Lifestyles are changing at hare’s pace on an everyday basis. Let us examine some of the changes which we can integrate into our already over mechanized schedules. Are you a computer geek? If the answer is yes, allow your computer some breathing space at the end of the day as the energy guzzled by your system can cramp your green lifestyle in more than a few ways. It pays to suppress your geek instincts for a few hours in a day, and let your computer enjoy the calm and peace that prevails.
Solar energy- how does it apply to your lifestyle?
Carpooling would be a great commuting option to choose from as fewer numbers of cars on the road considerably reduces the energy consumption by reducing the CO2 levels and contributes overall to a clean pollution free air, water and land. Even otherwise, it is a huge waste of time and money. Get your car serviced often so that money as well as excessive wear and tear can be avoided. Indian government has been providing CFL bulbs at practically zero cost for all its citizens. LED or CFL bulbs used for lighting can effectively restrict energy use.
Online or offline? -The plaguing question
Secondly, pay your bills online and save the hassles of paper transactions by cancelling newspaper subscriptions in favour of online news. Opt for electronic tax filing options instead of the usual time- consuming, energy-draining routines of direct payment. User friendly interfaces with easy navigability on online payment sites facilitate quick transactions and payments, thus relieving you of the stresses and strains of long queues and stressful commute. Cut down on the innumerable mail posts that you receive so that trees can emit more oxygen, airplane and automobile exhaust can be limited, and usage of fossil fuels that produce the toxic ink would eventually stop.
Eco-friendly changes- rock your household:
If you are a busy housewife, with some thought to spare for the cause of renewable, why not change your shopping preferences, make them work for you in an eco-friendly sense, and contribute to your overall wellbeing by shopping online? Enforce your environmental rights at dinners by discarding paper napkins and favouring cloth napkins. Also remember that herbal beauty products would save your face as well as the environment. Opt for cloth or canvas grocery bags and cut the paper usage altogether from your life. Banish paper bags and welcome insulated lunch boxes packed with organic food. Stack your fridge always with healthy stuff as a fully laden fridge always consumes less electricity.
Solar power- how it has revamped the Indian scenario
India’s heavy dependence on energy imports is proving to be a threat to energy security as it incurs huge import bill. Hence there is a need to rethink and focus backwards, to renewable energy resources. The recent global meeting at Paris that argued in favour of CO2 emission reduction also serves as a clarion call for development in this segment. Our solar potential is largely untapped and is almost three times its total installed power capacity today.
How advantageous is it for India?
Firstly, it is available to us, for a lifetime, for abundant use. Solar panels serve as a panacea for India’s pollution grievances as they do not let greenhouse emissions, and lessen our collective dependence on fuels. You would find rural homes utilizing solar energy for purposes of heating, drying, cooking, and even to light up their homes. It also spells comfort on the urban man’s wallet as it is an effective alternative for fuel that can be utilized in cars, planes, large power boats, satellites, calculators and so on. It does not obviously require a grid installation to be of use in homes. It saves the hassles of installation and is not space constrained. Government is encouraging rooftop solar installations by investing hugely in it. The customer has to only bear with the operational cost, and then the cleaning, and water bill.
