In an attempt to make the IIT Bombay campus energy efficient, an energy audit of the institute was recently conducted to identify and suggest measures for conservation.
In an attempt to make the IIT Bombay campus energy efficient, an energy audit of the institute was recently conducted to identify and suggest measures for conservation. The recommendations, if implemented, can bring about a total saving of around Rs1.75 crore per year, the report said.
The audit was conducted by MTech students from the department of energy science and engineering (DESE), as a part of their course, under the guidance of professor Rangan Banerjee.
“This report is just one step towards our destination of achieving energy efficiency. An energy audit is a continuous process. We have compiled a list of possible actions to conserve and efficiently utilise our resources. The next step would be to prioritise their implementation,” Banerjee said.
While the campus was broken up into different areas, 13 teams of 27 students from the department were formed and each group was assigned a particular area or application of energy.
“The audit was aimed at giving the students a feel of the practical problems and difficulties in carrying out such exercises. It has a big impact if students are able to apply what they learn in practical life. Also, the idea is to make the campus an open demonstration facility,” said Banerjee.
The study says that the energy consumption on the campus is mainly in the form of electricity, apart from LPG as cooking fuel.
An important recommendation is the use of biogas plant for food waste processing. “The study showed that around 450 kg food (for 900 people) was getting wasted per day. So, we’ve suggested the use of biogas plant for collecting all the wasted food and converting it into fuel supply. This, in turn, will reduce LPG usage,” said Mel George, an MTech student, who was involved in the study.
Besides replacement of lighting and regulators, the report suggests use of computers in different settings or modes. “The latter will save Rs30 lakh per annum without any investment,” said George. Again, a change in operating pattern and schedule of water pumps, says the report, will save Rs2.5 lakh and will need no additional investment.
“We have also suggested installation and use of solar water heaters in all the hostels and guest houses,” said Banerjee. Among other suggestions, the report advises the formation of an institute-level committee which will periodically review the implementation of energy conservation measures. It further proposes that electrical energy consumption should be made a subject in the institute and energy performance can be a basis for providing incentives to hostels and departments.
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