Case7-February-2013

Being a “Climate sensitive citizen”

We have started feeling the impact of climate change. The human factor is playing a greater role in Climate change leave alone the natural factors. As a responsible human beings and citizens we should try our best to remain and live as a climate sensitive person thereby create a society that lives in accordance with nature. The following are the simple means to express that we care for nature and wish to reduce the impacts of climate change.

Grow more trees

• Reduce usage of wood and wood based materials to prevent cutting of trees.
• Planting and maintaining at least two trees per house. In urban people never leave space for growing trees and cover their entire plot with trees. While planning to construct a house, leave some space to grow plants and trees.
• Kitchen/terrace garden is a effective means through which we can grow plants recycling the kitchen waste and used water
• Planting trees in groups at common places and subsequently maintaining them

Vehicle usage and maintenance

• If you travel single, kindly use public transport. Avoid two wheeler and four wheelers which saves petrol. This apart from supporting to the cause of adapting to climate change, indirectly contributes to nations wealth
• Using bicycle for short distance travel or going by walk
• Maintaining adequate air pressure in your two wheeler and four wheeler tyre to reduce energy consumption

If we reduce use of Car /Two wheeler for 5 km we can save 1.5 kg of carbon

Energy Efficient electrical instruments

• Avoid using Incandescent lamps and go for CFL (Condensed Florescent lamp) bulbs or LED bulbs (light emission diode)
• Use electrical appliances with five star rating. The higher the star rating given, higher is the energy efficiency of the electrical instrument. The cost may seem high initially but they will also turn economical in long run
• While living in apartments/multi-storied building, avoid using Lift . As far as possible go by walk which is also good for your health
• Even if not in use for few minutes, switch of the fans, lights television, geyser and other electrical items both at office and at home. It is also better to unplug the wires. While using geyser plan such a way that all take a bath at a stretch to avoid it being in on for many hours, which will also cost your electricity consumption bill too much. Moreover going solar is the best option especially for geyser, lights and fan.
• While constructing a house plan in such a way that your home gets enough natural light and air. Painting your roof top with white will reflect heat and will keep your home cool.
• While using washing machine fill it to its full capacity, to avoid repeated usage.
• If you are having an air conditioner do not over cool the room and avoid using it in times and days during which it is not needed.

Water usage and its protection

• The water that is received through rains should not go wasted. It should not stagnate in unwanted places, go into drainage and run off into seas to maximum extent possible. Our water harvesting structure and plan should be devised accordingly.
• At home rain water harvesting can go a long way in ensuring the consumption needs of the family including drinking water, if proper methodology and purification process are followed. The total need of a family in a year can be easily met if we start planning and implementing rain water harvesting technique.
• The existing water bodies should be renovated and properly maintained. Desilting, maintaining the inlet, outlet and proper bunding of such water bodies will support water conservation.
• Sand mining from rivers should be prevented ad check dams should be constructed wherever necessary. This will facilitate ground water recharge in the neighboring areas
• Pollution of water bodies through industrial wastes and other domestic waste should be prevented. Any water from industries should be led into rivers only after purification.
• Encroachment of water bodies, their approach channels and outlets should be prevented. Also dumping of garbage in these sites should be prevented
• We should know the value of water and use it judiciously in every act we do. Ensure that all the pipelines in your house does not have any leakage
• Constructing new farm ponds in lands of farmers by educating them regarding its importance.
• Recycling of waste water to maximum extent possible for reuse.

Avoid plastic

• Plastic a byproduct of petroleum products has started occupying our life and the worst part is they do not degrade easily. Avoiding usage of plastic by carrying a cloth bag wherever we go will reduce plastic usage.
• Keeping degradable waste and non-degradable waste separately for disposal so that they can be treated accordingly.

Use of nonconventional energy

• Going solar is the best available option. Also going for DC appliances which can use solar electricity directly can minimize the electrical consumption to greater extent. While planning a house, plan for both AC and DC current, with separate wiring based on your need. This works bests for offices than for home where lot of electricity is consumed during day time.
• Electricity generation through wind mills
• Biogas plants in villages which can use cow dung for producing gas for cooking.