Key Recommendations Proposed During the NDTV-GRUNDFOS Mission Energy Sessions World Environment Day 2014

NDTV and Grundfos Pumps India Pvt Ltd (Grundfos India) turned the spotlight on the looming energy crisis this World Environment Day with The Mission Energy Sessions – a platform for prominent energy experts, policy makers and industry leaders to highlight issues; recommend solutions for industry and the new government; and focus on energy efficient ideas for the future.

With an objective to focus on sectors that contribute to significant energy consumption and thereby offer potential for optimization, experts from leading think tanks as well as industry, transport and building sectors were invited for deliberations.

Our esteemed panellists included
• Mr N K Ranganath, Managing Director – Grundfos Pumps India
• Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General- Bureau of Energy Efficiency
• Mr Saurabh Kumar, Managing Director – Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL)
• Ms Naina Lal Kidwai, Executive Director & Country Head – HSBC and Former President – FICCI
• Ms Mili Majumdar, Director, Sustainable Habitat Division – TERI
• Mr Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director General – Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
• Mr Krishan Dhawan, Chief Executive Officer – Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, India
• Dr. Prem Jain, Chairman IGBC
• Ms Beroz Gazdar, Head Sustainability – Mahindra and Mahindra
• Mr Jørgen Bjelskou, Group Public Affairs Director – Grundfos
We would like to collate the key recommendations proposed for your kind consideration

a) Supply side efficiencies:
1. Smart grids: Mainstream smart grids for reducing dependence on grid electricity and scale up ongoing pilot projects. Promote distributed, decentralized generation of electricity, including wind and solar to enhance access.
2. Smart cities: Design and plan cities in an integrated manner so that transport and infrastructure issues can be addressed and public transport becomes the norm.
3. Transport: Fuel efficiency standards for vehicles are required. A million-bus programme could be proposed to enhance public transport.

b) Demand side responses:
1. Energy pricing: Subsidies to be restructured such that the right price of energy includes options such as wind/solar that are less polluting but prima facie appear to have high costs. Public costs for polluting sources of energy such as coal to be incorporated in energy pricing. Access and affordability to be considered as well therefore, subsidies need to be targeted.

Energy consumption and power subsidies in agricultural sector to be reviewed. They are currently accountable for a significant amount of fiscal deficit at the Centre and State levels or losses in the discounts. Energy efficiency in this sector (including power for pumping ground water) offers a huge opportunity for the government and businesses to conserve energy. Reducing consumption can help reduce subsidies and encourage business to invest. The first step towards making it energy efficient is to first measure the energy consumption, and ensuring all connections are metered, even where power is free or subsidized.

Monetize energy efficiency: With a focus on demand side energy management through policy and institutional mechanisms, financing of energy efficiency and attractiveness for investments to be ensured. The business model for energy efficiency to be strengthened by giving targets to distribution companies to reduce consumption by enhancing efficiency and reduce T&D losses. Electricity distribution companies to start promoting demand side management. Just as they sell electricity, they should pay for / incentivize saving electricity as well.
ESCO model of financing to be followed for enhancing efficiency in existing buildings. Measurement and verification protocols for existing buildings (without escalating costs) to be put in place.

2. Using the Green Building rating framework like LEED, IGBC, GRIHA to achieve demand side energy optimization, integration of renewable energy, on site implementation of various relevant policies and regular monitoring. Enforcement of Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) for commercial buildings and integrated building design to be made mandatory by all States. A cadre of building energy and Green Building Accredited professionals to sign off on building designs before submission to relevant authorities and also after completion of buildings.

3. Appliances: Set minimum standards of efficiency for all electrical appliances including motors (example: only premium efficiency motors to be used from 2016 onwards). A higher depreciation for energy efficient equipment and not just for renewable energy equipment and a lower excise duty will encourage energy efficiency. A quick overhaul of the BIS standards for electrical equipment and full backing to BEE to ensure energy labeling of all powered equipment. Promote innovations for doubling the efficiency of air conditioners in the next ten years. Ensure minimum standards for motor and pumps are higher than the current BIS standards.

