Jagaran: Not a wayside musing

Hi
If you are reading this, most probably you are an NITKian who wants to make a difference to the world around you. More importantly, you are someone who believes that to get something done, you need to take the first step. Most importantly, you know that energy is precious. And Jagaran is all about spreading and implementing that message.
Let me give you an example.
Do you know how much our college spends on its electricity?
It spends Rs. 8 lakhs. Not annually. Per month. Thats what all our lights and fans and comps which remain running in our hostels, in our absence, add up to. Now imagine what would happen if you are able to cut off 1 % of this expenditure. We save almost a lakh in a year. What does that require of us? Nothing much. A little alertness. A little awareness. Switch off when not required. Thats it.
What do we gain?
Well for starters, we reduce the load on our power systems. We also save thousands of tonnes of coal. We reduce carbon emissions which emanate from thermal plants which provide the bulk of our power. We hinder global warming. We help create a healthier environment. We breathe easy. We live a better life.
And thats just about power conservation.
How do we go about it?
Well for starters, we look at the psychological level. Stickers on every door. Classrooms. Hostels. Admin blocks. With something like,'Did you save energy today?' or 'Did you turn off the lights?' .
Follow that up with a hyper link to an intra net site. Which specifically tells us what ails our power system. And what could be done about it. Before the start of each of our plethora of fests, get people to realize that having fun can be done without wasting energy. Shaking people out of lethargy is the only way Jagaran can be successful.
The word Jagaran, when loosely translated, means 'an awakening'. It also means an increasing awareness. I firmly believe that each one of us in the long run will end up being a mentor. If at that point of time we are still able to maintain energy awareness, Jagaran would have been successful. Because you would have sown the seeds for a greener earth. And thats the best thing you could have ever done.
We are looking for ideas. We look forward to your participation. Feel free to send your ideas to saurab.nair@gmail.com Whether small or big, any contribution that you make will be an addition to the overall effort. We are technocrats. And pretty much the smartest in the nation. At the end of the day, if we do not conserve energy, no one else will.