The Jhansi Library, commissioned by the Jhansi Development Authority (JDA) under the Jhansi Smart City initiative and built by Bootes Impex, a net-zero construction-tech company. It is the first library in Asia to achieve EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. This milestone marks the library as India’s first and only net-zero library, aligning  with India’s Net-Zero Vision 2070.

Deepak Rai, Managing Director, Bootes Impex, explains, “The project's vision was to replace the outdated Jhansi District Library with a modern, energy-efficient facility that enhances access to education for economically disadvantaged students while fostering a sustainable, climate-positive community space.” The library generates all its energy onsite through solar photovoltaic panels and a vertical axis wind turbine, reducing its reliance on fossil fuels...