4. Life Cycle costs: Government being a major consumer of power, the projects being tendered by the Govt. should be based on life cycle costs and not just the initial cost. Energy efficiency (running costs) should be factored in.
Education and awareness about efficient technologies (for buildings, automobiles etc) and sustainable lifestyles for changing mindsets through experiences (for example all educational campuses as green buildings) and curriculum (introduction of relevant modules at various levels of formal education) needs to be encouraged. Effective skilling needs to be ensured. Companies need to demand not only green power, but also green products which shall enhance supply of green products and ensure sustainable development.
Promoting innovations in technologies, operating practices, financing and innovation in business models. Create challenge programmes to come up with super-efficient technologies that can be adopted. Collaborations in the supply chain and SMEs and large industries to be further encouraged. Too many bank managers are unconfortable with assessing the risks of financing energy efficiency, which needs to be addressed.
Political commitment and leadership go hand-in-hand with innovation. Investors and solution providers need a long-term policy framework – with ambitious targets for energy efficiency – to invest in new technologies and solutions. The more ambitious the energy efficiency targets and concrete energy regulation, the more innovation in the private sector. To get the ball rolling, we propose a close dialog between policy-makers and industry on gradually strengthening the energy efficiency requirements in India.

Winners: Larsen & Toubro Limited

Larsen & Toubro is a technology, engineering, construction, manufacturing and financial services conglomerate, with global operations. One of the largest and most respected companies in India’s private sector, it is ranked 4th in the global list of Green Companies in the industrial sector by the reputed international magazine Newsweek, and ranked the world’s 9th Most Innovative Company by Forbes International.

With offices across India and overseas, L&T has one of its best campuses in Knowledge City, Vadodara. Spread across 112-acre, this state-of-the-art engineering campus meets the high-end design and engineering needs of the hydrocarbon and power sectors. Today it provides employment to around 4000 professionals.

The energy saving initiative in question has been carried out in this campus. L&T Knowledge City has been designed and built to high environmental standards, incorporating systems for rainwater harvesting, waste-water management and utilization of solar energy.

Energy conservation is in our organisation’s DNA. The NDTV Mission Energy Challenge is a noble national endeavour and our participation would reinforce the desire of our people to align themselves with the energy-saving activities by innovative ways to minimise energy consumption for a national cause.

The NDTV Mission Energy Challenge acted as a catalyst for innovative technology-oriented energy saving initiatives. Energy awareness campaigns also helped in changing people’s attitude towards energy consumption and reinforce the belief that it is a national imperative. Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) control of Air Handling Units (AHUs), motion sensor installation at working floor area of buildings are the steps taken towards energy conservation helped achieve reduction in power consumption. To ensure that the benefits accrued are not reversed, we even reduced our contractual demand.

Runners Up: CESC House

CESC Ltd, a flagship company of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, is a fully integrated power utility with its operation spanning the entire value chain: right from mining coal, generating power, distribution of power. It serves 2.8 million customers within 567 square kilometers of Kolkata and Howrah, delivering safe, cost-effective and reliable energy to its consumers.

CESC House is headquarter of CESC Ltd. It is an 80 year old Heritage Building built in year 1933 with gross floor area of over 72,000 ft². There are Ground + 5 floors of office area. On an average, 540 no’s full time employees occupies the building with 500+ supporting staffs and others.

CESC has been actively involved in delivering electricity in an environment friendly way and it has been taking all efforts to ensure that its power plant are highly energy efficient.
CESC House has seen its electricity consumption growing at a rate of 2% p.a. from 29 lacs kWh in 2006 to 33 lacs kWh in 2012.

CII- NDTV Mission Energy Challenge is a great opportunity for CESC to endorse its corporate identity as a Responsible Business Group which could be showcased to its consumers. Over the span of two months, CESC House has been able to adopt many world class green practices. Positive results of the initiatives are immense.

