Nepali Times

It’s not just a trend anymore. Going green has become a necessity for sustainable growth. Nepali Times is hosting the second edition of EcoFair, an exclusive exhibition for eco friendly products and services on 5, 6 and 7 June at Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi.

The fair aims to develop a platform for showcasing sustainability ideas, products and services. It will be an event to discover practical, new eco-living habits that will bring together green entrepreneurs, government bodies and innovators who are leading the charge into the future. This year’s EcoFair will exhibit several ideas about sustainable lifestyles and workable examples of how to live with shortages of everything: from solar home lighting to biogas, electric vehicles to organic agriculture.

Meet the exhibitors

Laxmi Bank

As a part of its Ujyalo Abhiyaan campaign, Laxmi Bank installed solar street lights at Bagmati Bridge in Thapathali and Saint Xavier’s School in Godavari in 2012. The campaign is an initiative of ‘Laxmi Cares’—an NGO formed and run by employees of Laxmi Bank. Ujyalo Abhiyaan aims to light up one public space each year and has already installed solar street lights in places like Patan Durbar Square, Three Star Club office and Mangal Bazaar Police Station.

AEPC

Alternative Energy Promotion Centre is a semi- autonomous government body that endorses renewable energy technologies and efficient use of energy. AEPC has been working in the areas of biogas, micro hydro, solar energy, improved cooking stove, improved water mill and bio fuel production in collaboration with donors and the government.

Brihat Investments

Brihat Investments works with organisations to attract investments in the housing sector. One of their successful ventures includes a project in Sitapaila which incorporates a range of eco-friendly products. Their other project, Community Rental Home By Owner (CRBO) is already a pioneer in the field of hospitality and housing. They are also developing knowledgeable and trustworthy real estate marketing agents through training and education program

Centre for Integrated Urban Development

CIUD has been working vigorously for sustainable urban solutions to support and compliment the government’s effort to tackle urban challenges since 2002. It will showcase products made from recycled plastic and bio briquette in the upcoming Eco Fair.

Clean Energy Nepal

Clean Energy Nepal conducts education and advocacy campaigns on the use of sustainable energy. It aims to influence both policy makers and those affected at the grass roots towards using cleaner energy sources and diminishing the ever-increasing dependence on bio fuels.

Gazzab – Co Tea

Gazzab-Co Tea promotes organic drinks including organic tea, coffee, honey, and aloevera juice in Nepal. Gazzab-Co will organise organic green tea tasting sessions and launch stevia sugar free powder during the three day Eco Fair.

Choyali

Choyali art is an independent organisation that promotes different types of thankas including tara thanka, manjushree thanka and traditional wooden windows.

Solar Electricity

Solar Electricity, established in 1991, is a pioneer in solar home systems in the country. So far the company has lit up over 1500 households across the country.

Himalayan Naturals

Known throughout Nepal as briquette sellers, Himalayan Naturals has sold over a million briquette pieces in the last three years. HN has partnerships with communities in Dolakha, Sindhupalchok, Dhading, Chitwan, Makawanpur, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Parbat and Arghakhanchi to produce and sell candies, teas, juices, coffee, and spices.

eSewa

Established in 2009, eSewa is the first online payment portal of Nepal. With eighteen banking partners and unique services like mobile wallet, payout agent and internet wallet, one can send and receive money as well as make purchases online.

Himalayan Climate Initiative

HCI has introduced programs to make the people in Himalayan region resilient to climate change through their Climate Smart Living initiatives. The HamriBahini: The Green Angel project has created green jobs for 200 rural and young Nepali women helping them in a self-sustained business of making, and distributing cloth and paper shopping bags to replace use of polythene bags in Kathmandu.

Ministry of Environment

Ministry of Environment addresses issues relating to environmental conservation, pollution control, renewable energy promotion, environmental standards enforcement and monitoring, environmental impact assessment and climate change adaptation and mitigation. It aims to promote sustainable development through environmental protection.

Karuna Natural Wears

Established in 1997 Karuna Natural Wears promotes natural fabrics such as hemp, bamboo, linen, allo and ramie through its clothing and accessory line. Infusing minimal design elements, Karuna Wears’ products are a perfect mix of fashion and nature. It has showrooms at Lazimpat and Durbarmarg.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City

The environment division at KMC has been raising awareness on reducing waste from the source while managing the waste generated by 8,00,000 plus population of the valley. Though a ban on plastic had been announced few years ago, KMC is determined to implement the ban strictly from next month. It encourages the use of paper and cloth bags as an alternative to plastic bags.

