Techniques/ technologies
The building industry eats up most of the earth's resources. Habitat insists on building only with building materials and technologies which are environmental friendly, energy efficient, locally available, cost-effective and respecting the context of the place such as topography, climatology and culture. It strives to preserve the native architectural wisdom, and integrate it appropriately with modern approaches . It has through the years been able to develop a set of technologies which can be used for all scale of constructions, such as from a rich man's private mansion to a poor man's dwelling. It has also been able to develop several resources such as skilled masons and building material suppliers, who are needed to support construction in such technologies. As a response to the rapidly spreading concrete construction, habitat has decided to build in technologies which respect the well-established traditional style of building and living. They have done a lot of research and construction in mud construction such as mud blocks, soil plaster and finishing, building with rattrap bond and filler slabs, use of locally available and recycled wood and climatic designing such as allowing effective cross-ventilation and ample sun light into the building.
Human resources
Habitat has been able to employ, train and sensitize hundreds of architects, engineers and social workers in the art of building with appropriate technologies. For example, Mr. Hari Kumar, the project Director of the UNDP Shelter project was a part of HTG. For being able to build in non-conventional technologies, one needs much more than design ideas and technological know-how. HTG has been able to train thousands of masons and artisans in their style of construction and also been able to promote a huge network of alternative building material manufacturers and suppliers to stand against the cement and steel construction lobby, all across the country. It currently has 28 responding centers in 9 states all over the country.
Training capacities
Habitat Technology Group is actively engaged in propagating the best practices in construction technology for which they use training as one of the main tools. They conduct training programs to upgrade the skills of professionals, artisans and skilled workers in habitat sector. Moreover, they also focus on the training of women and marginal income groups to empower them. For example they have assisted Gram Vikas is formulating the bare-foot engineer's and mason's training course. They also give training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs for starting production centers of cost effective building materials as in the case of a private enterprise under the name of SAL Interlocking Blocks, which is a compressed mud block production unit, setup with their assistance.
R&D / cataloguing / publications
Habitat undertakes research on various aspects of human settlement building. It has been publishing the Habitat newsletter which talks about Habitat events and announcements of the partner organisation. It is also involved in various advocacy issues related to the environment and construction sector.
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