Along with saving of 2 lakh units of energy, 3.5 lac litres of water and 288 tonne of CO2 has also been saved from going into the atmosphere. It has motivated employees to take all the future decisions in Green Way. 500 D lights were installed in common areas of entire CESC House. This will result in a saving of 80,000 units of energy per year which is equivalent to 4500 no. of trees planted. This will also save 120 tones of CO2 from going into the atmosphere.

Occupancy sensor has been installed which switches off cabin lights within minutes when occupant leaves his/her room. These are both motion and lux sensors.

Installation of Water Management System for cooling tower. This is saving 59,000 units of energy per year which is equivalent to 3300 trees planted. This will also save 90 tones of CO2 from going into the atmosphere.

Runners Up: Bougainvilla Hermitage Retirement Village- Goa

Bougainvilla Hermitage hinges on the slogan “Independent, but not Alone”. The concept originated from the need of the upper-middle class in Goa who did not want to spend their twilight years in an old aged home. Bougainvilla Hermitage offers a lifestyle that many of the present generations of retirees expect.

Bougainvilla Hermitage was conceived as a Green Project, right from inception. Our motive to conserve natural energy and environment at large has always been at the helm of Bougainvilla project, and participating in the NDTV Mission Energy Challenge, has helped us inspire more minds to achieve this noble cause.

The two month Challenge has indeed been quite beneficial. Savings have been achieved not just financially, but have influenced the residents and staff, who are proud to be a part of this Green Project, to make a conscious effort in preserving the bountiful resources of Mother Earth for future generations. Installation of Solar Panels, UPCV doors & windows to increase natural lighting and ventilation, sewage treatment and bio gas plant, water treatment plant helped me in saving energy.

Runners Up: Kohinoor City Hospital

Kohinoor Hospital is Asia’s first LEED Platinum Certified hospital and the world’s second LEED Platinum Certified hospital. We believe in green/sustainable projects as, in today’s age conservation and thoughtful use of resources is very crucial. I would specifically wish to add, that it was not only the ratings/award, the name and fame that prompted us to go for Green – Platinum. It is also his foresight that green is the future of all the commercial projects to come. At Kohinoor Hospital, of all the materials used, more than 40% is recycled material.

The foundation of the overhead tank was built reusing scrap material. Salvaged wood was reused for making frames which helped to conserve trees. The hospital is built with an emphasis on getting natural lights in all the patient areas, which reduces the consumption of electricity. The large windows and open sky light keep the area cool and ventilated along with incoming natural light.

The hospital also has initiatives for water recycling and conservation where the water efficiency mechanism is implemented and conserves more than 40% of water. In this system the waste water from various zones of the hospital is treated using disinfectants at the Sewage Treatment Plant. The water is then reused for flushing, cooling air conditioning, towers and for horticulture. Besides these we also have dual flushes and urinal sensors in place to control water flow. The hospital has installed state-of-the-art Demand Control Ventilation and Variable Air Volume systems to keep indoor air quality in check. VAVs have high-end sensors to provide the right quantity of cool air required for specific building zones.

Many measures are taken to help conserve energy at the Kohinoor Hospital such as high efficiency fluorescent lights, motion sensors to turn off lights and high efficiency air conditioning equipment. Enough energy is saved by the hospital to power, approximately 300 average homes in Mumbai daily. Also, the hospital has reflective roof material that helps decrease the hospital’s urban heat island effect and reduce the amount of energy used for air conditioning.

“By going green, we achieved energy savings up to 30 to 35 per cent over the Ashrae standard which is the base of building design standard.

The whole purpose behind sustainable building is to preserve our environment and avoid the depletion of the earth’s natural resources, protect the ecosystem, reduce emissions, improved air and water quality. Not only does sustainable building improve the quality of our environment but it also has many economic benefits as well. By using sustainable materials, reducing energy consumption, and improving water efficiency.

Winner: Indian School of Business, Mohali

I, Ashish Bhardwaj working as Associate Director -Engineering and Sustainability at Indian School Of Business ,Mohali campus .The campus has been designed to be a green campus and is LEEDS Gold certified.

