IIT Kanpur Researchers Build Eco-Friendly Hut Using Crop Waste and Wild Grass
In a pioneering effort to advance sustainable infrastructure, researchers at IIT Kanpur, led by Deepak Kumar Maurya with team members Kuldeep Dixit and Shyam Babu under the guidance of Prof. C.S. Upadhyay, have developed an innovative eco-hut named HaritArohi Kutir.
The structure was inaugurated by Professor S.N. Tripathi (Dean, Kotak School of Sustainability), Professor A. Garg (HoD, Sustainable Energy Engineering), and senior faculty from IIT Kanpur. The project is supported by the Kotak School of Sustainability and focuses on creating building solutions that are resilient, sustainable, and scalable
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Constructed entirely using locally sourced wild cane grass and agricultural waste, the hut features sandwich panels and eco-bricks with significantly better compressive strength, fire resistance (tested up to 1100°C), moisture resistance, and load-bearing capability than conventional materials.
IIT Kanpur’s team led by Deepak Kumar Maurya, guided by Prof. C.S. Upadhyay, unveiled HaritArohi Kutir—a sustainable hut built entirely with local wild cane grass and agricultural waste.
✨ Key Highlights:
Superior compressive strength & fire resistance (tested up to 1100°C).… pic.twitter.com/DSbH0MPlo2— IIT Kanpur (@IITKanpur) September 19, 2025
Each wall of the hut showcases a different sustainable material, including Kans-struct bricks, Kans-crete bricks, and Kans-boards—innovative alternatives made from crop residue, plant-based resins, lime, jaggery, and lentils, offering exceptional screw-holding strength and low thermal conductivity. The panels are ideal for two to three-story buildings. The load-bearing capacity can support up to 4-5 MPa in plane load and 12-13MPa out of plane load.
Prof. C.S. Upadhyay, Department of Aerospace Engineering, said, “HaritArohi Kutir is more than just an eco-friendly hut—it’s a step towards redefining sustainable construction. Using locally available cane grass and agricultural waste, our team has demonstrated that natural fiber-based materials can offer not just thermal insulation and durability, but also load-bearing strength and fire resistance. From rural housing and disaster shelters to eco-resorts and farmhouses, these panels and bricks provide a viable, green alternative to conventional construction materials. Our goal is to empower communities by turning agricultural residue into opportunity—environmentally, economically, and structurally.”
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Tested for all critical parameters, including fire, rain, impact, and environmental degradation, these materials also prove to be termites and weather-resistant. The initiative not only promotes the use of underutilized materials like Sarkanda (Seta) grass but also supports rural employment and waste valorization. The team envisions applications in low-rise buildings, toilets, resorts, and disaster-relief shelters, paving the way for a new paradigm in green construction.