SV Gallery

For the first time in Nepal, SV Gallery has launched Indian parquetting made with German technology. It is waterproof, shockproof, and fireproof.The HDF particle parquetting is available at the same price as other inferior products.

Syakar Trading

Syakar Trading, the authorised distributor of Honda motors in Nepal recently introduced Honda Insight, a hybrid car in the market. The colour-coded instrument panel glows green when you are driving efficiently and turns to blue when you are guzzling gas. Free test drives on the Insight will be available during the Eco Fair.

Sabah Nepal

Sabah Nepal is an organisation of home based workers that has more than 1100 members. These women produce finest quality accessories, home furnishing, apparel, and other hand crafted products. The popular Village Café in Pulchowk run by members of Sabah Nepal serves mouthwatering traditional Newari delicacies.

Solar Solutions

Solar Solutions provides solar energy solutions to both residential and commercial customers. It was established in 2008 by energy professionals with wide range of experience in renewable energy technologies. The company has a wide network of branches to ensure quality of delivery, installation and after sales services.

Namuna Ghar

Estimated to be around 150 years old, Namuna Ghar was restored to its former glory by architect and owner Rabindra Puri in 2001. Designed in a traditional Newari style, the three-storey brick and wood structure has inspired many to follow in its footsteps. A perfect example of cultural restoration, the house today serves both as a residence and venue for art and cultural events.

Nepal Academy of Science and Technology

Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) is an autonomous apex body to promote science and technology in the country. NAST also lends its technical expertise to partner organisations working for environment conservation.

Nerolac Paints

Nerolac has introduced eco-friendly paints with low VOC (volatile organic compound), which means neither your house nor the environment is damaged when you use their range of interior and exterior emulsions.

Nepal Knotcraft Centre

Shyam Badan Shrestha started Nepal Knotcraft Centre in a small workshop thirty years ago to make special macramé handicraft. Today there are hundreds of women from all over Nepal involved with the company producing macrame handicrafts, furniture and accessories, all made with recycled materials.

SchEMS

Established in 1999, School of Environmental Science and Management (SCHEMS) is a pioneer institute providing bachelor's and master's degree course on Environment science. The teaching faculty comprises of people from interdisciplinary background who have helped produce skilled human resource in the environment conservation sector.

UN Habitat Nepal

The demand for urban homes in Nepal will be close to one million this decade and to tackle this situation UN-Habitat Nepal has launched Green Homes, promoting sustainable housing. The three-year project incorporates five major areas- green building, passive solar design, energy efficiency, water conservation and sustainable management of waste and waste water at household level.

Rainwater Harvesting Capacity Centre

Since 2006 RHCC has been actively promoting rainwater harvesting in Nepal. With technical and advisory support from RAIN Foundation, Netherlands, the centre aims to increase access to water for drinking, better sanitation and micro-irrigation for income generation through this technology.

Sustainable Construction Practice

SCP promotes green building materials and solutions, and provides consumer information on the benefits of clean energy and energy-saving building material for sustainable consumption patterns in the construction industry. At the fair, SCP will showcase environment friendly construction techniques.

Alka hospital

What started out as a pharmacy in Jawalakhel is now a hospital serving the residents of Lalitpur and beyond. Alka Hospital provides a range of diagnostic facilities, OPD services, surgery, as well as maternity care.

Sipradi Energy

With products like UPS, lamps, charge controllers, solar panels, and industrial batteries to boost your solar sets’ efficiency, Sipradi Energy has been servicing the alternative energy market since 2010 with the help of 140 dealers across the country.

Sunray Energy Nepal

Sunray Energy Nepal has introduced several solar related technologies in Nepal. Its products include solar panels, solar street lights, solar tukki, tabular batteries and charge controllers that provide better alternative during the crippling power cuts.

NEVI Tradelink

NEVI Tradelink, which was involved in the Safa Tempo campaign, took green transportation initiative further by importing 100 per cent electric cars and buses from China. Bijuli I and Bijuli II are 4-seater and 5-seater vehicles, respectively whereas the buses are 14-seaters. The maximum speed of the buses is 40 kilometres per hour while Bijuli I and Bijuli II have maximum speed up to 65 and 105 km per hour respectively.

Triveni Byapar

Triveni Byapar has launched energy-saving products- Panasonic and Yasuda. The new range of smart air- conditioners from Panasonic has ECONAVI system that automatically adjusts power levels reducing waste, saving energy and money.

Future green energy

Future Green Energy has introduced eco-friendly solar powered LED lights. These products use a new generation of Lithium Iron Phosphorus battery that is environment friendly and more efficient than sealed lead acid batteries. They also last longer with up to 3000 charge cycles.

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