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CITY
BANGALORE SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013
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BEYOND EARTH HOUR EARTH HOUR
CARBON FOOTPRINT Leo Burnett, first took place in 2007, when 2.2 million residents of Sydney, Australia, participated by turning off all non-essential lights.
March 31 in Sydney, Australia at 7:30pm local time.
THE FOLLOWERS
Most candles are made from paraffin, a heavy hydrocarbon derived from crude oil, a fossil fuel, and that depending on how many candles a person burns (if one uses candles during Earth Hour), whether or not they normally use compact fluorescent light bulbs, and what source of energy is used to produce their electricity, in some cases, replacing light bulbs with candles will cause an increase, instead of a decrease, in carbon dioxide emissions.
Following Sydney’s lead, many other cities around the world adopted the event in 2008. Earth Hour 2013 will be held on March 23 from 8:30pm to 9:30pm during participants’ local time.
HISTORY WHAT IS EARTH HOUR Earth Hour is a worldwide event organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and held towards the end of March annually, encouraging households and businesses to turn off their nonessential lights for one hour to raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change.
THE LAUNCH The event, conceived by WWF and
In 2004, confronted with scientific findings, WWF Australia met advertising agency Leo Burnett Sydney to “discuss ideas for engaging Australians on the issue of climate change”. The idea of a largescale switch off was coined and developed in 2006, originally under the working title “The Big Flick”. WWF Australia presented their concept to Fairfax Media who, along with Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, agreed to back the event. The 2007 Earth Hour was held on
USAGE OF CANDLES
THE CITY’S CARBON FOOTPRINT Adoption of unsuitable building architecture: Bangalore which enjoys tropical climate, in recent times has seen high-rise buildings with glass facades. This kind of architecture tends to conserve the heat (suitable for colder, temperate climate) and hence usages of air conditioners and fans have increased shooting up electricity consumption. Energy consumption contributes 6871.75 and 23.37 Gg/km2 of CO2 and CO. Out of the total emission from energy sector, high rise built-up is contributing
Beyond Earth Hour lies the need to understand the term called “carbon footprint”. Carbon footprint reflects greenhouse gas emissions from anthropogenic activities in an ecosystem in a given time frame. Increasing amount of greenhouse gases (species of carbon, etc.) are major factors responsible for global warming and consequent climate change.
WHAT IS CARBON FOOTPRINT
runs like this: “A measure of the total amount of carbon dioxide and methane emissions of a defined population, system or activity, considering all relevant sources, sinks and storage within the spatial and temporal boundary of the population, system or activity of interest. Calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) using the relevant 100-year global warming potential (GWP100).
Calculating the total carbon footprint is impossible due to the large amount of data required and the fact that carbon dioxide can be produced by natural occurrences. Therefore, a more practicable definition
WAYS TO REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT The most common way to reduce the carbon footprint of humans is to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT You can calculate your carbon footprint by visiting this page: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
Major drivers of enhanced carbon footprint in Bangalore are:
59% of both CO2 and CO and low rise built up contributes around 41% in the city.
emissions at lab scale reveals that typical municipal waste has emissions of CH4 in the range 0.0367 TO 0.0450 g/kg and CO2 in the range 4.53 to 5.43 g/kg of waste. Open dumping is conducive to the generation and release of GHGs, such as methane - having 21 times more GHG potential than CO2 and accounts to 21.84 tCH4/d.
Mismanagement of city solid waste: The existing solid waste treatment system in the city is not very effective, evident from open and indiscriminate dumping of solid waste posing serious environmental problems. The total MSW generated in Bangalore city has increased from 650 t/d (1988) to 1450 t/d (2000) and today it has become 3500 t/d. Quantification of
Unplanned urbanization and resultant changes of land cover: Land use analyses show that there has been a 584% growth in built-up area during
the last four decades with the decline of vegetation by 66% and water bodies by 74%. Analyses of data reveals an increase in urban built up area of 342.83% (during 1973 to 1992), 129.56% (during 1992 to 1999), 106.7% (1999 to 2002), 114.51% (2002 to 2006) and 126.19% from 2006 to 2010.
Emission from the transport sector: Transportation in India is dominated by road and rail transport which consume 90% of the total transportation energy. Out of this 78% is accounted for by passenger transport.
