The Hindu : New Delhi News : Some tips for power conservation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 04, 2007
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

Some tips for power conservation

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

"Shift to Compact Fluorescent Lamps"

NEW DELHI: Limited generation of power coupled with an increase in consumption in the city has shifted the focus to conservation. Backed by the Delhi Government's direction to switch from incandescent bulbs to CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) in all Government buildings, the Capital's power distribution companies are taking the message of conservation to the masses by informing them that Delhi can save up to 450 MW of power by switching to CFLs and 175 MW of power can be saved annually by not leaving the electronic gadgets on in the standby mode.

"A typical Delhi household can save up to Rs. 1,560 every year by switching to CFLs. Generating electricity is expensive and puts a strain on earth's finite resources. In a country like India where the power shortages are plaguing an overwhelming number of states, the situation is alarming," say discom sources.

Pointing out that the power shortage touched the 900 MW mark last summer, a senior official of the State Power Department said the Government apart from making it mandatory to use solar water heaters and CFLs in all its buildings is eliciting support from the residents' welfare associations to ensure the least possible waste of electricity.

"The power situation in the city in the past four years has improved, but the demand and consumption have grown considerably and will only increase further. This is why we are recommending CFLs and carrying out campaigns to spread awareness about conservation," an official of the Power Department said.

Delhi Transco recently signed a memorandum of understanding with The Energy Research Institute (TERI) to receive technical guidance on power conservation for the Delhi Government. Under the agreement, TERI will assist in implementing the energy efficiency programmes including efficient lighting systems, efficient motors and pumps in Government and commercial buildings.

Proposing CFLs as an effective means of saving electricity as well as slashing the bills, discom sources said: "Greenpeace India estimates that India can save 12,000 MW of power by banning incandescent bulbs while the International Energy Agency estimates that a global shift to CFLs would save £1,300 billion in energy costs. India should take a cue from Australia and Cuba and ban incandescent bulbs that waste over 80 per cent of electricity as compared to the modern CFLs and aggravate ozone depletion."

BSES sources said: "An 11-watt CFL is equivalent to a 60-watt conventional bulb. Greenpeace India estimates that by banning incandescent light bulbs India could save up to 12,000 MW, which is equivalent to almost 4 per cent of its carbon dioxide emissions. And contrary to the perception that CFLs are expensive, the cost of the CFL is recovered in about three months."

Moreover, a recent study had shown that Delhi wastes over 175 MW of power by keeping the gadgets in the stand-by mode by switching off the appliance from the remote control.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi