Sustainability
Built with respect - for nature, and for Belgium
A net-zero Hindu temple, designed from the first stone in harmony with the climate, the landscape, and the sustainability goals of the commune that will host us. This is what dharma means in practice – care for the earth, for future generations, and for our neighbours.
In Hindu thought, the earth is sacred – Bhumi Devi, the goddess of the soil, sustains every act of worship. To build a temple that harms the land it stands on would betray the very tradition it is meant to honour. So we have set ourselves a clear standard: the Hindu temple in Belgium will be net-zero by design, fully aligned with the Vlaams Bouwbesluit and BREEAM-Belgium, and built as a long-term example of what a modern, sustainable place of worship can be.
This page sets out exactly what that means – for the site, the materials, the energy, the water, the waste, the air we breathe and the biodiversity around the building. None of it is decoration; all of it is part of the design brief we will hand to our Belgian architect.
Why
Three reasons. First, because dharma asks it of us. Care for nature is a foundational Hindu value – present in the Rig Veda, in the Bhagavad Gita, in the worship of rivers, mountains, trees and animals. A temple must reflect what it teaches.
Second, because Belgium asks it of us. The country we have chosen as home is a leader in climate policy, and the commune that hosts us will have its own sustainability ambitions. Our building will help that commune meet its goals, not work against them.
Third, because the future asks it of us. A temple is built for fifty years and more. The choices we make in 2026 will shape the energy bill, the air quality, the carbon footprint and the comfort of the building for generations after us. We want them to inherit a building worth inheriting.
Three promises
Everything we do flows from these three commitments. They are not aspirations – they are the design baseline
Net-zero energy
Over a year, the temple will produce as much clean energy as it uses. Solar arrays on the roof, deep insulation, natural light and ventilation, geothermal heating where the site allows, and smart controls combine to make this possible.
Net-zero waste
Single-use plastics will not be allowed on site. Composting, recycling, and re-use are designed into our operations from day one - including for festivals and the Annadanam kitchen, where waste reduction is most visible.
Net-zero carbon
Locally sourced and low-carbon materials in construction. A building that operates without fossil fuels. Carbon offsetting for any unavoidable emissions during construction. The whole life-cycle of the building points to zero.