Addressing environmental concerns through energy conservation

Given the urgency of the situation, it is crucial to tackle it head-on by taking some proactive measures to conserve resources.

The key to sustainable development: energy conservation

The world is currently witnessing two major crises: the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating climate change. On the climate front, we are confronted with challenges such as collapsing ecosystems, increasing levels of harmful toxics in the environment, diminishing quality of soil, water, and air, and the drastic rise in global surface temperature. Millions across the world are already suffering from the outrageous effects of the lifethreatening disasters caused by climate change, right from cyclonic storms to forest fires and severe droughts. Is it then too late for us to save the earth? I believe it is still time for the world to adopt sustainable solutions and focus on energy conservation!

Take small yet impactful steps

One of the major inadequacies has been the human approach towards the environment, not being considerate enough to preserve mother earth and its resources. We have all taken undue advantage of the offerings given to us by mother nature and while doing so, we have subjugated the available resources, driving some toward extinction. However, it is never too late to slow down the momentum of climate change. Given the urgency of the situation, it is crucial to tackle it head-on by taking some proactive measures to conserve resources. Taking small yet impactful steps towards shifting to leading a sustainable life can play a huge role in reversing the impacts of climate change. Even a simple step such as replacing all incandescent light bulbs with sustainable LED lights helps in reducing the carbon footprint. The fight against climate change cannot be won alone; everyone has an equal role to play—the government, industr and the citizens.

Practice sustainability at home

Sustainability starts at home. Individuals can adopt different methods with the objective of reducing their personal carbon footprint by focusing on aspects such as recycling, reuse, switching to energy efficient appliances, switching off lights and electronic appliances when not in use, installing LEDs in homes and offices, planting trees, etc. Promoting the use of sustainable products and solutions among peers as well as children can further aid in supporting the larger cause. Switching to renewable energy by installing solar rooftop systems is a huge step towards a sustainable lifestyle. Educating oneself about sustainable practises and sharing the knowledge to create awareness can help move towards a cleaner, greener, and sustainable world.

The government promotes sustainability

The government has also set up eight National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) that promote the use of clean and energy-efficient technology. These initiatives have helped to slow the pace of the crisis by creating awareness as well as providing direction for action for people and businesses. Furthermore, the government of India has been undertaking various initiatives and has been reinforcing India’s commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through various policies and action perspectives on addressing the climate change issue. Some of the innovative steps taken by the government to direct and achieve the goals of the SDGs include the Clean Development Mechanism, State Action Plans on Climate Change, and the Coal Cess.

Organisations must step forward

It is the responsibility of every organisation to work towards building a sustainable future and support reducing the carbon footprint. Many medium and large-scale organisations in India are aware of their role in combating climate change and are leading by example. Companies are prioritising the safety of the environment and are taking various steps to control the company’s carbon footprint, energy consumption, water usage, and waste production. Installing energy-efficient LED lights over traditional CFLs in office buildings and manufacturing plants, for example, can help to reduce the negative impact on the environment. Since natural light is available in abundance during the day, installing roof skylights is also a smart way to conserve energy. Manufacturing companies are investing in deploying sophisticated and state-of-the-art technology to ensure their establishment is more energy and resource efficient.

It thus has to be a collaborative effort of businesses as well as individuals to shift towards sustainable products and solutions that offer energy efficiency and help in safeguarding nature for future generations. Additionally, it is crucial to turn our focus towards sustainability practises and be more socially and environmentally responsible as the citizens of this planet!

Expertise shared by: Mr. Kishan Jain, Director, Goldmedal Electricals