To highlight the importance of energy consumption and its use in our day-to-day life, its scarcity and its impact on sustainability of global eco systems, World Energy Conservation Day is celebrated on 14th December. Everyday we talk about cost of living going up, inflation rates and stock market but have we ever thought of conserving energy? Energy conservation is definitely not an issue that will take a significant place in our day to day lives but it is one of the most important topics that need to be discussed. Life on earth is driven by energy.
Energy conservation means using less energy and avoiding excessive or wasteful uses. It gains importance in India in the wake of widening gap between energy production and demand. India ranks fifth among the largest energy producing nations of the world. Our nation has approximately one per cent of world’s energy resources but it consists of 16 per cent of the world’s population. The production of electricity from nuclear fission has been increasing, but nuclear sources still supply only about 5.2% of the world’s total energy needs. It is necessary to use equipments’ that consume less energy. Instead of normal tube lights, we can use energy efficient bulbs that require less energy to perform the same function which normal tube lights do. Turning off all electronic devices when not in use is also an excellent way to save energy.
It is said that our energy resources may last only for another 40 years or so. Every day the human population across the world uses energy for leading a civilized life. Keeping in mind the importance of conservation of energy, the Government of India passed the Energy Conservation Act in the year 2001. This Act aims at employing professional managers of energy, so that it can be used efficiently with optimum results. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that “On National Energy Conservation Day we pledge our wholehearted commitment towards energy conservation in our daily lives”. The need for energy conservation and its economical use arises basically because of its features of universal usage, fast depleting resource and impact on climate change. Energy use is a major source of global warming, which has the potential of making the earth uninhabitable.
According to analysis, we use energy faster than it can be produced. Coal, oil and natural gas – the most utilized sources take thousands of years for formation. Energy affects all facets of activities related to everyday and modern life. It must be remembered that saving energy also helps in reducing the pollution level. Energy production and its usage account to large proportion of air pollution and more than 83 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. Energy conservation means making an effort to reduce the consumption of natural energy sources like electricity, water and so on.
– Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
