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Now, a solar-powered ATM in city

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Indian Express 19.12.2009

Now, a solar-powered ATM in city

Power

In a novel attempt to go green, a private sector bank launched the city’s first solar energy-powered ATM at its Opera House branch on Friday. The machine is expected to work on solar energy for at least eight hours a day. Through this green initiative, the bank will be able to save around 1,980 kilowatt hours of energy every year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,912 kg per year, a bank representative said.

The ATM has been fixed with large solar panels powered by eight photovoltaic cells mounted on the bank’s building. “The panels harness sunlight and turn it into electricity. Electricity is stored in batteries located within the building which will be used to power the ATM,” a bank official said. The ATM will enable the bank to save around Rs 20,000 per year.

Dr Rashneh Pardiwala, director and founder of Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CERE) that helped with the project, said “By creating this solar ATM prototype, we have ably exhibited that green solutions and sustainable development are feasible, economically-viable and environmentally beneficial.”

The CERE has published a Green Office Manual for the bank that provides step-by-step guidance on how to move towards a sustainable office environment and reduce carbon footprints.

Last Updated on Saturday, 19 December 2009 10:17
 

Need to cut energy waste stressed

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The New Indian Express 19.12.2009

Need to cut energy waste stressed

 

HYDERABAD: Inefficient techniques account for a large proportion of energy wastage, president of FAPCCI K Harischandra Prasad has said.

“We must constantly strive to decrease consumption. I would like to see India at the forefront of renewable energy and emissions reduction,’’ he declared at a seminar on energy conservation held here on Friday.

Jointly organised by the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FAPCCI) and the Non-Conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NE DCAP), the seminar aimed to enhance public awareness of the need for energy efficiency.

Fossil fuels had been unsustainably overexploited, said Yerram Reddy of NE DCAP. “Our present energy production is 1,27,000 megawatts, but demand in thirty years is expected to rise to more than 8 lakh megawatt. We have consumed more than 60% of available fossil fuels in just 200 years.

Our finite planet cannot sustain such levels of energy demand,’’ he pointed out.

At present, only 795 megawatts of power in India comes from renewable methods of generation.

This must rise by ten or fifteen-fold if we are to mitigate the effects of climate change, Reddy noted. To facilitate this, NEDCAP has released a list of energy conservation tips for the domestic sector, including ways to save energy while cooking, driving, doing laundry, and using electric lights.

Flourescent light bulbs save 75% electricity as compared to incandescent lights, and they last eight times as long.

Lights should be turned off when not in use. Frequent use of the switch reduces the life-span of the bulb. Ceiling fans cost only 30 paise per hour to run, as opposed to Rs 10 per hour for an A/C system, he said. The best way for drivers to save petrol is to switch off their engines at traffic lights. Idling an engine for longer than 15 seconds becomes inefficient.

The seminar also saw participants from three major companies explaining energy-saving innovations to the audience. R Praveen of Atlas Copco Ltd.

spoke of the the benefits of screw compressor technology as opposed to the older, piston-fired compressors currently in use. Narendernath Malempati of Rockwell Automation talked of energy-efficient electrical drives, while GV Paul and Sri Ramakrishna from Bharat Biijee spoke of efficient motors.

In his closing remarks, Yerram Reddy said: “Remember, 1 unit of energy saved is equal to 2 units of energy produced. Hyderabad, December 18 Inefficient techniques account for a large proportion of energy wastage, president of FAPCCI K Harischandra Prasad has said.

“We must constantly strive to decrease consumption. I would like to see India at the forefront of renewable energy and emissions reduction,’’ he declared at a seminar on energy conservation held here on Friday.

Jointly organised by the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FAPCCI) and the Non-Conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NE DCAP), the seminar aimed to enhance public awareness of the need for energy efficiency.

Fossil fuels had been unsustainably overexploited, said Yerram Reddy of NE DCAP. “Our present energy production is 1,27,000 megawatts, but demand in thirty years is expected to rise to more than 8 lakh megawatt. We have consumed more than 60% of available fossil fuels in just 200 years.

Our finite planet cannot sustain such levels of energy demand,’’ he pointed out.

At present, only 795 megawatts of power in India comes from renewable methods of generation.

This must rise by ten or fifteen-fold if we are to mitigate the effects of climate change, Reddy noted. To facilitate this, NEDCAP has released a list of energy conservation tips for the domestic sector, including ways to save energy while cooking, driving, doing laundry, and using electric lights.

Flourescent light bulbs save 75% electricity as compared to incandescent lights, and they last eight times as long.

Lights should be turned off when not in use. Frequent use of the switch reduces the life-span of the bulb. Ceiling fans cost only 30 paise per hour to run, as opposed to Rs 10 per hour for an A/C system, he said. The best way for drivers to save petrol is to switch off their engines at traffic lights. Idling an engine for longer than 15 seconds becomes inefficient.

The seminar also saw participants from three major companies explaining energy-saving innovations to the audience. R Praveen of Atlas Copco Ltd.

spoke of the the benefits of screw compressor technology as opposed to the older, piston-fired compressors currently in use. Narendernath Malempati of Rockwell Automation talked of energy-efficient electrical drives, while GV Paul and Sri Ramakrishna from Bharat Biijee spoke of efficient motors.

In his closing remarks, Yerram Reddy said: “Remember, 1 unit of energy saved is equal to 2 units of energy produced.

ENERGY-SAVING TIPS FOR CITIZENS

* Fluorescent light bulbs consume 75% less energy than incandescent ones.

* Ceiling fans cost 30 paise per hour to use, as compared to Rs 10 per hour for air conditioners.

* Switch off engine at traffic lights. Running it idle for longer than 15 seconds is inefficient.

* One unit of energy saved equals two units produced.Fluorescent light bulbs consume 75% less energy than incandescent ones.

Ceiling fans cost 30 paise per hour to use, as compared to Rs 10 per hour for air conditioners.

Switch off engine at traffic lights. Running it idle for longer than 15 seconds is inefficient.

One unit of energy saved equals two units produced.

Last Updated on Saturday, 19 December 2009 07:24
 

14 MNCs apply for waste management

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The Times of India 18.12.2009

14 MNCs apply for waste management

LUDHIANA: Crumbling under the pressure of ever-pouring complaints from the residents regarding improper waste management in city, the municipal corporation had invited tenders for it from private firms. On Thursday, 14 multinational companies took part in the bid.

Solid waste management has been one of the grave concerns for the residents of the city, as in its absence they have been facing a lot of problems. The issue was raised in front of the high-powered Estimate Committee of the Punjab Assembly on its visit in the city. After it, Virsa Singh Valtoha, chairman of the committee had asked the officers of the local bodies department to submit reply regarding it.

Chief engineer Manmohan Singh had said that the government has already hired a private consultant, ILFS and IDC, for managing the solid waste on public private partnership (PPP) basis. He detailed out that for it the state government had formed 7 clusters one each in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Bhatinda, Pathankot, Ludhiana and Patiala.

Manmohan informed the team that in these cities, waste management plants would be set up on land having an area of about 40-50 acre, which would cater to the solid waste of around 15 to 20 adjoining small towns and cities. He asserted that for it, transfer stations would be set up in two cities from where the solid waste would be transferred to these plants, where the company running the plant would produce electricity, urea or bricks according to the technique available with them.

Singh said for setting up the plant in city, the Union government would give a grant of 50% under Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
 


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