About

A Ladakhi company built on three decades of work

In Tibetan and Ladakhi, ’od zer means rays of light. We turn Ladakh's sunlight and our founder's experience into lower bills, warm buildings, skilled jobs and fair trade.

Vision

A Ladakh that runs on its own clean energy, builds for its own climate and keeps its young talent at home.

Mission

Reliable, affordable, locally suited solutions in energy, building, skills and trade — delivered with care for a fragile landscape.

Values

Honesty in every quote · Built for Ladakh from altitude to snow · Long-term care after handover · Local first in hiring · Respect for nature.

Founder Director — Jigmet Takpa, IFS (Retd.)

The first Indian Forest Service officer from Ladakh. Over more than 30 years he led wildlife conservation in the region, founded the Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency (LREDA), and served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (2017–2022). He retired in 2023 as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, UT Ladakh.

A civil engineer and forester, he chaired the DRDO committee on sustainable cold-climate shelters and designed and installed a solar-passive building with GIZ. His work has featured on National Geographic, BBC Planet Earth and ABC.

Education	BE (Hons) Civil Engineering, NIT Srinagar (1987) MSc Forestry, FRI Dehradun (1990) Sainik School Nagrota
Highlights	Founded LREDA Hosted UNCCD COP14 (2019) GEF-7 Operational Focal Point Led India at G20 and G7 environment tracks Great Green Wall of Aravalli Project Snow Leopard
Current roles	Expert Member, National Board for Wildlife Chair, SEIAA, UT Ladakh Non-Official Member, Regional Empowered Committee, RO Chandigarh (MoEFCC) President, Sustainable Forum of Ladakh Councillor, Integrated Mountain Initiative

Selected awards

Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, MoEFCC (2015)
Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award (2016) · UNDP-GEF CST Award (2016)
National Tourism Award, Ladakh Eco-Tourism Initiative (2012–13)
RBS Earth Heroes Award, Green Warrior (2013–14)
MNRE–UNDP Solar Thermal Award (2012–13) · Renewtech Excellence (2013)
J&K State Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2011–13)
Guinness World Record — 100,000 trees in Ladakh (2010–11)
Indira Priyadarshini Vriksh Mitra Award (1997–98) · Indianapolis Prize nominee, three times

Selected publications (20+)

Snow leopard distribution and population in Ladakh — PLOS ONE (2023)
Anthropogenic factors and Trans-Himalayan waterbirds — Global Ecology and Conservation (2023)
Human–wildlife dynamics in Hemis National Park — Oryx (2019)
First breeding record of Saker Falcon in India — JBNHS (2015)
Solar minigrid development in rural India — NREL (2012)
Field Guide: Mammals of Ladakh — WWF-India (2008)