We actively involved in the Mission Energy , to learn more and do more—to change how we think about and consume energy
We succeeded in saving not only 1.2 Lacs of energy units but also created awareness on energy saving among the community .

We took major initiatives during the challenge like standardization of room temperatures in campus to reduce AC requirement, retrofitting some areas of campus from halogen lamps to LEDs and awareness campaigns among the community.

Runners Up: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara is more than 100 Years old, with many old structures of heritage value.
This original building was an old structure – around 130 Years old. Though the building was old, it was still structurally sound. Our team decided to upgrade, renovate and strength the existing building.
ANAND VOHARA AND ASSOCIATES, one of the first architectural firms to specialise in Green Building Consultancy and LEED Facilitation for IGBC Certification were awarded this work.

The Challenge was to re-do the building with minimum changes and within a budget and also to make it a GREEN BUILDING, adopting the maximum number of features within the Project.
By participating for this challenge we want to spread the message that most of the old buildings have a lot of embodied energy within them and hence all efforts and possibilities must be worked out before destroying them.

Maximum savings in terms of embodied energy, use of Green Power thru installation of 8 KW Solar PV Cells and 3 layer treatment for the roof to reduce Heat island effect thru roof, using low e glazings are our initiatives in the challenge.

Chiranjiv Bharati School

Chiranjiv Bharati School is built on the solid foundation of a culture that fosters innovative thinking, application of technology in traditional systems of education. Environmentally conscious individuals charged with entrepreneurial spirit and a global outlook, together with a commitment to revolutionise learning for a better tomorrow. If we can teach students about sustainability, that’s the highest praise we could possibly hope for. Our main thrust has been to aim at spreading awareness about environment and making a significant improvement in the society to further contribute to the cause of environment Chiranjiv Bharati School Palam Vihar decided to become a part of the MISSION ENERGY CAMPAIGN BY NDTV.

ME has become a way of life at Chiranjiv Bharati in the last two months with motivation towards saving the environment increasing manifold. The programme has now become a part of life for all staff and students at CBS. The biggest benefit from the challenge has been the change in attitude of the students towards conservation of energy. They have not only started conserving energy themselves but they have also started spreading the word in the community on a war footing about 3400 people from the community and 3000 students of the school have become a part of this campaign with the added incentive of a saving of about 3 lakh rupees and significant decrease in fuel emissions. The commuting practices of students and shifting them to car pools, public transport, cycling, walking and shifting to CNG buses and Installing LEDs flood lights. We are observing compulsory power cuts at the time of recess and assembly and carrying out awareness campaigns for students, parents and community.

Sangamitra School, Hydrabad

I do not see my role as an academician alone. In fact, I feel like facilitator who wants to create students who are all rounder in academics and co curricular activities. I am also very particular that all the students who pass through my hands have to be good human beings as well, have a healthy respect for their teachers and all elders, and above all, be able to stand out in a crowd for their outstanding qualities. Anyone can be a book worm, but it take much more to be an all rounder. A quote I have always loved “Spoon feeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon.” E M Foster. Our school was established in the year 1990 with 135 students and 8 teachers, Sanghamitra School over the period of time grew to a strength of 1750 students and a staff strength of 96: enough to address pupils’ needs individually and large enough to have excellent facilities and specialist teaching staff in all areas.

The school offers education starting from Class LKG to Class X. The school is affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (Aff.No. 130131) New Delhi.

A major strength of the school is its rich social and cultural mix. Diversity is valued and celebrated – we are firmly rooted in our local community and warmly welcome students from families from a wide range of back grounds.

Energy efficiency means using energy less wastefully and more efficiently, so it is important that we take a close look at energy – where it comes from, how we use it, Energy efficiency is very important for our institution because the children should be make aware of the environment in which they are growing up and “Energy” is an inseparable ingredient of that environment. Every one has ideas, but there are few implementers we are one of them. The efforts of our children and staff are intensified each day in this race against time to save the planet.

The rain water harvester, the bird feeder, plantation drives, use of recycled paper, clear the efficient source of energy, drinking water, saving electricity were necessitated the formation of our Green Club Prakruthi in 2003.