SOURCES: i) Wikipedia entry on “Carbon footprintt” ii) Carbon footprint of Greater Bangalore: TV Ramachandra
B’loreans slowly adopting solar and wind energy Priyanka Golikeri ● @priya3014
Bangalore: People in the city who are aware of climate change issues are gradually adopting renewable sources of energy in their kitchens and households. At least, some. Though it seems difficult to completely do away with fossil fuels, using solar and wind enerhy and biogas in small measures can go a long way in addressing the issue of climate change, they contend. TERI’s associate director for industrial energy efficiency division, GR Narsimha Rao feels people are gradually adopting renewable energy both in rural and urban areas mainly due to a rise in cost of conventional sources of energy. “Bangalore is extensively using solar water heaters.” JP Nagar resident Adarsh Vansay has installed a solar panel and wind turbine on the roof of his house. Vansay did so while working with the environmental group Greenpeace when he became aware of renewable energy. “Since I wanted to work in this area, I felt I should start by installing a solar panel and a wind turbine at my place. A minimum 300 days of sunshine is guaranteed in India. So, solar energy should be tapped more extensively. Though it is tough to guarantee equal number of days when there is consistent wind, having a
ter that can later be used for watering plants. The STP is being expanded, and can have a capacity to recycle 50 kilolitres of sewage water on a daily basis, states Chandrakanth. On the other hand, Mainak Chakraborty and his firm Green Power Systems (GPS) are busy trying to convince hotels, institutions, corporate parks and malls to adopt their —Adarsh Vansay, resident kitchen waste to biogas converter sysof JP Nagar tem for mass kitchens. According to Chakraborty, the system that GPS has wind turbine provides versatility,” designed can convert 100 kg of says Vansay. kitchen waste to 14-15 cubic metres He says the 600 watt solar panel of biogas, which in turn equals 7 kg of and 650 watt wind turbine are LPG. “The regular LPG can also be used enough to provide 4-5 hours of daily along with the biogas that is generconsistent supply for a 2-3 member ated from the system,” says household living in a 2BHK. “Though Chakraborty. state electricity cannot be avoided, it Despite the optimism, costs atis not my main source of energy.” tached to alternative energy often Vansay then started a firm, Aeon proves to be a deterrent. On an averGreen Power Solutions (AGPS) which age, about ‘2.5-3 lakh go into buying today designs and supplies solar pan- and installing a 600 watt solar panel. els and wind turbines to people across Almost similar or a little higher are the city and country. AGPS has in- costs attached with installing a wind stalled the panels and turbines in 15 turbine. “People find it prohibitive as households in areas like Whitefield, they compare it to state electricity, Sanjay Nagar and Attibele. and this is an unfair comparison,” says Chandrakanth BN, managing di- Vansay. rector of city based technology firm State electricity is highly subsidised Theorem, has a similar story to share. costing about ‘5 per unit, while solar His firm is looking at installing solar panels tend to cost ‘9 a unit. Experts panels at its campus in Mysore very say consumers can manage costs by soon. Theorem already has a sewage using energy wisely and switching it treatment plant (STP) in its 5 acre off when leaving the premises. g_priyanka@dnaindia.net Mysore campus to recycle sewage wa-
A minimum 300 days of sunshine is guaranteed in India. So, solar energy should be tapped more extensively. A wind turbine provides versatility
Awareness about the real reason yet to pick up Priyanka Golikeri ● @priya3014
Bangalore: For banking professional Geetha Sundaram and her friends, Earth Hour was purely about dedicating one hour in a year towards switching off from all forms of electricity. She had seen it happening in her neighbourhood and also at key places and junctions in the city like Brigade Road, etc. Some of her friends have also participated in the candle-light rallies that are held in support of the cause behind Earth Hour. So what is the cause? “I think it has something to do with climate change. Heard colleagues discussing about it,” says Sundaram. She says her interest level on that topic is increasing in direct proportion to the rising temperatures in Bangalore. Having grown up in the city, the 20something was used to a cool climate all year round. “Nowadays, it is impossible to step out between 12 and 3 in the afternoon. We tend to sweat a lot now. Everyone says temperatures are going up. Guess, it is because of the rise in gases like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and the cutting down of trees for construction purpose,” believes Sundaram. She is, however, not very sure how switching off lights for one hour once a year is going to really address the issue. Sundaram reveals she has seen her neighbours in Rajajinagar participate both in Earth Hour and the rallies, but on a daily basis they tend to leave lights and fans on even while sitting in other rooms. “The other day water from their tank was overflowing. These people were at
home but only after a good five minutes did they turn off the motor, as they were busy it seems,” she rues. The general level of awareness among people about the subtle ways in which climate is changing in Bangalore is fairly high, believes GR Narsimha Rao, associate director, industrial energy efficiency division, TERI. “The rise in day temperatures, unseasonal rains and prolonged dry spells are making people realise the ill-effects of climate change. The acute scarcity of drinking water is also recognised as a direct fall-out of climate change,” says Rao. Experts feel events like dedicating one hour as a non-electricity hour is crucial to at least acknowledge the issue of climate change and give it a thought. “Climate change needs labeling like Earth Hour to get the issue registered in public conscience. I feel it goes beyond mere lip-service,” says Brikesh Singh, public engagement manager, environment NGO Greenpeace India. He says that from an event like that, debate and discussions flow out and fetch government attention. “All those participating might not know the reason behind it. But at least they are making an effort to switch of lights and TV at a crucial hour,” says Singh. Rao, however, feels that Earth Hour can be treated as an awareness programme under climate change. “There is no doubt that increased propagation would lead to more enhancement of awareness as well as acceptance about the need to conserve energy.” g_priyanka@dnaindia.net
