The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Spare the bulb, save the globe

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 19, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Spare the bulb, save the globe

Staff Reporter

Greenpeace global campaign begins; sign on at www.banthebulb.in

REVERSING CLIMATE CHANGE: Dancer Vani Ganapathy and Greenpace members at the launch of the campaign in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE: Ban the bulb and save the planet. That is the message from the signature campaign launched by the environmental organisation, Greenpeace, here on Wednesday. All it takes to help reverse climate change is to replace all the inefficient incandescent bulbs that consume precious electricity with efficient alternatives such as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).

The campaign, which was simultaneously launched in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Chandigarh, was flagged off by celebrities, including dancer Vani Ganapati, the 11-year-old film director Master Kishan, and Manjunath Naicker who had played the role of Swamy in the tele-serial "Malgudi Days".

G. Ananthapadmanabhan, Executive Director, Greenpeace India, told presspersons that "Ban the Bulb" has been launched globally, and many countries are considering legislation to ban the bulb. Australia, the European Union, and the state of California in the U.S. have started talking about such legislation.

In Karnataka, the simple, cost-effective measure of changing to CFLs would work like this. If the nine million households in the State replaced five bulbs with CFLs, there would be a saving of 12 million units of electricity per day. This means the electricity shortage would be cut by 60 per cent.

Karnataka's power situation is grim, with a peak electricity shortage of 20 million units per day.

The calculation is that replacing 45 million incandescent bulbs with CFLs can effectively reduce electricity consumption by 12 million units, in the household sector alone. The savings would be more substantial if commercial and industrial consumption is considered.

For the environment, this means a reduction of 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per day.

This would go a long way in reducing global warming, Mr. Ananthapadmanabhan said. The signature campaign is meant to get the people to do their bit by replacing the bulb with a CFL.

But the real effect will be felt when the Government takes the initiative. Greenpeace has met the Union Minister for Power, and the campaign got support, but "we are still far away from any decisive action," Mr. Ananthapadmanabhan said.

Greenpeace activists will fan out in different areas to accept signatures from the citizens. One can sign on by visiting the campaign website www.banthebulb.in.

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