This challenge helped us to learn to use the resources of the earth in a manner that we minimize our consumption, so that we can share equitably with al today and leave behind enough for tomorrow inheritors.

We assure you that this is not an end of challenge, we use it to explore this beyond our classroom, in our neighborhood and in our city.

To be honest this challenge was an excellent self assessment tool for our institution, to build our green future for tomorrow.

The school energy audit team looks at energy consumption in a school through this audit students find out the use of electricity of various purposes. They get to know how to conserve electricity and the importance of the inculcation of simple conservation habits, in making a marked difference.

Gangula Arundathi
Secretary Correspondent
B.S.W., M.Ed, M.Phil, I.R.P.M ( DIP), P.R(DIP)

Winner: Ameetsinh Vaghela

We are a family of 4 – me, my wife Nimishaba, my son Adityasinh, 19 (Engineering Student) and my daughter Aditiba 25 (studying in UK). I had been a professional cricketer and have developed a hobby to make small changes in daily life which can make a big impact on climate change. Currently I am launching a start up to covert my hobby in to profession.

To share small initiatives with society that can make great impact on environment. Our nation had been sustainable for centuries. Our seasonal festivals, our traditional lifestyle, our food habits etc always coincided with regional environment. There might be thousands like me who would be responsible to environment & practicing a change. This initiative dedicated to all such initiators. To share small initiatives with society we took part in the challenge.

Biggest benefit is of course money but bigger than money is impression on individuals. As we know real power lies with common man. Changes in individual are far more effective than any incentives or policies by any Institutes or Organizations.

I saved –

• Energy: savings by CFL, LED, Solar Power, Energy Star Appliances and Timer based Water pumping, ISO guideline wiring. This saves 45% of energy annually. Energy saved is energy produced.
• Water: Daily 30 liters of drinking water from rain water storage tank = 9000 liter fresh water. Less pressure on central pumping system, low flow shower head saves 15% shower water annually, dual flush flushing water tank saves 10% of annual flushing needs.

Runners Up:  Manoj Jain

I am Manoj Jain ( Age 50 yrs) from Bhiwani working as Project Officer (RE) in the Renewable Energy Department , Govt of Haryana for the last 27 years. I am also implementing a Rural Sanitation programme in Bhiwani. Beyond the construction & usage of toilets , my main emphasis is on Solid Waste Management in rural areas.

I am of the view that sanitation & energy are both interlinked. I am working on “ Sanitizing India with Rural Energization “ to meet the partial local energy demand in rural areas through Biogas generation & converting it to electricity from 100% biogas engine.

This concept will not keep the villages clean , but will partially fulfill rural energy needs in terms of electricity . I have set up a pilot project in village Behal.

When I came to know about the challenge, I knew I have found the right platform to prove myself practically. The biggest benefit from the Energy Challenge is that I have got “SELF SATISFACTION”.  The value of resources cannot be compared with money. The estimated savings that I have received during the challenge period is estimated Rs. 2000 – 2200 plus tension free uninterrupted & regular electric supply.

During the challenge period, I have convinced a lot of people in my area to adopt the RE & EE equipments. I have also convinced the people of our street to name the street as “ URJA MARG”.

Runners Up: Binoy Kamath

I am a 42 year old BE Graduate and a working Professional with 20 years of Industrial experience. My hobbies are travelling, reading, sports and technology. I have been an enthusiast in Energy Conservation for past 3 years and implemented few measures as a hobby in my house.

Mission Energy is a wonderful initiative bringing together various Energy conservation ideas on a common platform. With a special interest in Energy initiatives, I found ME challenge a wonderful opportunity to benchmark my ideas and implement in a competitive environment.

I measured the results during the challenge period and I got 15% saving in the Electricity bills by implementing few ideas like:

• Changing 3 CFL lamps with LED lamps, solar panel and time switch implementation to use Fans and Light during day time. This will also double up as UPS charging for power cuts.
• Implemented Rain Water harvesting for utility use and collected approx. 5000 liters of water during March to May 2014
• Motion Controlled Solar Lamps for Terrace and gardens to minimize the use electricity and mosquito nets to open doors and windows were implemented to ensure that doors and windows are kept open during summer for Air circulation. This resulted in usage of fans at lesser speed or no usage at all.

