Greenpeace asks Mysore palace to become energy efficient

Mysore, July 30 (UNI) The Famous Palace of the Wadiyars can save a whopping Rs.41 lakhs a year if the lighting system of one of the key tourist spots in the country is changed, Greenpeace said today.

Greenpeace which submited a proposal today for energy efficient and climate friendly lighting for the Mysore palace to the Karnataka government through district administration here said the Palace currently used around 96,000 ordinary bulbs which were energy inefficient. Climate and energy expert of greenpeace, Srinivasa Krishnaswamy speaking to newsmen here said that the Mysore palace currently consumed 120,00 KWH of power in ayear and if the Palace shifted to Compact Fluroscent lamps it could save 80,000 kwh a year.

To demonstrate this energy wastage at one of the iconic monuments of India, Greenpeace released a set of thermograph images taken with an infrared camera at the press conference. The images highlight how bulbs dissipate most of the energy as heat in comparison to efficient Compact Fluroscent Lamps.

Further, this step would reduce annual carbon dioxide emission by 46,632 Kgs. Computed over the average life of a CFL (five years), this would reduce carbon dioxide emission by a whopping 233 tonnes, he added.

The Greenpeace urged the Indian Government to enact a legislation prohibiting the manufacture and marketing of inefficient lighting products, effective from 2010. The efficiency standards for lighting in the country should be made greater than 25 lumens per watt by 2010, 35 lumen per watt by 2012, and 55 lumen per watt in 2015. Lighting products that did not conform to these minimum standards should be phased out by the stated deadlines.

Greenpeace estimated that if the all the incandescent bulbs are replaced by efficient compact Fluroscent Lamps (CFLS) atleast 12000 MW of electricity could be saved.

Mr.Krishnaswamy, said "The latest IPCC report tells us that we have eight years to act to mitigate climate change, by far the biggest threat to the environment and the planet. Definite steps, even though small, towards reducing Co2 emissions matter. By switching to energy efficient lighting which retains the original look, the Mysore Palace can lead other heritage buildings and old establishments on a path of energy efficiency in these times affected by climate change" "If Karnataka invests in energy efficient lighting alone, with large electricity consumers like the Mysore Palace showing the way, dirty coal fired power plants can be avoided". The proposed 100 MW Chamalapura project, against which people living in the surrounding areas and in Mysore have strongly protested due to the impacts it will have on livelihood and agriculture. This is an opportune moment for Karnataka and the Mysore Palace to shift towards sustainable energy consumption and prevent irreparable damage to the climate and in turn people" UNI