Energy conservation is not something to be said and heard about, but something to be followed. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power, spearheads the celebration of “The National Energy Conservation Day” every year on December 14th since 1991, aiming to create mass awareness on the importance of energy efficiency and conservation. As the issues of global warming and climate change have become a great concern, this day focuses on letting people know how sustainable energy is essential for sustainable development.
Several technologies have been upgraded recently, such as electric vehicles to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and to change the diesel and petrol-dominated scenario of the automobile industry, yet 84% of the world depends on non-renewable energy sources to meet their needs. The IPCC Working Group I sixth assessment report revealed that the world will probably reach or exceed 1.5 degrees C of warming by the next 2 decades. If the usage of energy from non-renewable sources remains in such a pattern, it will be difficult to prevent the severe impacts of global warming as it depends on the actions we take in this decade. India is also aiming at improving its energy efficiency through decreasing electricity consumption and by demonstrating the numerous benefits of energy-efficient lighting. The IEA and Energy Efficiency Services Ltd. (EESL – Ministry of Power) collaborated on an efficient lighting initiative program UJALA. As of September 2021, India had 101.53 Gigawatts of renewable energy capacity and represents around 38% of the overall installed power capacity. The country is targeting about 450 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, which is about 280 GW (over 60%) expected from solar energy.
The theme of the National Energy Conservation Day, 2021 is ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav: Energy Efficient India’ and ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav: Cleaner Planet’. Many competitions will be conducted at the state level, such as a painting competition, that will be organized in all States and Union Territories of the country. The winners of the National level competitions will be receiving awards on National Energy Conservation Day. These programs and initiatives by GOI will play an important role in making younger generations understand the importance of energy conservation.
Energy conservation should be rooted in the behavior of every human being to achieve the milestones in India’s plan of energy conservation. Let us protect, preserve, and conserve our valuable natural resources for a sustainable future.
