I hope the last post caught your attention about energy conservation and global warming.
We can start fighting both these causes by joining virtual march against global warming. There is much more that can be done. Here are two downloadable mini guide books to conserve energy at both home and work.
Play this interesting quiz-cum-game Flex Your Power to find out several astonishing facts about energy conservation. Though, most facts will be related to California, think for a second in the context of India, how much we can save.
I tag Amit, Ashish, Dinsan, Ish, Nishu, Pradeep, and Dev to play the Flex Your Power game. They need to present their game score and state three facts about global warming/energy conservation that intrigued them while playing the game. I will compile a list of best 10 facts from those posted by you here in my blog. 🙂
And, you should tag at least two more people to play the game.
I realize some of you must be bored with tagging. But I wanted a way that could intrigue some more conscientious and sensible folks like you. This should help spread the word. 🙂
In case, you choose to decline, I would not mind.. Sniff.. Sniff.. 😦
Update: My friend, Ramesh, played the quiz, got a poor 853. He didn’t register a single fact. 😦 Apparently, quiz-cum-game Flex Your Power failed to evoke his interest. So much for my optimism. 😦
Visceral Observations 
I played only the first part and scored poor 😦 853 (as poonam already has mentioned). Frankly, I found it boring; may be because I don’t bother much for energy conservation or I am an ordinary man who feels like alone I can’t do much about it. Once again, I feel that awareness is not a big problem but the implementation of the knowledge that we have.
I had taken a survey on the same topic in 3 poorest district of India (Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput- KBK, as central govt named these three districts), and to my surprise (now no more surprise) I found tat each of them knew basics of energy conservation, even to the extent that which electric bulb uses high amount of power ( though not in terms of technical jargon and proper terms).
But they are not very keen on conserving the energy.
For an instance,
When I asked one lady (approx 45 yrs old) as to why she keeps her electric bulb switched on, even if she dont need it. She replied ” make enta bhal lagsi” (I like it that way). When I attemped to explain her more about conservation benefits and all she added “Mui jaanuchhen re bua” ( I know all this).
Poonam tell me, what shall I do now??
Sorry Poonam, I can’t do the quiz. I’m on dial-up and the stupid game is stuck on loading at 11% since the last half hour… I’ll try it again I promise, but I don’t have much faith that it will load…
Poonam,
The two pdf files you linked to were very useful. From my personal experience I can say that firms DO implement such measures. I did my internship with Schlumberger for a few months, and I really saw these things being implemented.
But one thing Poonam, as Ramesh has mentioned above, most of us know what the problem is…we even know the solution (or possible solutions) to it…but we don’t DO them. I think this brings to light one of the most recognised human behaviors; that we respond to incentives. So much effort goes into educating people about how they should conserve energy. But WHY should those people conserve energy? This is something we don’t think about. Especially when we consider the fact the humans are in general myopic, we need to see whether we are providing them with any incentives to act in a socially desirable way.
It is very unfortunate that the problem of climate change is treated by economists and environmentalists in their own ways. A pure approach wont do. What we need is for these two to come together and generate a holistic approach.
Regards,
Shromon Das
http://shromondas.blogspot.com
Okay, I played the game. My score was 5616. I don’t think that is too good but maybe that’s because most of the questions were California and money related and because the kind of appliances we use here are different from what they use there.
My 3 most interesting facts were:-
1) An Electric bulb sometimes uses more electricity than a refrigerator
2) Keeping computers on standby causes 50 to 75$ per family.
3) An electric bulb produces 90% heat and only 10% light.
I must confess I really enjoyed playing the game and didn’t find it boring. I got to learn a few new things, if not many. The animated character was excellent and the game over all was brilliant.
Now I have to read those other two links you’ve provided and tag 2 more people right? I will do that when I get the time. Thanks for tagging me!
@Ramesh: Actually I posted that update on your scores for the benefit of my friends whom I had tagged. It was only fair to them that they had both the perspective that the game could be boring. Score doesn’t matter, only take away from the game did… 🙂
When you talk about that woman who knew about energy conservation, yet did not want to do it. I have only two things to say.
One, I am an incorrigible optimist and crusader. I see woman’s awareness as first positive sign. 🙂 The second step now should be to motivate her to conserve. Perhaps the burning light brings is only source of brightness joy, I don’t blame her for not switching off. We all need motivation, so next step is find the cause and give the motivation.
Having said that, I can assure you for every one such woman, we have 9 more who might not know about. Using cfl bulbs is not the only thing about conservation. When I started researching, there are several things I learnt that I, who consider myself well-read, did not know about. Having your tv plugs, chargers in the socket even when not is use also consumes electricity…I certainly did not know…my cousins did not know…or did you know there is a standard way to measure the energy efficiency of washing machines? How many of us know that! I can write a whole post about such things, I will.
@Shromon, hey I know I will goof up while writing economic, why don’t you write and I will link your post in my blog. 🙂
I answered some of the things that you said when I answered Ramesh. But I must add you are another optimist when you say “From my personal experience I can say that firms DO implement such measures. I did my internship with Schlumberger for a few months, and I really saw these things being implemented.” Was your internship in India?? I am sorry to disappoint some of the basic things do not happen in Indian corporates. Atleast not in Delhi. Law of energy conservation says that corporates should encourage car pools for employees or provide a way of tranport where they travel together. but in my city, 80% of companies do not provide transport. The concept of car pool has not taken up yet. I have been looking for car pool in vain for month now. Other day I had a argument with a friend who wanted to a buy a car only because it suits a manager to arrive at work in car. He already has a bike and stays in vicinity of work! Damn energy conservation! Who cares?
But you have a point there, there are some who know and yet don’t do it..we need to motivate them…the next step…perhaps…I need to speak to good number of such people…to identify what’s stopping them?? Maybe there is a useful thought there 🙂 You hit on the nail when you said that “But WHY should those people conserve energy? ” It’s only fair….
Very few small setup workplaces recycle paper.
@Ish: You are always a delight and ray of light. I also need motivation, and your enthusiasm is infectious. Like me, you did not find the game boring because we are information-hungry people. In our small way, we want to make a difference.
The points do not matter at all, because it was all California context. I also got 5234[highest score is way up :)], but I had a new insight. Think of it, someone chose an interesting way to present boring facts. It is hard to find any such things in Indian context. 😦
Ish, the tag has got nothing to do with those links. Those are for your reference. Just put your score, your 3 fact on your blog and tag two people. Put on your blog, more people gonna read them there. 🙂 No hurry, do it when you have time. You managed to take the test between exams, Ish, I am glad.
Poonam,
Schlumberger is an MNC, and in India their main operations are in Bombay. So thats where I did my internship…and all the measures I mentioned that they take to minimise the damage to the environment were in the Indian context.
But yes…such cases are hard to find…
http://www.slb.com
But I am based in Delhi…and believe me…when I travel by bus to my institute, and there’s a heavy jam on NH-8 and Dhaula Kuan, I can see millions of cars with just one or two people sitting inside!
It was quite a boring game I must say..wasted 20 minutes….and learnt nothing much as everything went so fast. lol
Sorry for saying this..but that’s the reality Poonam..lol
Your noble intentions went haywire..:)
Oh, what have I written..lol..
@lallopallo: Hey I am sorry..wasted your 20 mins…i feared the same that is why I added update about my friend, Ramesh not liking it. 🙂 It was interesting to info-hungry me. Wait, till I find more interesting games on the subject. 🙂
Hey , sorry for being so late.. actually, I tried to put up some post.. for this.. but 😦 still trying..
Poonam: Hey, I did not think anyone was doing except few. Take your time, if you do it great… Motivates me as well. 🙂