Peoplecentric Initiatives for Energy Conservation

Irrespective of the fact that some of the industrially advanced countries have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, they are all taking initiatives to reduce carbon emission and try to stem the advance of global warming.


Active participation by the people will be essential if the various initiatives have to be successful. A report on the UK Energy Consumption shows that electrical energy consumption increased by about 50% from 1970 to 2000. Lifestyles have become more luxurious and increasing use of electrical gadgets and appliances have spiraled electrical consumption. Popularity of soft luxuriant lighting throughout the homes has brought about over 10% increase in consumption for lighting, and about 10% increase due to use of DVDs, PCs and games consoles, etc.


(Ref.: “UK Energy consumption”
http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/a-list/2002w34/msg00041.htm)


And the above is true not only of UK society but of all the societies all over the world. Among the various initiatives launched by the various countries, educating and encouraging the people to “think energy conservation” occupies a high priority.


Every effort is being made to suggest, and suggest from every avenue available, to people to take small & simple steps in their own homes and offices to conserve energy.

There are numerous things that individuals can do such as: using CFL lamps, switching off lights & heaters when not required, settings thermostats – whether on air conditioning units or heaters – so that energy is not wasted, making sure, in countries with cold climate, that attics are properly insulated and windows are fitted with double glazing to avoid heat loss (even fixing film on window panes makes a difference), leaks under doors & windows are sealed. These are some of the simple things that can reduce wastage of energy considerably.

Avoiding high speed driving – fuel efficiency is poor at high speeds, inflating car tires adequately, changing air filter on the car regularly - attention to such small matters can contribute significantly to energy conservation by obtaining better fuel efficiency. Using car pools wherever possible cuts down waste of fuel, it will also make for less strain on you.

Avoid using hot water in washing machine, dished washed in dish washer can be air dried instead of by heater, have a shower instead of bath. There is such a large number of things one can do to save energy, if he/she is a little thoughtful.


( Ref.:http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/home_office.html
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/air_leaks.html
www.stopglobalwarming.org

Financial incentives are being offered to homeowners by tax credits/waivers, soft loans, outright subsidies, etc to invest in more energy-efficient improvements in homes.

Instal energy efficient windows, use better insulation to reduce heat loss/gain, instal advanced main circulating fan, highly efficient furnace or boiler, qualified solar panels, solar water heating equipment, or a fuel cell power plant.

( Ref.:Credits for Energy-Conscous Purchases – US IRS
Highlights of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for Individuals
Energy Efficiency Tax Credits - Dept of Energy - USA
Tax Credits for Hi-efficiency heaters – USA)

Highly subsidized assistance is being offered to carry out home surveys by qualified staff to suggest appropriate measures;

Financial incentives are being offered by tax credits/waivers to manufacturers and builders for:

Manufacturing more energy-efficient appliances (such as dish washers, clothes washers, refrigerators, heaters, etc),
Building highly energy efficient homes and providing solar equipment for buildings

(Ref.: Energy Efficiency Tax Credits - Dept of Energy – USA)

These initiatives are necessary but major efforts are required to be made to provide a policy thrust to industries such as oil, gas, power generation, etc apart from major efforts required in research and development of new techniques so that long term benefits could be brought about.

We shall look at what is being done in these directions and where is it taking us.

Kyoto Landmark In Fight Against Global Warming Disaster

Andrew Simms, Policy Director, New Economics Foundation warned (the Guardian, 15th October, 2003) of the danger to global stabiliy that is imminent. He wrote “According to one study, at least five small island states are at risk of ceasing to exist (Due to global warming) ….Sea level rise in the range expected by the intergovernmental panel on climate change would devastate the Maldives………. Up to 10 million could be displaced in the Philippines, millions more in Cambodia, Thailand, Egypt, China, across Latin America - the list goes on…… The effects of these population movements are likely to be highly destabilizing globally unless they are carefully managed…...”

