That there is a crisis in power generation is clear beyond doubt due to frequent planned and unplanned load shedding in all urban and rural centres. Moreover, cost of energy consumed is slowly but surely rising, be it the ubiquitous LPG or electricity. The need for energy conservation is never as acutely felt as of now. Energy saving efforts should start at home today, and every householder has the onerous responsibility of conserving all forms of energy consumed by the inmates, both, in and outside the home.

One should not look only at the price tag while investing in household electrical items like refrigerator, food processor, electric iron, water heater, microwave, fan, air conditioner and others. We should be investing in energy efficient equipment that would pay off in the long term, instead of buying cheaper but more energy hungry items that show up in the utility bill from month to month. That applies to use of CFL lamps instead of normal incandescent lamps.The wattage of a lamp should be chosen with regard to the area it is expected to light up.

A few practical tips, which any householder could adopt as a matter of routine, could reduce energy costs. For example, switch off lights and equipment, when not in use. Even while in the ‘idle or stand-by’ mode, equipment does consume energy and it is best to switch them off when not used for long hours, especially at night.

Windows are meant to be opened widely to let in fresh air and light which would reduce the need to use a fan / A/c/ light. Having a ventilator near the roof could reduce the heat inside a room as it lets hot air escape out.

Having trees and gardens around the house could keep the house cool, thus reducing need for fan / A/C.

Solar energy is the future hope for mankind, an inexhaustible supply that would never run out. However, it costs money to capture solar energy for domestic purposes and is also subjected to weather conditions on any day. A few households have adopted solar power to heat bath water, though with an electrical backup. Solar lighting is finding favour for home lighting, streetlights, traffic lights, and garden lighting. Solar cookers are still not popular except in mountainous regions where sunshine, except in winter months, is available in abundance. In a few advanced countries, solar power is harnessed to operate all the electricals in a home to make such homes ‘green’ and ‘solar-powered’. It is expected that in the years to come, solar energy could become more popular and competitive.

We should remember - “A watt saved is a watt generated” and that too without any investment!