Tips to use AC efficiently

When buying an Air Conditioner consider an ENERGY STAR qualified model. They use at least 10 percent less energy than standard models.
Be sure to insulate room air conditioners from the outside with a tight-fitting a/c unit cover, available at your local home improvement center or hardware store. This keeps heated/cool air from escaping outside. Alternately, you can remove the window unit in the winter months to prevent energy losses. Be sure the window unit fits tightly in the window so outdoor air is not getting in. Large window a/c units should have their own separate electrical circuit so the system is not over-loaded.

A proper sizing and quality installation are critical to your home's energy efficiency and comfort. Remember: Bigger doesn't always mean better. Oversized equipment can cause reduced comfort and excessive noise. Oversizing also can shorten the life of the equipment by causing it to cycle on and off more frequently than a properly sized unit. However, undersized equipment can reduce the efficiency and accelerate wear on system components, leading to early failure.

Move the AC thermostat up and save energy

Move the thermostat of the room AC to 25 C and save about 900 kg of CO2 per year. Cleaning your A/C filters each month can save 150 kg of carbon dioxide per year. These simple adjustments can be a big saving for you.

Correct room temperature and regular cleaning of air filter will increase cooling and energy effeciency.

Laptop is energy efficient

Laptop is more energy efficient than Desktop as it uses 5 times lesser energy than a PC. A laptop uses around 15 - 30 Watts of electricity whereas a desktop uses around 100 - 150 Watts of electricity.
Even if someone plans to buy a desktop then better to go for a a LCD screen than a normal CRT colour monitor. Since LCD would use around 30-40% of power used by a CRT monitor. For example LCD would take 40Watts compared to around 100 Watts of electricity by CRT monitor.

Laptop is designed to run with battery most of the time, so the energy quotent is very low while designing the desktop there was no such consideration in mind. THough it is always suggested to enable to energy saving ode for the PC.

Today is World Environment Day

Today is the World Environment Day, and we all are celebrating by using our cars, ACs, Refrigerators etc. Normally we human beings exhale around 900 grams of CO2 every day, but each person’s ‘direct’ emissions, from household energy and transportation, amounts to about 10 tons of CO2 per person. In 2002, the US emitted 6,862 million tons of carbon dioxide, or 23.66 tons per person. The rest is from the commercial, industrial and non-residential transportation sectors, essentially producing the products and services we consume every day. This CO2 emission has to reduce otherwise one day will come when we will starve for Oxygen and water.

New York City produces nearly 1% of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions - an amount that puts it on par with Ireland and Portugal - according to a city study.

This environment lets take a pledge to reduce the carbon footprint. If each individual particpates then we can achieve the target of a happy earth and fresh environment around us. We should look for resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Developmental_Issues/Lets_kick_the_CO2_habit/articleshow/3101562.cms

CO2 is one of the major greenhouse gases which has trigerred the global warming, and before the situation becomes unrepairable we have to act now to reduce its emissions.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Pollution/World_Environment_Day_calls_for_end_to_carbon_addiction/articleshow/3101575.cms

New Delhi Government's Bhagidari Scheme

Under the government of National Capital, New Delhi, there is a bhagidari program under which many programs are being taken up or backed by the government bodies.
These programs are under the 1) Plantation/Greening Delhi 2) Environment Awareness Campaigns 3) Waste Management and 4) Conservation of water.

http://delhigovt.nic.in/environment.asp

India budget 2008-2009 disappoints green brigade

The budget 2008-2009 disappoints the green brigade. It does not offer anything new to accelearate the renewable energy mission. As it was being expected that some new public-private partnerships plan may be announced, nothing has came in that direction.

There are many areas where the Indian Government can steer the usage of renewable energy, but no new directives from big bosses. Presently this sector needs a big push to make steps in right direction, yet it lacks support from New Delhi.

As in my previous post there were some indicatives of funds which may get allocated to municipalities, some energy effeciency projects which the state governments may undertake, but there are no such funds getting allocated from centre, so lets hope for least from the state governments.

Excise duty cut for Hybrid cars

In the Union Budget 2008-2009, the excise duty cut have been proposed, this should boost the sales of hybrid cars.

Finance Minister has provided relief to auto manufacturers of hybrid cars by reducing the excise duty on them from 24% to 14%. These cars are currently not on sale in India, and use a combination of electric motors with gasoline/diesel engines to enhance efficiency and reduce pollution.

Effective April 1, 2008, the move paves the way for manufacturers such as Honda Siel, Toyota India and Mahindra & Mahindra to immediately launch their vehicles that were on display at the Auto Expo in January. These include the Honda Civic hybrid and the Mahindra Scorpio hybrid, while Toyota have displayed the technologies surrounding the Prius in past years.

Both the Prius and the Civic will enter through the import route, while the hybrid Scorpio will be developed and locally manufactured.