Saving electricity: All day and every day

Saving electrical energy by reducing consumption and increasing energy efficiency goes a long way in containing our consumption of fossil fuel. In fact, it is the cheapest way to have more electric power. However, whether it is given the importance and attention that it deserves is a million dollar question. Improving electrical efficiency reduces power consumption out of every KwH (unit) of power consumed. This is usually called 'Megawatt', and is the cheapest option to get additional power in the country, without massive capital investment. We desperately need this in Bangladesh where we have chronic shortage of electricity. This matter needs to be seriously taken up and encouraged by the government, because we have very little fuel resources, most of which is imported. Natural gas availability is now on a declining trend, and who knows, soon we may have to import this fuel too. Already there are talks of importing LPG and LNG. In USA, a far resource-rich country, energy efficiency has been an ongoing quest at least for the last decade, if not more. Both their Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE), actively propagate this idea all over the USA. They provide various encouragement and direct and indirect financial support to manufacturers, as an incentive for providing better energy efficiency in their products. Such measures should be introduced and adopted in Bangladesh as soon as possible, both for locally manufactured and imported electrical and electronic products. The government can easily implement this. In the USA, consumers are encouraged to go for most energy-efficient products and consumer durable appliances of daily use like washing machines, televisions, computers, copiers, printers, cookers, refrigerators, freezers and air-conditioners. Manufacturers and importers of these products are authorised to put the "Energy Star" mark on such product, confirming that these appliances consume less electrical power, compared to similar appliances providing same output, but consuming more electricity. Statistically speaking- it is reported that the "Energy Star" programme has saved the US consumers in 2010 alone around $ 18 billion on their energy bill. It has also reduced greenhouse gas emission equivalent to annual emission from 33 million motor vehicles. Compared to the USA scenario, our use of household electrical appliances is minuscule. However, this usage is increasing substantially, particularly in urban areas, both at homes and offices. Furthermore, for us to provide electricity, every drop or gram of liquid and solid fuel has to be imported, using scarce foreign exchange. We must therefore go in a big way to use the most energy efficient household and office appliances, so that we decrease the use of electric power. In effect, we should adopt similar "Energy Star" marking system in Bangladesh, and I believe the US authorities will allow this, if we take up the matter with them. Similar measure is far more important for all kinds of motor vehicles on the road that consumes a large quantity of expensive imported liquid fuel. We must ensure that the vehicle with the smallest capacity engine of the most efficient make and model of the vehicle is identified that gives best fuel economy. Similar vehicles that consume more fuel for the same duty, or the same payload, a punitive surcharge of say a minimum of 25 per cent 'Carbon Tax' on the duty-paid landed value of the vehicle or equipment needs to be levied, as these equipment use more fuel. And additional benefit will be that it will greatly reduce the release of greenhouse gas, polluting our environment. This will positively help us in conserving imported fuel, as well as reduce our environment pollution. It will also provide us extra revenue, for those who have money to spare and are interested in large, fancy gas-guzzling automobiles. (The writer is an Engineer)