Over the last month presentations have been carried out in various schools, colleges and organizations. Here is a brief update on the same.

Just Do Your Bit Project

With the growing concerns worldwide over climate change and global warming; many organizations have been able to take up a positive step in this direction. Energy usage generates a large amount of greenhouse gases throughout the world. IBM has decided to focus on this aspect and endeavours to make IT infrastructure energy efficient and environment friendly. It has a global team of more than 850 energy efficient architects working on this initiative across IBM. This is a part of a broader environmental initiative called Big Green Innovations. IBM is offering consulting for water and energy management alongwith coming up with better and green technology for environment protection.

With $1 billion investment a year, IBM launched Project Big Green on 10th May, 2007 to increase the efficiency of IBM products. As a part of the same project the first corporate led Energy- Efficiency Certificate program was launched on 10th November, 2007. New products and services launched under this project contain a five-step approach i.e.
- diagnose,
- build,
- virtualize,
- manage, and
- cool to create energy efficiency in data centers.

Diagnose- This step assesses the current energy usage of the company, to see what kind of tool is available with IBM, set metrics to measure the power consumption. This also includes assessing energy efficiency for determining important first steps to be taken.

Build- IBM created MMT- Mobile Measurement Technology to indicate the key areas that require attention in terms of temperature rises, it visualizes hot spots, air leakages and other inefficiencies accurately and in lesser time than if done manually.

Virtualize- Another IBM tool can give virtual representation of energy needs in data centers. This helps in assessing what time the data center has the highest energy demand and how the need can be increased or decreased on the basis of small changes thus, helping in accurate forecast of power requirements. This can help in cutting down both hardware and energy needs of the IT infrastructure.

Manage- IBM’s power management software is an easy way to reduce electricity usage. If US data centers would set their servers to sleep when not in use, it can save 5.4 billion kilowatt per year equivalent to electricity for 370,000 homes for winters.

Cool- IBM Data Center Stored Cooling Solution is a new service of the company. It was used in Quebec and was able to reduce 45% of the cooling cost of a data center.

This program aims at reducing the energy consumption of the data-centers by approximately 42%, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions and making them ‘green’ data centers. The company has come up with a Rear Door Heat Exchanger product that uses chilled water to dissipate heat of the system by about 60%. By using IBM’s mainframe or new BladeCenter Server, companies can utilize 100% of server capacity and cut their energy usage by about 50%.

Mike Daniels, IBM’s senior vice president of Global Technology Services, said “There are times when we need to mobilize the entire company, as we did with the internet, with e-commerce, and others. We think this is one of those times, and we have reallocated $1b around these initiatives.” To address the global energy issue, IBM shall be channelizing its efforts through 4 initiatives under the Intelligent Energy Campaign i.e.
- Client Innovations in Energy
- Application of Technology & Services for Energy Efficiency
- Activities with Energy Influencers
- Environmental Efforts at Big Blue

“Across the world there’s been frenzy in moving forward in information technology,” Rahmani said. “It’s estimated that the cost of energy (it takes) to power these data centers will increase by 50 percent every two to three years. It’s huge: a huge cost to us, a huge cost to our clients, and also a huge cost to the environment.” While announcing Project Big Green in India, Steven Sams, vice president , Site & Facilities Services, IBM said, “Businesses around the world are consuming extreme amounts of energy through their use of IT -over 100 billion kilowatts per year globally furthering today’s energy crisis.”

Jyoti Satyanathan, country manager, eServer pSeries, IBM India said, “In India, the need for intelligent energy solutions is more acute than many other nations. As per IDC, IT spending in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow by 52 % to reach US$162.5 billion by 2010 and this growth is driven by India in addition to China. However, our country is already facing an energy crisis.” “According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), at the current annual generation capacity of 1,30,000 MW, we face a shortage of nearly 9% with peak load deficits being higher at 10-11% and it will only get worse. It is important that Indian organizations start taking this problem seriously, and make the appropriate investments so that their energy spends can keep pace with their growth,” he added.

Sources:
www.ibm.com
www.greenbiz.com
Economic Times

The Diwali aftermath of the number of accidents as well as the environment degradation taken into account can make one realize how costly Diwali is for many each year that it passes by. Here is a brief account of this year in our city. According to Times of India, 158 people sustained burns while burning crackers in Chandigarh, 24 in Panchkula and 34 in Mohali. Apart from these injuries sustained mainly by children, it is important to take into consideration the affect on environment which subsequently results in health hazards. Idma Foundation for Sustainable Development conducted real time online monitoring of harmful respirable dust levels (particles of size less than 10 microns that can reach the inner part of the lungs and thus are harmful) in a residential area in city on the eve of Diwali. This is what they stated:

The festival of lights is on the radar of pollution control authorities, NGOs and media due to its pollution causing potential. The bursting of crackers during the festival is primarily responsible for (1) large scale noise pollution (2) increase in concentration of dust. Over last few years due to awareness campaigns including enactment of various pollution control legislation, the public is now aware of the possible damage to environment and health. The bursting of crackers is thus more or less restricted to now one or two days.

