sewage treatment plants located within Eighteen.
According to World Green Building Council, building and construction, together, are responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world. Eighteen caters to this particular environmental hazard by constructing on a small environmental footprint, without wasting any excess energy. Furthermore, with a construction area limited to 29% for all built up components including residential, commercial, utilities, amenities and all other of a total of 2.7million square yards, Eighteen is home to an international standard 18 hole golf course and the project boasts a large green area consisting of trees, quality landscaping, parks and community spaces which are both visually appealing and prove to be environmentally friendly.
Eighteen’s commitment to eco-friendly practices does not remain limited to its own vicinity. The luxury lifestyle project has played the role of a socially responsible property investor and has taken initiatives to help uplift the environment of the city. In July 2020, Eighteen entered a three-year partnership with WWF-Pakistan (World Wide Fund for Nature) for a Tree Plantation Campaign that aims to plant trees in the capital’s urban areas and is geared towards bringing ecological benefits to the city.
Eighteen is properly planned with a long-term vision of how the construction will benefit, and not burden, future generations. As such, it presents the perfect option for luxury-buyers of Pakistan, who wish to do the environmentally-right thing.
Needless to say, luxury construction projects built on the values of sustainability and reduced impact on climate change are the perfect investment option for modern homebuyers. The residency units are built to last and contribute to a better quality of life.
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