The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Grooming future energy managers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 22, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Grooming future energy managers

Schoolchildren of the State would don the mantle of energy managers and will impact the family budget in a big way if an ambitious project launched by the Energy Management Centre (EMC) clicks.

EMC, an NGO formed in 1992 to promote energy conservation and sustainable development, is taking the message of energy conservation to households through school children under its campaign Oorja Samrakshana Yajnam.

"The programme is to encourage school children to take the power meter readings at their homes and to implement and practise energy- saving methods, thus reducing the peak load energy conservation between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.," explains S. Ratnakumar, general secretary of the centre.

The campaign is being organised in association with the Kerala State Electricity Board and Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.

Cash prizes up to Rs.10,000 have been announced for the students who save maximum power. Cash rewards will also be given to schools and electrical sections of the Kerala State Electricity Board that enrol maximum number of students for the campaign.

The Centre has been supplying energy log sheet to the students up to Plus Two and VHSC level for recording the metre readings for seven months.

While submitting the log sheets, the power bills issued by the Board will also have to be attached as proof of saving power, explains Mr. Ratnakumar.

The tips for best practices of electrical energy conservation, as given by the Centre in the log sheets, is also the way to win the prizes and save the spending on power bills.

Details of the competition can be obtained from the centre helpline 94470 82961, 93878 00979 and 94475 28068 and also on the following websites: www.kseboard.com and www.ecsindia.org. Log sheets can also be obtained from the section offices of the board or downloaded from the websites.

Power facts

Avoid usage of electric iron, heater, ACs, mixer grinders, washing machines and pumps during peak hours. It will save power and also extends the life of the equipment.

TV and VCRs kept switched off using remote controls consumes about 5 watts.

Zero watt bulbs and mosquito mat equipment will consume 10 watts each. Use of LCD computer monitors saves more than 50 per cent power.

Switch off fridges during peak hours for reducing energy requirement for defrosting and increased life of compressors.

K.S. SUDHI

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