ANALYSIS
Subir Ghosh
Consumption patterns have to change
T
HE problem with any niche campaign the moment it is enlarged to reach out to a mass audience is that the sight of the forest often gets obfuscated in trying to focus on the solitary trees. A good five years after the launch of the annual Earth Hour event, there is an imperative need to introspect and ascertain where the movement — if you prefer to call it one — is headed. In many ways, it has become a perfunctory gesture, and not many seem to be aware that the event essentially is about climate change. Earth Hour has its share of critics, most of them being rightwingers who for some obscure reason still believe that climate change is not for real. A small bloc of detractors are environmentalists themselves who believe that not much is essentially achieved unless awareness can be translated into proactive, concerted action. In a consumption-driven globalised world this cannot be realised unless consumption patterns are turned on their heads. Those have to change, change drastically. Therefore, how much this annual event has made people aware of over-consumption (of everything, from power to food to water) is debatable. There are huge numbers of Earth Hour aficionados who “observe” the event by switching off their lights. There is nothing wrong with that gesture, of course. Except that in the absence of electricity-powered lights, they resort to burning candles; many even hold candle light marches, that being a twenty-first century fad. But then, candles are made of paraffin, a petroleum by-product. By burning candles, one doesn’t do any favour to the earth — the result is only burning of fossil fuel. If that is not all, candles also contribute to carbon emissions. In other words, such gestures end up being self-defeating. Obviously, the underlying spirit of Earth Hour hasn’t spread as much as the frenzy to switch off lights has. This is where that tiny band of environmentalists comes in. These are critics who wonder whether tokenism helps at all. This living planet can breathe easier only if proac-
tive measures grow at a rate faster than at which environmental degradation is taking place. Just a token observation of an hour becomes a hypocritical gesture if one keeps ravaging the environment all through the year. It’s something like taking a dip to wash off one’s sins at the Kumbh Mela after transgressing for twelve long years. For the same reason, the minuscule offering to mother earth (in the form of a dark evening) does not salvage anything if one lives the profligate life of an environmental wastrel all through the year. Where one cannot certainly fault the organisers is that Earth Hour has certainly generated awareness, though it remains slightly urban-elitist in outreach. So, now’s the time to take the campaign forward — by changing our individual lifestyles, by drastically reducing our respective carbon footprints. And also by having a political view about environmental issues. After all, you cannot keep talking about climate change all the time by ignoring the fact that the United States and Canada (and three other notso-important countries) are yet to become parties to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change subir.ghosh@dnaindia.net (UNFCCC).
Experts call for the need to conserve water DNA Correspondent ● @DNA
Bangalore: Professionals and experts dealing with the issue of water on Friday discussed threadbare a range of aspects related to water conservation — from current loss in transmission and distribution to the prospective scenario tomorrow, and even some success stories that can inspire citizens to become proactive. The conservationists were speaking at a panel discussion organised by The Alternative in association with Arghyam, India Water Portal and Biome
Environmental Solution organised on the occasion of World Water Day with the theme ‘Catch Every Drop’. Speaking about the water scenario in the city today, former BWSSB chief engineer MN Thippeswamy said, “There may be a day soon when we will have oil but not water. Urbanisation, population growth, growing demand for water and climate change have all contributed to water shortage.” Stating that cities are growing without an understanding of its resource capacity, he
Rohini Nilekani of Arghyam (2nd right) and founder of Rain Water Harvesting Club S Vishwanath (right) at an event in the city on Friday
said, “If in Bangalore, everyone starts washing their cars in either recycled grey water or with little water, we can save
up to 50 MLD of water.” Thippeswamy also stressed on the need to reduce high levels of non-water- revenue
which is up to 12% now. He also called for efficient management of assets and drought management. “Sewerage lines are not connected to STPs when they have the capacity to recycle the water. The lines are old and need replacement too,” he said. Calling for rejuvenation of ground water and well, S Vishwanath, founder of Rain Water Club, said, “Open wells are a good indicator of water levels. Wells talk to us about the ecological availability of water.” Explaining that wells have been intrinsic to civilisation for over 6,000 years, Vishwanath said if one talks about sustainability, one
should talk about wells. “The pipe system is a dead system. India is a groundwater civilisation and so is Bangalore,” he asserted. Shekhar Raghavan who started the Rain Centre in Chennai, said, “Going to the grassroots and knocking on the doors of people to wake up is the way to go. Rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling and learning to live with less water is needed.” Usha Rajagopalan of the Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust shared her experience in cleaning and saving lakes in the city. inbox@dnaindia.net
Actress Priyanka Upendra with children during a Save Water for Tomorrow campaign in the city on Friday —Mohan Kumar BN