People participation important in energy conservation: Thane professor

Thane: City-based professor Dr Sanjay Mangala Gopal has underlined the need of participation of citizens in energy conservation processes.

Gopal, who is also a members of International Solar Cities Initiatives (ISCI) and is credited for conducting free energy audit in housing societies of Thane through his NGO Akshay Urja Abhiyan, was speaking at the Solar World Congress, 2015, held at Daegu city of South Korea, last week.

On topic 'City of Thane, India: Energy Audit Initiative of Housing Complexes', Gopal said since the launch of the free audit programme in May this year in Thane, the drive has garnered a remarkable response and generated immense public interest.

"Public participation is essential. Public partnership in the field comprise government administration as one part, while another participation comes from sectors like educational institutes, NGOs, citizen groups," he said.

Gopal on the occasion also highlighted the various efforts undertaken by Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) for increasing use of renewable energy sources in the city. He said free energy audit at housing societies can be one of the ways to increase common citizens' participation in the energy conservation process.

"Till now under the campaign (Akshay Urja Abhiyan), more than 150 building equivalents have been audited and by using energy efficient devices and renewable energy options, energy savings potential ranges from 1,200 units to 15 million units, as per the size of the society," he said.