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Role of Education in Energy Conservation
- by H. S. Kamath and R. V. Nesari( EnerCon Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Pune)
Introduction
Indias energy intensity per unit of GDP is about 3.7 times that
of Japan, 1.4 times that of Asia and 1.5times that of USA. It
indicates a very high amount of energy wastage and also gives an
idea aboutpotential of energy saving that can be achieved. Indias
present economic growth of about 8 to 9% peryear is causing a lot
of stress on commercial energy resources, most of which are from
fossil fuels. Itis also well known fact that increased use of
fossil fuels is causing a detrimental effect on theenvironment due
to more emissions of Green House Gases (GHGs).
Indias proven coal reserves are estimated to be 70 billion MT
consisting of mainly low grade coal. Itmay last for more than 200
years. Known oil and natural gas reserves may last only for about
18 and25 years respectively. India imports nearly 70% of oil
requirement. With rising prices of crude oil it iseating up a large
portion of export earnings.
In order to maintain the present high economic growth an
integrated approach consisting of judicialmix of investment in
supply side growth and efficiency, use of renewable energy
technologies andDemand Side Management (DSM) through operational
efficiency improvement, reduction in T & Dlosses, eliminating
wastage of energy resources is the need of the hour.
A fairly conservative estimate of potential for energy
conservation in various sectors of economy is asfollows:
Table-1: Energy Conservation Potential in various sectors of
Indian economy
Sector Potential %
Indian Economy as a whole Up to 23%
Agriculture Up to 30%
Industrial Up to 25%
Transport Up to 20%
Domestic and commercial Up to 20%
Source: Planning Commission
In spite of many efforts at different levels and benefits of
energy efficiency, several technical, financialand policy barriers
have affected realization of full potential benefits of energy
conservation. Some ofthese barriers are:
a) Lack of awareness in industry managers, policy makers and
general public.b) Lack of widespread education and training about
energy management and conservation at
different levels.
c) Economic and market distortions causing irrational response
to energy conservationmeasures.
d) Lack of standardization and labeling of equipment and
devices.e) Lack of financing for investments in energy efficiency
improvements.f) Lack of effective coordination at various levels to
promote energy conservation activities.
However, during last five years since the Government of India
enacted Energy Conservation Act-2001, the environment for energy
conservation and improving energy efficiency is more conducive.The
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power has
been entrusted theresponsibility of implementation of policy
programmes and coordination of implementation of energyconservation
activities with the involvement of other centre and state level
agencies like MaharashtraEnergy Development Agency (MEDA) for
Maharashtra.
First two barriers listed above viz. lack of awareness and lack
of widespread education and training
are the most important impediments for progress in energy
conservation because of their majorinfluence on the attitude and
behaviour of the energy consumers at individual and group level.
Without
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changing the attitude and behaviour of the end users,
improvements in efficiency through investmentsin improved
technologies alone will not be successful.
Less consumption of energy by improving efficiency, avoiding
wastages without sacrificing comfort orstandard of living is in the
interest of everybody - individuals, each family, business and
industry andIndia as a nation. This can be achieved with good
habits, attitude and behaviour of every individual.Some of the
simple good habits of energy saving are
Use of energy saving lighting at home, commercial building and
public places.
Switching off lights, fans, air-conditioners etc. in unoccupied
areas.
Use of energy efficient cars and other vehicles.
Good driving habits like driving at optimum speed to obtain the
best fuel efficiency, avoidinguse of braking too often by speed
control.
Switching off electronic equipment like TV, computers, DVD/VCD
players, music systemwhen not in use without keeping them on stand
by mode.
Use of public transport and walking to the maximum extent
possible
Involvement of everybody- children, youth and adults- is
essential in energy conservation and this ispossible by educating
them appropriately and modifying their behaviour.
Educational initiatives to raise awareness about energy
conservation and saving issue will have more
impact on young people. At present environmental education
incorporates some portion on energystudies mainly dealing with
sustainable development. But what is needed is specific energy
educationprogrammes, which will help in developing sustained
changes in the behaviour and attitude of currentand future energy
consumers in India.
Aims and Objectives of Education in Energy Conservation
Three general objectives can be met with proper education on
energy conservation:
Identification of roles of society and individuals regarding
energy conservation and saving.
Creation of better awareness of the energy issues and their
background.
Imparting deeper understanding of the benefits of actions on
energy conservation to societyand individuals.
Structure of Educational Programmes
In developing energy education programme, the people are at the
centre of focus with the main themein mind that everyone in the
country has to play his/ her role in selecting efficient technology
in everysphere of energy consuming area like work places, homes,
vehicles etc. Everyone should be able toderive the benefits of
energy efficiency for himself, his family, society and the
country.
Educational programmes on the energy conservation should aim at
students- in schools and colleges-to develop understanding about
capabilities, costs and impact of different energy sources
andpractical aspects of energy such as availability. This should
take into account considerationsregarding climatic and social
conditions of the regions. The students should be encouraged to
makeproposals to solve the energy problems through experimentation,
innovation and holistic approachadapting to local situation.
