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Ram
Saran a resident of village Poabo in Shimla district today is the
happiest person as his monthly electricity bill has decreased by
seventy percent. Credit for this goes to the Solar Passive Heating
and Lighting System installed in his newly constructed home. The
house also has a solar voltaic lighting system and solar cooker for
cooking purposes. The Science and Technology Department and Himachal
Pradesh Energy Development Agency have provided basic technical
designs like using thick walls/cavity walls, local insulation
material, controlling air leakages and traditional and time tested 'Vastu
Shilap' 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
amongst 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 the thing of the past and dependence
upon electricity is also gradually decreasing.
Solar
Passive Housing Technology (SPHT) is an environmentally 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 in to 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 Govt. / Semi
Govt. Sector and Himachal became the first State in the country to
make adoption of this technology compulsory. In 2000, the State
Government further took a policy decision for the implementation of
this technology in all the departmental buildings, including
Corporations, Boards and Universities. It was made mandatory to
adopt this technology in construction of new buildings being
constructed over 2000 meters above sea level.
More
than 200 Solar Passive buildings had been constructed in the State.
The State Council for Science Technology and Environment is
providing consultancy for the design of the buildings. In addition
to it, the Council is also imparting training to architects,
scientists, engineers, planners and masons in SPHT. A Technical
Project Management Cell comprising of Architect, Scientist and
associated staff has been established in the Council. The Cell is
also providing consultancy-based services for individuals and
Government organizations.
The
adoption of Solar Passive Heating and Cooling technologies in design
of the buildings, has not only helped in reducing the large
consumption of fossil fuels and electricity for space heating,
cooling and day lighting but has also resulted in considerable
saving of exchequer.
Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency (HIMURJA) is providing
appropriate renewable and non-conventional sources of energy at
affordable prices to the people of the Pradesh. During the last two
decades several renewable energy technologies have been developed
and deployed in villages and cities of the State. Renewable energy
programme like Solar Thermal, Solar Photovoltaic etc. received
initial thrust with the launching of Integrated Rural Energy
Planning Programme in the Pradesh. The utilization of Solar Thermal
and Photovoltaic Technology not only supplement the conventional
energy requirement but also providing energy security and are
environment friendly. About 30460 solar cookers, 3462 solar heating
system had been set up in the State. In addition to it, 1263 water
mills and 465 hydram had been set up. HIMURJA is also implementing
the mini/micro hydel programme upto 5 MW capacity to meet the local
energy needs of the local people. MOU had been signed for execution
of 300 mini/micro projects. 10 projects having 23.25 MW capacities
have been executed. Electricity is also being provided to the people
of Pangi and Dodra Kawar through portable generators.
The
use of non-conventional energy sources like solar photovoltaic
lights, solar water heating system, solar cooker and solar passive
technology in house building has saved a considerable amount of
energy. This has helped in meeting the growing energy needs while
simultaneously minimising the negative impact of green house gases.
The clean and green power is emerging as a sustainable energy source
for the people in Himachal. | 