The enormity of the devastation and the consequent problems that could be caused around the world by the global warming require a solution that has to be evolved on the global plane. Inter-governmental action plans and serious commitment to such action plans is essential. A decade ago the first major step in the direction of an Inter-governmental action plan was taken. An international treaty aimed at controlling global warming linked to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases was negotiated at Kyoto, Japan in 1997; and in 2005, after eight years of hectic discussions and wranglings, the treaty was ratified by 141 nations, with 35 industrialized countries voluntarily committing to limit emissions. Under the treaty, the European Union will limit emissions to 8 % below 1990 levels; Japan and Canada to a 6 % cut; and Russia committed to limit emissions at 1990 levels. Developing countries like India, China, etc. were exempted to give them time to catch up on development.

The map (alongside) shows the levels of carbon emission (Carbon Dioxide Emission) per capita around the globe in 1999. It will be noticed that USA and Australia contribute the highest Carbon Emission. It is ironical that the USA which actively helped forging the Kyoto Treaty was taken out of the treaty the moment Bush became the President of. USA. Both USA and Australia have refused to join the treaty. So the largest polluters of atmosphere are not prepared to accept any limitation on their right to pollute.

US authorities argue that the Treaty is discriminatory as it does not bind fast developing countries like India and China to limits and a 7% cut on the 1990 level would cost USA 5 million jobs & $400 billion annually. Not only is the stance taken by the USA against the norms of responsible international behavior but with utter disregard of the consequence of its action, it’s current energy plans will increase it’s carbon emissions by 25% by the year 2010.

Kyoto protagonists believe that before asking developing countries to make cuts the developed, wealthy countries must show their commitment to cutting emission levels in the first phase of the treaty, from 2008 to 2012. Donkers of the EU delegation said "You can't expect developing countries to waive their right to grow because the industrialized countries for the last 100 years have eaten all the cake,"

Irrespective of the actual limits achieved by 2012, Kyoto Treaty could well be the harbinger of uniting the vast majority of the world's nations for a common good. Kyoto could equally be the forerunner of an international model that rewards innovation and pursues cleaner forms of growth by a voluntary joint action plan..

But Why Are Greenhouse Gases Increasing?

Andrew Simms, Policy Director, New Economics Foundation warned (the Guardian, 15th October, 2003) of the disaster waiting to happen. He wrote “The number of people seeking refuge as a result of environmental disaster is set to increase dramatically over the coming years. Ironically, given current attitudes, we in Britain will resist accommodating them, and yet they will have become refugees as a direct result of the way we in the west live. Global warming - more than war or political upheaval - stands to displace millions. And climate change is being driven by our fossil fuel-intensive lifestyles ……”

Population of the earth has been rising; life styles of people are changing. Human activities have been releasing increasing quantities of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, CFC, etc. in the atmosphere. In the beginning of the 18th century, industrial revolution brought about a sharp increase in emission of carbon dioxide because of the increased use of fossil fuels. Since then fossil fuels such as coal and oils are being used increasingly for generation of power, transportation, heating, cooking, and running industrial machinery; this has contributed an increase of about 65% in the amount of carbon dioxide in the green house gases. The remaining 35% increase is caused by deforestation and loss of woodlands due to change in land use for agriculture and for industry. This increase in quantity of carbon dioxide is responsible for about 55% increase in the greenhouse effect.

Increase in population world wide has put greater pressure on food production, especially rice. Rice paddy flooding in anaerobic condition produces methane gas; grazing animals release methane in the atmosphere due to the digestion of grass and herbal plants. Development of land for agricultural or industrial use requires land filling; decomposition of organic matter in landfills also release methane over a period of time. Rapidly increasing consumption of coal and oils calls for greater amount of coal mining and extraction of oil and gas; these activities also release methane gas in the atmosphere. Since the middle of the 18th century, concentration of methane gas in atmosphere has increased by more than 150 %. Methane is responsible for about 15 % of the increase in the greenhouse effect.

Burning of fossil fuels and biomass cause emission of nitrous oxides; nitrous oxide is released from grasslands, oceans, etc. The overall effect of this constituent of the greenhouse gases is about 5 % increase in the greenhouse effect.

With such a gloomy, depressing scenario is there any hope for mankind?

