Karnataka - Bangalore   

We should do everything within our power

Staff Reporter

People should install lights to suit their needs and convenience Conservation of electricity starts right where you are now. Have that extra light on? Switch it off. A fan cooling an empty room? Ditto. And do you really need that AC? Surely we are not powerless to control our usage of electricity

BRIGHT: Skylights add beauty and bring in natural light.

Bangalore: Conservation of energy should first begin at home. There are abundant sources of energy available. It is virtually inexhaustible if it is tapped properly, believes B. Shivalingaiah, Managing Director of Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL).

He told The Hindu : "We generally use electricity mostly for lighting. We need to educate people to go in for activity-based lighting in their homes."

People should install lights to suit their needs and convenience. "One needs more light to read but less to watch TV. Using lights in a systematic way can help save electricity." Children should be taught to cultivate the habit of switching off the lights when not needed.

Mr. Shivalingaiah advocates the inclusion of skylights at the time of preparing the building plan itself. Painting the walls white or light shades enhances the reflection, thereby cutting down on the use of artificial lighting.

Solar energy could be used for the thermal route such as steam generation, water heating and so on. "It is, however, very expensive for lighting purpose as the conversion rate is still only about 11 to 12 per cent."

Many people turn to batteries for lighting during a power shutdown. However, Mr. Shivalingaiah cautioned: "We need to improve the storage capacity of batteries and make them long-lasting and cheaper so that a cross-section of people would be able to invest in it." Likewise with the invertors. The energy loss during conversion of AC to DC current and storage is around five to 10 per cent. The loss should be decreased, he added.

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