Awareness about energy conservation and saving in school
children of all ages can be broughtthrough education programme that
provides a balance between theory and practical aspects
throughlectures, demonstration, developing hands-on skills through
training, and exposure to design andmanufacturing.
Benefits of educational programme should be able to demonstrate
the positive consequence ofchanging behaviour. When people
understand that energy conservation and energy saving meanssaving
money and considerable savings can be achieved through simple
practical steps, it willcontribute towards achieving the target of
energy conservation. So the change of behaviour can bebrought
through the fundamental motivation of personal benefits. Also a
clear message should bespread that lower energy consumption
combined with increased use of cleaner source of energy willreduce
pollution leading to health benefits like less expenditure on
health, reduced GHGs and climaticchanges.
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It is well known fact that large part of our ideas, knowledge
and our adult behaviour are influenced byour education in the
childhood. Education obtained during childhood do mould our
individual attitudesby exposing ourselves to new ideas and
concepts. All parents might be aware how much influenceteachers
have on students. If you tell your child something which is
contrary to what has been taughtin his school, the child wont
accept your teaching. So teachers can influence positively the
behaviourof the students regarding energy conservation. Young
students should be exposed to project based
learning by studying and analyzing a particular situation and
search for alternate answers andprovide the best solution.
It is also true that children and youth accept and adapt to new
ideas or change faster than the adults.You may realize this from
the example of Personal Computers (PC) in our lives today. Children
andyouth learn the operation of PCs quickly whereas the most of the
adults are afraid to learn operationof a PC and even after learning
often struggle to operate it. Therefore, it has to be taken into
accountthat the learning process for different categories of people
is different. A number of factors such asexisting level of
awareness, age, gender, regional, social and cultural background
have to be takeninto account while imparting the energy
conservation education. Its design should be such that it
willcreate interest and influence the attitude and behaviour of the
group of people.
For kids and youth the best forum to impart the education in
energy conservation is schools andcolleges. For them, teachers are
the principal source of educational information and also source
of
creating interest in the subject. So, imparting the knowledge
and acceptance of new ideas/ values willdepend on the enthusiasm of
teachers and methods they use while teaching the subject to
createinterest in the subject. Teachers also come from diverse
background. The teaching of the subjectshould have flexible
approach. It has been observed in many cases that teaching quality
and learningexperience is higher when the teachers modify or refine
the teaching material provided based on theirexperience on the
subject. For the success of the energy conservation education,
educational policymakers have to develop a suitable framework to
encourages projects on energy saving and energyawareness. In
Maharashtra, MEDA is playing an important role as regional energy
agency inimparting energy conservation education by creating energy
parks at different places in the state.
For implanting new ideas about energy conservation in adults,
the education has to be outside school.The messages and methods for
adult education in energy conservation have to be different from
thatfor children and youth. In this case, messages can be conveyed
more effectively throughentertainment. For adults the education has
to be more informal. TV is one such powerful mediumthat can be used
effectively. However, the programmes should not be preaching type.
They shouldconvey the messages and develop interest about energy
conservation in the minds of all who see theprogrammes. Quiz and
interactive programmes are likely to be more effective in case of
adults.
For professionals in energy related work, agencies like BEE,
MNES and MEDA are active throughtheir websites and various forums
like workshops, seminars in training technical workforce engaged
inenergy management and introducing to newer developments in the
field of energy conservation andsustainable energy. Some
universities like Pune, Indore and institutes like Maharashtra
Institute ofTechnology, Pune and IITs have developed post graduate
programmes in energy conservation. Thereis a good response for
these programmes. We are able to achieve some degree of success
throughthe work done by these agencies. However, it is still a long
way to go to achieve more in energyconservation and sustainable
development of our country which can be attained only
througheducation of all people so that they tune their habits/
behaviour to save more and more energy for the
benefit of themselves, and the society as a whole.
The following concrete steps can be taken in the schools in
order to impart awareness of energyconservation among the school
children:
1. Include subjects covering energy conservation in the
curriculam starting from say fifthstandard.
2. Display posters with catchy illustrations and words on the
theme of energy conservation3. Celebrate Energy Conservation Week
once a year in December along with National Energy
Conservation Day on 14th
December and organize competitions, exhibitions, workshops etcon
energy conservation
4. Practice what you preach to drive home the importance of
energy conservation in thechildrens mind.
Necessary teaching material and teaching aids should be made
available to the teachers to maketheir teaching interesting and
effective. Agencies like BEE /MEDA can be of great help in this
regard.
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In Engineering colleges and Diploma level courses, adequate
coverage of this subject needs to begiven. Students should get
familiar with the available energy efficient technologies and
equipmentalong with methods of achieving better energy efficiency
in the systems and equipment which arecommon in most industries.
Once they get this exposure, they will be able to contribute in
improvingenergy efficiency in their sphere of activity.
Improving energy efficiency is a national mission This can be
achieved by educating and motivatingthe entire cross section of the
society. By targeting school and college students for
impartingknowledge in this field, the future consumers and decision
makers can be prepared to play ameaningful role in energy
conservation through their better habits and behaviour.
(Authors of the article are BEE certified energy auditors)
by Mr. H. S. KamathEmail: [email protected]
Mr. R. V. NesariEmail:[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
