IT was 29 years ago when President Jimmy Carter
declared energy conservation “the moral equivalent of war”. It had been
heartening to see the government of Pakistan taking steps 29 years later in
order to save electricity consumption by planning to close down all businesses
and shops after 8pm, including the neon signs and display lights, which may not
be the best possible way to conserve electricity.
Conserving energy is something the government should have thought over a long
time ago. There are a myriad ways energy can be saved while still allowing the
businesses to run after 8pm. All it requires is a bit of education and
motivation. Here I’d like to share 10 simple ways through which electricity can
be conserved in an effective way:
1) Immediate replacement of conventional incandescent light bulbs with compact
fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s), commonly called energy savers. An incandescent
light bulb costs about Rs14 and burns 100 watts every hour while emitting only
10 per cent light and 90 per cent heat, and has a life span of hardly 70 to100
hours. Whereas, an energy saver costs eight times more initially but runs
effectively for over 18,000 hours and burns only 18 watts/hour producing 92 per
cent light and only eight per cent heat.
2) Replacement of halogen streetlights/highway lights with LED lights. With LED
lights, 63 per cent of electricity can be saved every night. Same way, all
traffic signals should be replaced with LED lamps. LED’s are good for accent
lighting, night lights, and decorative lighting, just not primary lighting.
3) All companies, big or small, can save 20 per cent more energy by completely
turning off their computers and their monitors instead of putting them on stand
by.
4) CRT monitors should be replaced with LCD ones.
5) All refrigerators made before 2001 should be replaced with the ones made
after 2001.
6) Electric dryer should not be used at home or at laundries, we have ample
sunlight in Pakistan to do the job.
7) Skylights should be installed and windows be placed in such a discreet way in
the newly made buildings that direct sunlight should not stream in, and they
should not be covered with blinds/curtains.
8) Turn off lights/fans when you’re not using them, even for just a few minutes
9) For any light that you want to be on all night (e.g. stairways, door light,
lamp post), replace the bulbs with the lowest wattage bulbs you’re comfortable
with.
10) Try cutting air conditioning for one hour straight for each day. It will
significantly lower the bill.
The CDA has been doing a lot to beautify Islamabad by illuminating it at night.
But instead of installing the incandescent bulbs, they should be installing
energy savers. Also, it has been observed by many that along the highways and in
the streets, the lights are switched on all day long, can we really afford that?