Tamil Nadu - Chennai

With more use of gadgets comes the need for saving

CHENNAI: Energy conservation, though not an unfamiliar theme to domestic consumers, is less practised. Its relevance is now felt greater than ever before, as domestic consumers increasingly rely on electric or electronic gadgets in their day-to-day life.

The nature of power consumption by the people has transformed over the years, with many middle-class families buying consumer durables such as air-conditioners and washing machines. So, the scope for energy savings among this category of consumers is enormous, given that around 35 per cent of 1.4 crore domestic consumers in the State live in urban areas, where these gadgets are more used.

(On June 14 this year, when the State recorded its highest energy consumption—202. 7 million units—in a day, Chennai accounted for 34.8 million units, 17 per cent of the State’s energy consumption).

There are simple, easy ways of achieving energy savings. If people pay attention to judicious use of lights, they can save a lot of energy, says a senior official of the Chief Electrical Inspectorate, the agency designated for implementing the 2001 Energy Conservation Act. A study by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board shows that lighting load constitutes more than 30 per cent in the category of domestic consumers.

In the days of load shedding and power cuts, one may wonder what is the need for energy conservation. Pointing to the huge gap between demand and supply, the official says the domestic consumers, by contributing their mite, can help the authorities tide over the crisis. That is why it is often said, “energy saved is equivalent to energy generated.”

Charity begins at home. A couple of weeks ago, the State Energy Department issued an order, asking all government offices to reduce power consumption by 10 per cent by the end of the current billing cycle, and bring it down by 20 per cent in six months. The Department suggested various measures such as the use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) instead of incandescent bulbs and air-conditioners that comply with standards laid down by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). At the 10-storey Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai, the seat of power of the State government, a department Secretary has been made in charge of energy conservation for each floor.

A publication of the BEE states fluorescent tube lights and CFLs can bring down consumption by 70 per cent. A 15-watt CFL bulb produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. On its website, the TNEB says a ‘zero watt’ bulb consumes 12-15 watts an hour, whereas CFLs, which are available in capacities ranging from five watts to 11 watts, provide better output.

It is not just CFL that is energy-efficient. Many experts point to light emitting diodes (LEDs). In fact, some say this is going to gain greater currency in future.

T. Jayaraman, a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras and who has over 25 years of experience in energy management, has almost cut down consumption by 50 per cent in his factory as well as his home by using LED-cluster bulbs. He says: “According to the national building code, the lighting load should be 10.8 watt/square metre, whereas the load of lighting at my office is 0.5 watt/square metre. The illumination demand of my 3,000-square foot office is just 200 watts.” He urges the authorities to encourage the use of LED-cluster bulbs.

Acknowledging the significance of the LED technology, the senior official of the Electrical Inspectorate, however, says the response of the domestic consumers to the emerging technology is lukewarm as there is no compulsion on their part to conserve energy. Affordability is another factor.

To achieve energy saving, the official recommends that people, while buying consumer durables such as refrigerators, air-conditioners and water heaters, should go in for only energy efficiency-labelled products, preferably five star. (the BEE is implementing the scheme of energy efficiency labelling).

Though the initial cost of a refrigerator with a five-star label will be more than that of two star, its operating cost will be less than the other. Besides the gadget will have a longer life.

At many homes, electricity is unnecessarily consumed without even people knowing it. Appliances, even when not performing their main functions or switched off, consume energy. This is called standby loss or leaking electricity. Many appliances have features such as powering of the built-in clock, memory and displaying information, all of which require energy. Worldwide, studies are being undertaken to assess the extent of standby loss at homes.

Mr. Jayaraman says India has a long way to go in catching up with the developed countries, as only now the manufacturers are taking part in the programme of energy efficiency labelling. (The Electrical Inspectorate does not have information regarding the standby loss].

In Mr. Jayaraman’s estimation, the standby loss is around four watts an hour in a household that has television sets, VCRs/DVDs and set-top boxes. Taking into consideration a family having a TV, a DVD and a set-top box, the standby loss in a year works out to 105 units.

(With inputs from

T. Ramakrishnan)

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