Runners Up:  Sanjeev Jain

We become a part of “NDTV’s Energy Conservation Campaign “and to create awareness among the people about the importance of saving energy and to provide ideas to conserve energy. Everyone knows that saving energy is a good thing, but most people will only be motivated when you just demonstrate just how much energy they are wasting, and just how much potential there is for them for saving. As “energy saved is money saved”, I reduced my energy bill and this has motivated my friends as well.

Winner: Vasavadatta Cements, Sedam

Vasavadatta Cement is an ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IS 18001 & 50001 Company. The Plant has got all modern Equipment which is called as Most Energy Efficient Equipment in the world; and uses most advance software for controls. We have a Five Coal based power plant with total capacity of 79.2 MW. To meet the requirement of the cement plant and we are exporting surplus power to the GESCOM.

Today the time is where coal prizes are on sky and Power requirement is double of production, it becomes our duty to conserve energy.

KIL, Cement Division M/s Vasavadatta Cement being always in forefront in reduction energy consumption. We always wanted to be lowest energy consumer per ton of cement production. By participating in the Grundfos Mission Energy Challenge we have had many benefits including

• Saved about 293527 Units of power; approx. 1320871.50 Rupees in a span of 42 days. By year end savings will be huge (94809532 Units projected)
• Positively motivated staff, owing to winning the Challenge and the 11 Campaigns to motivate the staff and workers including sports, walking track, door to door awareness campaign, seminars, Skit by school children etc.

Runners Up: Godrej & Boyce-Appliances Division, Satara

Godrej Appliances is the flagship division of M/s. Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. Refrigerators, washing machines and Air-conditioners are manufactured in this plant. We have an Integrated Management system, certified to ISO 9000, ISO 14000 and OHSAS 18000 by TUV India. The Shirwal unit was recently awarded the prestigious GreenCo Platinum rating by CII, as recognition of its sustainable manufacturing practices. The team participated in challenge comprises members from various departments to reduce the fixed energy consumption and to increase the use of renewable energy.

Each project group has worked with total commitment to the task on hand, to ensure that their projects were successfully implemented within the stipulated time frame.

The benefits accruing from these projects were monitored and recorded a few financial savings of Rs. 7.55 lacs, saving of 50899 electrical units, avoided consumption of 4750 litres of fossil fuel and generated 2259 electrical units of renewable energy vide an in-house solar project.

These efforts have also resulted in valuable learning for all the team members. Timely execution of projects has also given a fillip to our confidence in managing projects.

Use of solar heating for our test labs, water drying ovens and redesigning of the air circulation system,
reduction in specific power energy consumption in the Injection Moulding department and reduction of volume in the powder curing are our initiatives in the challenge.

Runners Up: Subros Limited, Pune

Subros is a JV of Suri Brothers, Denso Corporation & Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan. We are manufacture & assemble Automotive, Air Conditioning Systems and our major customers are Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra Ltd, Force Motors.

Subros is keen on Environmental Management System & Sustainability activities. The top management is committed to implementation & continual improvement of energy efficient processes & systems which includes implementation of TS 16949/ISO 14001/OHSAS 18001.

Improved awareness of all employees, self discipline through “Energy Saved is Energy Produced” slogan, good manufacturing practices & a saving potential of approx. Rs 9.19 Lacs/Year.

Runners Up: Pridiw Poly Industries, Madurai

We are very thankful to NDTV for giving us the opportunity and our team feels proud that we have done some initiative on saving power which is needed for the country – we are the fore runners in our industry group to implement such changes. We are also glad to save money after our payback period on the investment.
We changed all the fluorescent tube lights to LED tubes in our factory and office, changed all low efficiency pumps to high efficiency pumps in the production process, changed the reciprocating compressor and GI air lines to screw compressor and composite pipe lines.

