Tapping Sunlight in homes, HP roots for Clean n'Green power

Shimla, Aug 19 (UNI) The clean and green power is emerging as a sustainable energy source for the people in Himachal Pradesh, with the government promoting Solar Passive Housing Technology (SPHT) for heating and lighting homes.

The newly-built home of Ram Saran, a resident of village Poabo in Shimla district, is an ideal example of the ''power revolution'' gaining momentum in the moutainous state.

Ram Saran, who has opted for the proper use of the Sunlight, by installing solar passive heating and lighting system in his newly constructed home, is reaping the reward with his monthly electricity bill dipping by 70 per cent.

It was with help of the Science and Technology Department and Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency that he set up a solar voltaic lighting system and solar cooker for cooking purposes.

The departments have provided basic technical designs, like using thick walls/cavity walls, local insulation material, controlling air leakages and traditional and time tested 'Vastu Shilp' to tap direct solar light through windows and solar appliances.

With the concerted efforts of the government, the Solar Passive Technology and Energy Conservation Devices are becoming popular among the people living in the temperate regions of Himachal Pradesh.

With these efforts, the traditional ways of heating to beat the cold are gradually becoming a thing of the past and dependence upon electricity is also gradually decreasing.

Solar Passive Housing Technology (SPHT) is an environmental- friendly and economically viable technology in which house designing is done in such a way that climate conditions and movement of Sun during summers and winters is taken into consideration to create comfortable living conditions.

The first step in this direction was taken in 1994 when the State Government made Solar Passive Housing mandatory in government and semi-government sector and Himachal became the first State in the country to make this technology compulsory.

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