Each kilowatt of energy costs you as it does to the environment. Yet the truth remains that lack of power is a daily struggle in India. Can you imagine the cost of power disruption to a hospital? How about the productivity drops in a leading university? Have you ever wondered about the birds and animals in forests dying due to electricity grid shocks?

That’s why our efforts in energy conservation focus on replacing traditional energy with green renewable solar energy panels. From a charitable hospital like Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital in Uttar Pradesh to Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan in New Delhi, we strive to boost more than energy. The solar panels in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve aid the forest department reduce the gridlines harming birds and animals in the forest. We solar-powered the world’s highest post office at Hikkim in Himachal Pradesh, processing units in Assam, and remotely located branches of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya. They can handle day-to-day tasks without power disruption while reducing their carbon footprint. So, we support performance and sustenance at the same time. 

Indian forests witnessed biodiversity loss over decades. Various majestic creatures roaming the length and breadth of India seem to be vanishing. While Bengal tigers, critical for a sustainable tomorrow, get much-deserved attention. But what about the bees, snow leopards, or great Indian bustards? What about the migratory birds, our guests arriving in India? So, our initiatives involve creating ecosystems of environmental and socio-economic support initiatives for all stakeholders to reduce human wildlife interactions sustainably. ICICI Foundation has initiated our initiatives in 23 forest areas in 11 states of India. 

A solar-powered bore wells charge the watering holes for Jhalana Leopard Safari, Aamagarh Leopard Safari, Nahargarh Biosphere Reserve, and Nasirabad Wildlife Range. So, animals can have water regardless of rainfall, electricity supply and local climate. 

We hired the local villagers and forest dwellers to remove invasive weeds from forests like Satpura Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve.

Removing invasive weeds like species like lantana, ipomoea and juliflora keeps herbivores and their predators in forests. No surprise visits. 

We support forest law enforcement with interventions like patrolling vehicles, solar panels to power chawkis in remote regions, tiger monitoring routes, and rescue vans in Sariska Tiger Reserve to empower the forest law enforcement handle challenges such as illegal trespassing and poaching. We empower forest dwellers and villagers with skills and resources to earn a livelihood. This reduces their forest dependency. Be it availability of water and food or empowerment of law and villagers, each effort aims to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. 

India’s carbon footprint keeps rising. Plus, eleven of the global top polluted cities are in India. To reduce India’s carbon emissions, we have started towards carbon-neutral initiative in villages and cities. In 48 villages across India, we replaced common causes of carbon emission. Chullas became smokeless. Fertilisers turned non-chemical. Electricity became green with solar panels. Waste got separated and processed sustainably.   

In cities, we train energy auditors who can help MSMEs reduce their carbon footprint while increasing productivity. These initiatives are scalable and sustainable. So greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide can continue to subside.

Waste is more than blocked sewages, waste landfills and waste-borne health problems. Waste emits carbon dioxide, methane and greenhouse gases. All the while it is a wasted potential resource. Organic waste can be a fertiliser. Parali can become biogas or fertilisers. Inorganic waste can be converted into recycled products. It is an “opportunity” for sustainable tomorrow, which is what we chose. Our initiatives help villages and city bodies manage and process waste in a way that helps the environment and people. 

Rainwater harvesting systems and solar panels support remote locations.  Nutrition and livelihood-friendly trees and carbon-neutral village initiatives address the local needs. ICICI Foundation's every initiative supports the underprivileged sections of society and the environment at the same time.