The government is further monitoring noise levels and air pollutants during the festival. This monitoring is time weighted average monitoring over 8-hour shifts during the festival and does not provide values of individual high levels of concentration or Short Term Exposure Levels (STEL). It is defined as concentration to which an individual can be exposed for a short period (15 minutes) without irritation or chronic or irreversible damage.

The monitoring has been undertaken on Pre-Diwali 8.11.2007 (9PM-11 PM), 9.11.2007 (7AM-8.30 AM); Diwali Night 9.11.2007 (7.30 PM to 11 PM) and on 10.11.2007 (7AM to 8.30 AM)

The measurements are done using ‘Personal Data RAM’ an aerosol monitor that records concentration of dust of less than 10 microns including fumes. The fume particles as emitted during Diwali from bursting of crackers are less than 1 micron to down to 0.01 micron in size and thus can reach the innermost portion of lungs.

Graph 1 showing Respirable Dust Levels Post Diwali Morning

Graph 2 showing Respirable Dust Levels at Diwali Night

Graph 3 showing Respirable Dust Levels Diwali Day Morning

Graph 4 showing Respirable Dust Levels Pre-Diwali Night

As evident during the bursting of crackers on Diwali night the maximum STEL (15 minutes exposure levels) values reach as high as 1498 microgram per cubic meter (ug/m³) as compared to previous night STEL of 48 ug/m³. The maximum concentration of aerosols has also reached as high as 7943 ug/m³ as compared to 694 ug/m³ previous night.

It is important to understand that fine dust itself may not be a harmful pollutant but its health effects are confounded by co-pollutants. During the bursting of crackers the fine dust is rich in co-pollutants as oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, metal dust, organic pollutants.

Another area of concern is that public is somehow getting the impression that it is safe to burst crackers as sparklers (annar), torches (Fuljhari). The people allow small children to use these crackers that these are safe- cause less noise pollution but these generate rich smoke. The small children particularly revolve torches (Fuljharis) within their respiratory zone.

Research shows that with every 50 ug/m³ increase in fine dust levels, one would except to see a 5-25% increase in number of asthma complaints in a normal population.

It is extremely easy to look at the brighter side of Diwali of maintaining our traditions but what is essential to understand here is that Diwali did not start with burning crackers. The original tradition was to celebrate it as a festival of lights and lamps were lit all over to celebrate the occasion.

It’s up to all of us to make that choice in the best interest of ourselves and of people around us.

Source: Dr. R.S. Saini, Executive Director, IFSD (Idma Foundation for Sustainable Development)

EonEcon meetings have taken an interesting turn since the time we got started. A series of ideas, perspectives and debates have been going on to take the next step forward. For now, the first project aimed at raising awareness about environment and environmental issues amongst the students has kicked off.

Many question the fact that why awareness programmes for school going children when schools have environment education as a part of their curriculum? On the basis of our interaction with a few students as well as Government officials, we found that the understanding of environment and environmental issues was extremely skewed amongst masses and is limited to the green cover only. Apart from that, there seems to be a strange disconnect between people and environment at large. It is referred to in third person as something that they may or may not be bothered about.

The first project that we have started with is ‘Just Do Your Bit!’, whereby we are trying to pass the message to the students through ‘GREEN SHEETS’ that everyone has the power to make a difference and all of us need to start today. The approach has been to try and connect global problems to what is happening in our country. Facts and images of current environment situation in our country and city helps in building a connection and a better understanding amongst the students. An effort has been made to make the students not just understand the kind of actions that they can take and understand why these actions are important and why there is a need for each one of us to step in.

We are covering about 100 schools, colleges and organizations of the city as a part of this programme. The DPI has approved that we can have the same sessions in all the Government schools as well. Alongside, certain companies and organizations are also being approached so that they are also made aware of various environmental issues. Most importantly so that they are able to identify some action steps that they can take at their own end to make a positive impact.

We hope that this endeavour will trigger a change.

World Population is about 6 billion and growing. Our consumption patterns are not sustainable. Each one of us can make our share of difference by adopting better consumption patterns and acting sustainably.

Following is a list of important practical steps which you can take, to make your contribution at an Individual level. Organizations can take this further by not only implementing these steps across the organization, but also by encouraging team members to follow these individual green sheets.

Each one of us has the power to make a difference, start today, and just do your bit!

General:

1. Try and follow the 3 R’s in your consumption patterns:

Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Recover
Residual management

2. Try to educate and motivate your peers, friends and community to be involved in environment initiatives.
3. Become more involved with environmental concerns and gain knowledge about solutions.

