Go Solar – Let’s take Advantage of the Sun

Have you ever reflected on the fact that we are wasting over two thousand sunshine hours annually? Have you ever thought how much cooking fuel you would save, if you let the Sun do the job?

While in Ahmedabad, I had the good fortune to meet an environmental engineer who had made it his life’s passion to take full benefit of nature’s resources, albeit in a sustainable way. Dr. Girja Sharan, of IIM (A), did not want to waste the ample solar energy that was available in Kachchh. So, he designed, what later came to be stylishly referred to as Sol-Café. Now, Sol-Café was not some French design cutomised for Kachchh roads. These were cafeteria’s, which had solar panels placed strategically, to catch the Sun’s rays at the perfect angle. The cafés made all the delicious snacks for which Gujrati’s are famous. The same principle was adopted, to provide solar kitchens for various schools in the interior of Kachchh. Not only were the schools saving on money, it was also using a renewable source of energy and the outcome was healthy nutritious food. How appetizing is that!

There is more food for thought. Just imagine that you are leaving for the day and plan to be back by dinner. Late evening, when you return, you have rice, dal, chicken, and kheer – a four course meal warm and ready, with all the goodness of natural ingredients preserved. All these and more can be done with solar energy. Does it not make sense to use Sun’s energy, when we have the luck to have it uninterruptedly for almost eight to nine months in a year?

Solar energy is increasingly used in various ways, as it requires little maintenance and is cost-effective in the long run. Water pumps can be powered by solar energy. Solar energy can be used to heat residential homes; many people use solar energy to heat their water supply; in Florida, people use solar energy to warm the water in the pool. A photovoltaic cell installed on the roof, collects the solar energy and warms the heat transfer fluid, which in turn warms the water.

Here in Nagpur, there is someone who cares enough to make the Earth a more tolerable place. A place, where street lights and pumps, will run on solar power. As individuals, we can also start using solar cookers and solar heaters. The options are unlimited; it just needs some innovative thought and a gambler’s intuition; this is one stake that won’t be a loss.