Energy & Power

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Power Conservation Initiative

S. A. Mansoor

An eye-opening and pioneer news report recently appeared in a local English language daily. It said that a village in Pabna has taken the lead in Bangladesh in a pioneering energy conservation step, by introducing the use of energy saving lamp at the initiative of the local REB. This is a great news of national significance; and a step in the right direction given our acute shortage of power everywhere. Such steps should be taken up all over Bangladesh, and the government particularly the Ministry of Energy and Power, interested NGOs, local councils and all interested parties. It was reported that the village earlier consumed around 27.5KW, using normal filament lamps. By using compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) there will be a saving of over 20KW. Assuming that the average filament light bulb was of 40 watt, it represents that nearly 700 filament lamps were replaced by CFLs in that village alone.

The exercise is praiseworthy indeed, and the villagers, the concerned
REB and all others concerned in this revolutionary step of power conservation, deserves all praise and recognition form the government and the concerned authorities, for this initiative step.

Government should publicize this achievement through its audiovisual
media so that it is known all over Bangladesh, and serves as an example for others to follow.

Power conservation needs very little capital, backed up by good awareness and educating of electricity consumers mostly. This writer estimates that the difference in price between filament lamps and CFLs of compatible illumination could be at least Tk.150. Based on these values; the total financial outlay for introducing CFLs in that village amounted to about Tk.1.5 lakh if not more. Assuming this figure; then for say 50,0000 villages where there is power, the amount involved will be (50,000X7000) Tk.73.5 crore.

From this power saving, the total power coming to the grid will be (50,000X20) around 10 lakh kilowatt. All this can be available without the time and hassle, for setting up say four 250MW green field power stations. The beauty of this step will be that it can be done in small steps; one, two, twenty or hundred villages every year, or at any rate as funds are available; based on the village's enthusiasm interest and capabilities.

It would be interesting for all of us who use electricity; and this could become a model national example of power conservation for every one to follow. Our government, print media, radio and TV channels could follow up and report on the matter extensively, giving the background, the people and organizations involved and how this whole change-over was managed; and the reactions from the users and beneficiaries.

This could be a very informative, instructive and interesting national news story for all readers and TV viewers; and of great public interest; including the authorities also; who should give all encouragement and support to replicate this endeavor everywhere possible. It may also shame the urban areas and their local government and civic bodies, to do something about it in urban areas, which should have taken the lead in this matter. All-out publicity will create the necessary awareness, and this will encourage people to go for CFLs only for illumination. It will go a long way in helping us in the conservation of power, which will considerably ease our perpetual power shortage; and be a great national energy saving step, similar to the steps taken in South Africa for all-out use of CFLs only for illumination in that country; the pioneers of power conservation in the world!

S.A. Mansoor: Retired Engineer, Dhaka.