Energy and water have a significant inter dependant relationship commonly known as the water-energy nexus. Energy is critical for water as well. For example, most water supply systems, both urban and rural require power to distribute water through pipe networks and farmers need power to run pump sets and irrigate their fields. Municipal works need power to supply clean water or take away dirty water.

On the other hand, water is critical for energy. Thermal power plants use nearly 88% of water used in industry. More than 70% of existing and planned thermal power capacity is located or expected in water-scarce or water-stressed areas. This co-dependence of water and energy leads to them interacting at multiple points. Considering that the most profligate consumer of water and also the most inefficient is agriculture, a lot of focus is required on this sector. The agriculture sector is the largest user of water; insofar as it takes energy to pump and transport water they are also one of the largest users of free or subsidised energy. Around 60 percent of irrigated agriculture in India depends on pumped groundwater. It is said that India’s requirement of water is expected to double by 2050.

It is therefore imperative that we in India wake up to the fact that we need to approach the water-energy nexus in a holistic manner, especially as we know that the demand for water and energy will increase substantially as the country urbanises and more people move above the poverty line.

The crippling power crisis in most parts of India has got the Government in a bind apart from having a pernicious influence on the growth prospects of India. In an economy that is chronically stricken with energy issues, a 12.5% energy shortage in power and electricity supply is not breaking news. Power outages becoming the order of the day, frustrates many segments and strata of the society.

The ramifications of this are listed below:
1. Businesses suffer colossal losses with many small scale businesses on the brink of closure
2. Agriculture encounters poor irrigation of crops due to lack of water as the pump sets don’t run. This has also contributed to social consequences
3. Water supply, both in rural and urban areas for domestic use, is challenged

Encountered with a daunting task of ensuring power and water to the various sectors, the Government is forced to look for alternate / renewable solutions to surmount this grave issue. Of the multiple renewable solutions that are available, embracing solar as the solution to adequately support in the current critical scenario appears to be a prudent move by the Government.

Solar pumps are useful where grid power is unavailable, or of poor quality and unreliable. The solar pumping systems can be widely used for agriculture and livestock, rural /tribal area water supply, in forests and host of other areas where electrification is a challenge. It is also a good substitute for diesel power. Industries and commercial buildings have also taken recourse to harnessing sun power in right earnest.

At Grundfos India, we have seen first-hand how our solar pump solutions helped create a positive impact on the socio-economic lives of thousands of people in rural India.

Ranganath N.K.
Managing Director, Grundfos India

For a good 33 years, children in Kirk View Kindergarten, Gaya have been able to quickly relate to their environment. Things they read and learnt in their text books were often only a few feet away – especially nature – plants, trees, domesticated animals. All this and more was available on the campus.

When Kirk View School – the primary school – was selected for the NDTV-Grundfos Mission Energy Campaign a few months ago, text book discussions leapt out into finding solutions for real life. Did the school shudder at the challenge – No. Working in a State that has always had a chronic power shortage, was almost a logical step to daily learning the school’s director felt.

The school management and staff sat down to understand what the NDTV-Grundfos Mission Energy Campaign was. The first round of discussions was with the teachers. This was then discussed with children. These discussions had interesting spin offs. Teachers and children of the school were found to be very conscious of natural light hours as part of their living with long hours of no power.

When there was power, they considered and discussed the need to switch on lights and fans only when necessary. After the discussions, on a hot day one committed child actually switched of the fan and the teacher had to put a brake to explain that they needed to save power, but not at the cost of their comfort! Another child suggested that the fridge to be switched off for an hour.

These are exciting times in Kirk View School. The school now has its sprawling new campus in Rajpur and the timing of the NDTV-Grundfos Mission Energy Campaign has got the management incorporating energy saving measures as the new buildings come up. The first seven classes here have been built aligning the east/west directions allowing the classrooms to be well ventilated and these are brightly painted so there is enough light within. As Gaya enters its blistering summer, even up to noon as the temperature steadily moves up the classes remain pleasant. The window coverings are also kept closed during the day to prevent solar gain.