War On Greenhouse Gases Has Begun

The warning bells had been ringing for a long time about the dangers of global warming. Detailed documentation compiled by NRDC showed that since 1990 there had been more severe droughts in different parts of USA; more intense rainstorms, more devastating wildfires because of the dry conditions, more powerful and dangerous hurricanes due to warmer ocean waters. Similar data had been appearing in other place too. No matter USA still decided to pull out of Kyoto! And it is no wonder when you read the revelations brought out by Andrew Revkin (in the New York Times of June 8, 2005, ) of how a senior Bush aide had been doctoring scientific reports and other documents regarding link between greenhouse gas and global warming to cast veiled doubts about the scientific data (http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0608-05.htm).

Kyoto Treaty took a long time to come into effect. But what a nation can achieve cannot be more than what its citizens can achieve – individually or collectively. Any war on global warming has to be fought at the level of people using energy and the state has to educate, facilitate and support them.

Just as the world has to live with the detrimental effects of excessive carbon emission as a harsh reality, it also has to accept the dependence of the modern society on use of energy in every sphere of life. Obviously answers to this dilemma lie in avoiding energy wastage, increasing energy efficiency, conserving energy and finally finding alternative sources of “clean” energy – sources which are environmental friendly and safe.

All the developed countries, and many developing countries, are engaged in finding ways in which they can canalize the efforts of the individuals, industries and the scientific community to serve that one goal - saving this planet from disaster.

No two countries have identical conditions environmentally, geographically or in social preferences and practices. For instance, UK is a small country geographically as compared to USA or Canada. In UK, therefore, people do not commute long distances to-and-from their work; this is not the case in USA. Obviously the amount of fuel consumed by one in UK for commuting to work will be far less than what an average American may spend. Also the price of fuel is much lower in USA as compared to UK; avoidable excessive consumption of fuel for cars, therefore, is far greater in USA than in UK. Geographical and climatic conditions of some countries may suit the alternative sources of energy such as wind energy or solar energy better than the others. Colder countries use heating within buildings, warmer countries will have greater need of air-conditioning for cooling.

But each country is adapting its plans and policies for limiting and reducing carbon emission taking their own ground realities into account. The next post will look into these issues.

Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

A report by the Australian government's Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization (CSIRO) in the year 2006 stated that “Millions of people in Asia-Pacific region, including India, could be forced from their homes and suffer increasing disease, cyclones and floods caused by global warming ………..Chronic food and water insecurity and epidemic disease may impede economic development in some nations………………” According to the scientists these disastrous consequences of global warming will be caused by the greenhouse gases produced mainly by burning of fossil fuels such as oils and coal...

Greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring process; without which this planet would have been so cold that it would not have been able to support life as we know today. Then why is there is so much talk of greenhouse effect and global warming and doomsday approaching? Why are we talking of hotter and drier summers, water level in the seas rising drowning villages on sea coast and floods causing devastation?

Let us see what this boon of Greenhouse effect is and why it is turning into a bane!

A greenhouse is like a small glass house or a shed. It is used to grow plants especially in winter. Sun’s rays bring heat and light in through the glass roof; but the glass roof does not allow most of the heat to escape out. The glass roof not only traps the heat in but also radiates heat downward, keeping the plants warm.

Certain gases in the atmosphere we breathe also cause a greenhouse effect on the earth. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane form a blanket around us and function very much like the glass roof of the greenhouse. Sunlight passes through this blanket and heats the earth – land, water and the biosphere. In the normal course, the radiation from earth would have returned the energy back to the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases, however, trap the radiation; some radiation escapes the blanket but the rest of it heats up the gases. This hot blanket of gases, in turn, radiates energy back to earth.

Without this greenhouse effect energy received from the Sun would have escaped back into space and the earth would have been quite cold. The present average temperature of earth is about 14 deg. C; without the Greenhouse effect it would have been about (-) 18 deg C, much too cold for human survival. This blanket of gases keeps the earth warm much in the way greenhouse roof keeps the plants warm.

But increased greenhouse effect would raise in the average temperature of the earth with disastrous consequences. And this is precisely what the scientists have been warning the world about for a long time!