In the land famous for famed varieties of Red Chilli, a silent energy revolution is taking place in homes, offices and factories in urban and rural hinterlands. People who for years have been using high energy consuming incandescent bulbs are now switching over to energy-efficient LED bulbs to light up their homes, conserve energy and save on their incomes.
For a state which is desperate for high-volume investments in manufacturing and industrial sectors, 24X7 power supply has been a basic and essential requirements for investments to flow in. The massive energy conservation activity by using LED lights could not have come at a more opportune time.
In just a span of three months, 18.4 lakh bulbs have been provided to electricity consumers in the Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP) launched by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu here on October 2. The DELP programme covered Anantpur, Guntur, Srikakulam and West Godavari districts.
The programme, a joint initiative undertaken the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and the APSPDCL has covered more than 80 per cent of electricity consumers in the district.
Under the project, each consumer is given two LED lights, each costing Rs.10 on production of the latest bill.
``We are extremely happy that the Guntur District has become a leader in energy conservation and has set the agenda for the other districts. With the new capital coming up in the district, LED revolution is just a beginning for building a world class eco capital,’’ Chief Executive Officer, State Energy Conservation Mission, Government of Andhra Pradesh, A. Chandra Sekhara Reddy told The Hindu on Monday.
Mr. Reddy along with SE, APSPDCL, K. Santhosh Rao, visited homes in urban and rural areas which are now powered by LED lights and said that the impact of using energy-efficient LED lights was tremendous.
For instance, the current consumption charges for a house at Chllavaripalem which were Rs.465 in December, 2014 have come down to just Rs.178 in the bill dated February 15. The house has two LED lights used in the hall and bed room. At another house at Reddypalem, the CC charges came down from Rs.726 in November to just Rs.246 in January.
The LED revolution in the State has been lauded by the EECL and BEE too. ``AP is a leader in LED revolution and so far the EECL has distributed 27 lakh LED bulbs and 80,000 street lights in just over three months. Energy Conservation and efficiency will play a vital role in effective reduction of Green House Gas emissions and protect the environment,’’ said EECL managing director Saurabh Kumar.
