From the Big Bang that gave birth to the universe billions of years ago, to the dark interiors of the Earth; our world is energy incarnate. We need to preserve the same.
Especially in a nascent economy like India, burdened by population – resource ratio gaps, the situation is dire (grappling with a minimum shortage of 10% every year). For this, we conveniently point a finger at the government; forgetting that four fingers are pointing at us.
So,can a group of students, impartenergy efficiency at a personal level?
Well, yeah absolutely!
I almost slacked off when I was first told about Mission Energy – extra time, extra projects. But with some research; I could persuademy parents, friends, teachers, neighboursabout “easy energysaving”everyday. I realized most just consider the energy crisis to be a distant proposition, not linking the changes all around them. Energy education can help them change their daily complacency.
So here are easy, mundane ways one can save energy at home–
- The computer is a huge consumer of energy but is something we can’t do without. The monitor much of the computer’s total consumption of energy due to its display. Switching it off when just doing simple tasks like installing and downloading is a great way to cut down energy use.
- A large amount of electricity in the house is used up a ghost energy or phantom load. This is the energy consumed when a device is technically “off” but is still consuming some energy – in LED displays, Power lights and other small devices. Phantom load adds as much as 11% to your bill so always switch off from the main plug.
- Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes and air dry clothes.
- In the summers, use thick curtains and keep most windows and doors closed so that rooms don’t get overheated by the sun as this helps bring down the need for AC’s and fans. Operate AC’s at low temperatures for a while to cool down the room and then operate it at a temperature higher than 25 degrees.
- Always choose appliances having a 5 star BEE rating. They may seem expensive initially, but make up their cost many times over by reducing your energy bill.
- Energy may be our wealth but it is not inexpendable and nor will it last forever – stars much bigger than the sun are huge balls of helium which emit heat and light. But when greed surpasses need, the star consumes more and more helium and becomes a brilliant supernova, only to consume itself and become a black hole. Thus, greed for energy cannot last.
Harsh Lahiri,
Student, Chiranjiv Bharati School,
Palam Vihar, Gurgaon
