National Energy Conservation Day is annually celebrated on 14th December in India. This day celebrates the achievements of the nation in energy efficiency and conservation.
The day is organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) – which operates under the Ministry of Power, aiming to present India's stellar achievements in cost-efficient energy production and resource conservation.
Further plans for the future are also discussed on this day, targeting holistic development as the main goal towards mitigation of climate change. Hence this day also awares the general public about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation.
| Event | National Energy Conservation Day |
|---|---|
| Date | December 14, 2022 |
| Day | Wednesday |
| Significance | The day honors the nation's achievements in energy efficiency and conservation. |
| Observed by | India |
National Energy Conservation Day History:
The management of energy and improving energy efficiency has long been important for industry and commerce. In the 1790s Boulton and Watt's steam engines produced competitive advantage because they were more fuel efficient – and indeed they charged a share of the fuel cost savings in a way similar to today's energy performance contracts. In World War 2 fuel efficiency became vital to the war effort and the National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Service was set up to provide advice to industry on energy saving measures as fuel shortages continued in the post-war years.
Energy management as a separate discipline, however, began to evolve after the first oil crisis of 1973 and really came into effect after the second oil crisis of 1979 when real energy prices rose dramatically. Between the period of between 1973 and 1981, it was characterised by the "save it" mentality and a crisis response to sudden increases in energy prices and problems with energy supplies caused by the oil shocks, a result of geopolitical drivers. Energy conservation was the usual description of the activity. In this phase there was usually a shallow approach with wide variation in approach between practitioners and few common techniques.
However the focus on energy management issues really begun in 1980s and continued throughout the 1990s. As at this point, the term energy management started to replace energy conservation. Models of effective energy management were developed and widely implemented. A consensus on what energy management was started to emerge. After the technologies were developed soon nations around the world started shifting their policies toward energy efficient sources instead of relying on the old means like fossil fuels and this only led to the creation of renewable energy which is today considered as the best source for being energy efficient.
Formed under the Union Ministry of Power, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency – BEE, has been leading the celebrations of National Energy Conservation Day annually on December 14 since 1991. A constitutional body that falls under the Government of India, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency assists in the development and implementation of strategies and policies to reduce excessive consumption of energy. The committee also executed 'The Energy Conservation Act' in 2001. It is responsible for promoting energy efficiency and conservation. Protection and Conservation of Natural Resources are done by Community Natural Resources Management (CNRM).
National Energy Conservation Day Significance:
Energy conservation is the effort to reduce wasteful energy consumption by using fewer energy services. National Energy Conservation Day in India is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of energy as well as conserving it. It becomes even more important when you realize that India's development sectors are flourishing, which leads to an increase in the demand for energy. It is expected that India's resource requirements will double by the year 2030. The BEE strategizes and develops policies that will help decrease this demand by advocating the adoption of efficient measures for energy use.
National Energy Conservation Day plays a significant role in our lives as it allows us to reflect on our energy consumption. Energy conservation should be rooted in the behaviour of every human being to help promote the plan of energy conservation. Observing appliance usage, establishing an energy usage profile, and revealing energy consumption patterns in circumstances where energy is used poorly, can pinpoint user habits and behaviours in energy consumption. Achieving a balance between energy load and user comfort is complex yet essential for energy conservation.
When you limit your energy usage, you lower your impact on the environment. The longer we go without making significant changes, the greater the threat of global warming and climate change become to our daily lives. When we burn fossil fuels, they create an incredible amount of greenhouse gas emissions. These gasses, which include carbon dioxide, add up faster than the atmosphere can absorb them, which prevents Earth from being able to maintain a stable temperature properly.
Although energy conservation and energy efficiency are both ways to reduce energy usage, there is a difference between the two. When we choose to change the way we do things to limit our energy use, we're practicing energy conservation. Energy efficiency is when we find ways to use less energy without altering the task at hand. Like when you change your lightbulbs from traditional incandescent lights or halogen bulbs to light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, you are improving your energy efficiency. You are continuing to use your lights the same amount as you were before, but now you're using less energy.
National Energy Conservation Day Celebrations:
To raise awareness about energy efficiency and its conservation, the BEE, under the guidance of Ministry of Power, recognizes and encourages endeavours of industrial units, institutions, and establishments in reducing energy consumption by felicitating them with Energy Conservation Awards on the occasion for the National Energy Conservation Day.
To continually bring change in society towards conservation and efficient use of energy, the Ministry of Power has been organizing the National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation since 2005. The competition is held in three stages, namely, School, State and National Level. During 2021, more than 80,000 students had participated. The Painting Competition is being organized for students of 5th, 6th and 7th Standards under Group 'A' and of 8th, 9th and 10th Standards under Group 'B'.
So try to adopt changes with your lifestyle to be more energy efficient from now on for the occassion. Like replace all the items of your house which uses more energy with the ones which uses less energy if available. You can also try to shift your electricity generation through the use of renewable sources like solar panels. So definitely make a commitment on this day to anyways conserve energy and finding ways for energy conservation for saving the environment of our world.
National Energy Conservation Day FAQs:
1. When is National Energy Conservation Day celebrated?
National Energy conservation Day is annually celebrated on 14th December in India.
2. Why is energy conservation important?
Energy needs to be conserved to cut costs and to preserve the resources for longer use. Conventional energy sources pollute the environment by emitting harmful gases into the atmosphere. Conventional energy sources are limited and might expire one day.
3. What are the two main ways to conserve energy?
Energy conservation can be as simple as turning off lights or appliances when you do not need them. You can also use energy-intensive appliances less by performing household tasks manually, such as hang-drying your clothes instead of putting them in the dryer, or washing dishes by hand.