Energy & E-Waste:

1. Replace Normal Bulbs with CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) or LED Bulbs.
2. Take the initiative and Switch off lights, fans, ACs, TVs and other electronic items in your home & office when not required.
4. Get automatic switches in place like bathroom & supply areas so that they can turn on & off whenever someone enters or leaves
5. Do not keep your appliances at stand by as they still consume electricity when on stand by.
6. Hibernate laptops instead of leaving them at stand by.
7. Prefer not to have any screen-savers.
8. Shut the monitor off, if the computer is not in use for some time.
9. By using 2 inch smaller monitor you can reduce your monitor’s consumption by 30%
10. Use Rechargeable batteries as they last longer.
11. Don’t overcharge Batteries of your cell phones, laptops, cameras etc. as it not only consumes more energy but also reduces the battery life. 12. Use alternative materials like flyash bricks or foamed bricks during construction of buildings/houses as they absorb less heat and bring down the air-conditioning cost considerably.

CFL Bulbs are 70% more efficient, last 10 times longer, come with a 1 year guarantee and 1 bulb replaced will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Home appliances account for 30% of energy usage in industrial countries and 12% of greenhouse gases.

83.9% energy in India comes from burning of fossil fuels, which is a cause of a large amount of carbon emissions.

Only 11% energy is generated from water and the rest from solar, nuclear etc.

Dumping E-waste in landfills, leaks mercury & other harmful substances in the ground and reach the water table and make it toxic.

There are only 2 E-Waste recycling units in India; in Chennai and in Tamil Nadu.

Paper:

1. Avoid taking print out and Photostats if you can do with the electronic version of the documents.
2. Use both sides of the paper for print outs.
3. Use emails to stay in touch.
4. Say NO to ATM receipts, unnecessary magazine or newspaper subscription in print.
5. Use post consumer waste recycled paper.
6. Use Jute bags for shopping instead of paper bags.

Throughout our student lives, we consume loads of paper. But by replacing a tonne of paper with paper made from recycled fibers instead of virgin fibers we could save:

17-31 trees

31780 litres of water

4000KWh of electricity

60 pound of air pollutants

1 ton of uncoated virgin (non-recycled) printing and office paper uses 24 trees
1 ton of 100% virgin (non-recycled) newsprint uses 12 trees
1 ton of coated, higher-end virgin magazine paper more than 15 trees
1 ton of coated, lower-end virgin magazine paper uses nearly 8 trees

According to Market Watch, if everyone in the US would select the no-receipt option at the ATM, it would save a roll of paper more than two billion feet long, or enough to circle the equator 15 times!

Paper manufacturing is the 3rd largest consumer of fossil fuels.

Transportation:

1. Keep the tyres of your vehicles properly inflated.
2. Turn off the engines of your vehicles at traffic lights (more than 100 seconds).
3. Do not exceed speed of 88km/hr as it results in more carbon emissions and decreases the fuel efficiency. 4. Organize car pool program for common destinations.
5. Prefer walking & biking if distance and weather permits.
6. Prefer using video conferencing/ phones/IMs/Conference calls/emails instead of physical meetings.

Turning off the engine of the vehicle at traffic lights can increase fuel efficiency by 3%.

It can also bring down your fuel bills by 12%

Each gallon of gasoline saved keeps 30 pounds of carbon emissions out of atmosphere!

The global passenger car fleet now exceeds 530 million vehicles and is growing by as many as 9 million vehicles annually.

You will save one pound of carbon dioxide per mile you don’t drive!

Plastics:

1. Avoid purchasing bottled water as much as possible or at least reuse the bottles. 2. Reduce usage of plastic bags for buying groceries, use jute bags instead.

Making one million tons of plastic bottles from virgin materials generates 732,000 tons of greenhouse gases.

10 billion bags are produced in a year and each one takes more than 1000 years to decompose.

Go Green:

1. Plant Trees.

A single tree can absorb 1 ton of carbon dioxide in its life time.

Water:

1. Save water by installing low flow shower heads.
2. Don’t keep the water running while brushing your teeth.

One drip per second amounts to 200 gallons of water per month.

If you leave the tap running while brushing you end up wasting about 7 litres of water, daily.

2915 Showerheads Replaced:
2,438,305 gallons of water are saved
731,665 pounds of CO2 is prevented

Air:

1. Say No To Crackers.

Crackers cause rise in SPM levels.

There are numerous health hazards associated with crackers due to the kind of chemicals present in crackers. (Click Here to know more)

1,00,000 children (between 8 to 15 years) work in cracker manufacturing factories each year and fall prey to many health disorders. On an average 10000-20000 kids die or fall prey to serious injuries in these factories.