Parts of the Rajpur village are off the power grid. When construction work began here, the school’s board of trustees saw the opportunity to use renewable energy to get things rolling. The school has already been sourcing water through a 0.5 hp submersible pump that is run on solar for the past few months saving on a recurring energy (diesel or electricity) bill. More importantly, the solar intervention is a rallying point for others in the village too!

Children in the school have also estimated the cost to change the 10 LEDs on the ground floor of the City school and the management is looking towards taking up that challenge in subsequent phases.

P Chatterjee,
Managing Trustee,
Kirk View School 

When I began to write this blog, the first question I asked myself was if there was anything really new about going green and being energy efficient that you, I or anyone else did not already know. Asking people to change their lifestyle overnight is insane. And while doing so, trying to not sound preachy is even more difficult. More than that, the word “responsibly” itself sounds so boring today. Specially as we know what the “correct” way of behaviour is and yet we make choices otherwise. This happens due to easy availability of resources and multiple ways of getting away with its exploitation. Two, lack of accessibility and the incentive to make the more “responsible” choice effortlessly.

The issue, therefore, is very simple. Today we like to consume more for less. For this we exploit more resources, even if the planet is finite and cannot cope with it.

But who is this “we”? Does it include the person who cannot read or write and does not get even an hour of electricity in his/her house? Or people like us who demand a better lifestyle, continuous electricity supply, quality healthcare, etc? It is clearly the latter. Additionally, what “we” conveniently like to forget is that the demand for the power security, lavish housing and consumerism on the whole only adds pressure to the already strained planet. Finally, since we have access, we then tend to waste grossly. In short, we create the problem; without even being part of the solution!

Mahatma Gandhi pointed out, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” The world’s population is increasing, putting more pressure on the Earth’s resources, especially land, water and forests. By 2025 we will be more than 8 billion; by 2050 we will cross 9 billion. Whether we take responsibility today or not, acknowledge it or not – the truth is that the future is in our hands. While we may not make path-breaking changes alone, our buying decision is a very big collective influence. We have to connect the dots between consumer demands shaping world economies. Let us think about it and act as “responsible” is ultimately what we define for ourselves.

Organic food, LED lights, cloth and jute bags, solar lamps, potted plants as gifts, using sustainable forestry certified paper (FSC), encouraging local handicrafts, taking the metro to work, video conferencing, double side printing, 5 star energy efficient appliances, advocating and reaching out to people, influencing them… the choices are enormous. What we need is to first accept the power in our hands and then get started – you and I and everyone around us are the cause. Let us be the solution too, for a change.

To end, I leave you with a Gary Lawless quote. Do reflect upon it and choose at least one smart action to make a difference.
“When the animals come to us, asking for our help, Will we know what they are saying?
When the plants speak to us in their delicate language, Will we be able to answer them?
When the planet herself sings to us in our dreams, Will we be able to wake ourselves, and act?”

Kanika Pal,
Group Manager,
CSR at Apollo Tyres Ltd

In order to meet India’s growing energy demand, it is important to not only increase electricity-generating capacity, preferably through renewable sources but also use energy efficiently. Energy conservation and energy generation go hand in hand. In fact energy conservation is less expensive than energy generation. Industries need to look at replacing the old equipment and appliances that consume too much power with energy efficient products. They also need to regularly monitor their energy consumption and conduct audits. Reporting and capturing data on their carbon footprint will help them mitigate their risks which will have a positive business impact as well.

The Indian market and consumers are also slowly but steadily moving towards adopting eco-friendly products as they are realizing that sustainability is not just the right path forward but will also help in saving costs and resources (energy and water).

The Government now needs to step in and help push the sustainability agenda further by promoting the development and use of eco-friendly products through subsidies. It is also critical that the Government encourages the environmental / energy efficiency labelling and ratings of products. These moves will definitely open up the market for eco-friendly products making India more competitive on this front.

Mahathi Parashuram,
Head – Public Affairs, Grundfos India