On the face of it, the idea of a legal compulsion for energy-efficient equipment at the consumer level looks somewhat premature right at this moment but given the ground reality it has no alternative. Even if the country had been awash with energy surplus, which unfortunately it is not, its discrete use would have been highly desirable in the interest of future energy security. Both power and gas go waste on account of inefficient and uncaring use of these two utilities. A research paper prepared by a Nobel Prize-winner has only confirmed the opinion expressed by many an expert that installation of advanced and efficient energy devices could reduce use of energy by at least one-third in the country. As a first step, though, the abuse of natural gas both at homes and industries can be stopped simply by making gas meter mandatory for consumers. Gas burners are kept burning in most of the kitchens and some industries are guzzling it because they would not replace the old devices with energy-efficient ones.
The use of energy-efficient bulbs and other gadgets is somewhat complicated. First, the bulbs are several times more costly and then with time their light starts fading considerably. Then again, many tend to believe that the light has an unhealthy effect on human skin. Even if such bulbs were hazard-free, their prices have to be brought down to make them popular. Bulk production and further research can surely do the trick. But even if this proves not enough for the purpose, better it would be to provide some kind of fiscal or financial incentives to enable the producers to make their supplies available in the market at affordable costs to the consumers. Perhaps it will make economic sense if the amount of power saved in the process is taken into account. But it is the industries which must look forward to replacing their aging technology with the state-of-the-art ones. The initial investment will be more than compensated over a certain period of time. Next come the oil-guzzling vehicles. Here is a catch-22 situation because the engines of such vehicles were asked to convert to the compressed natural gas system but now against the backdrop of gas crisis, they may have to revert to the old ways.
Sure enough the prime focus ought to be on the consumer of energy but this does not rule out a stitch in time on the part of the public entities to save nine. First of all, the rental power plants are a big drag on the country's economy. They are not only inefficient but also guzzle imported costly oil. By now they should have been phased out. If they are not replaced by large power plants - either coal-fired or gas-based, all attempts at saving energy in the country will prove futile. Already, the conversion of at least two simple cycle power plants into combined cycle ones have shown how improved a performance they can give. So, the need is to set examples like this by the government first in order to encourage the public to follow suit.
Saving energy for future security
FE Team | Published: August 12, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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