Green Moves

It’s elaborate,exhaustive and tells us what the world thinks. The global warming community on orkut,that is. Holding polls,awareness campaigns and discussion forums,“it for starters tells us that India stands second in the world amongst the countries that google ‘global warming,” tells Rahul Kulkarni,Product Head,Orkut,as he takes us through the website that gets blogs not only on this day but through the year and from across borders. “Though the day was designated to empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development,with the increased use of technology and development it is upon us to negate the effect every day,” Kulkarni says it is probably because of this realization that the community registered about 22,400 members in a limited period. The site tell us the perception of people and how they contribute towards keeping the environment clean. “While 10 per cent of the netizens have taken to bicycles as a mode of transport,21 per cent have planted at least two saplings,18 per cent have turned vegetarian,31 per cent have reduced use of polythene bags and 14 per cent now get the emission from vehicles regularly checked,” he lists.

With people realizing that global warming is real,they are taking different routes to connect with people and form communities to bring a change. Student groups like Youth United are planning to launch an online campaign on occasion of World Environment Day 2009. “We will follow the UNEP’s theme ‘Your Planet Needs You-UNITE to Combat Climate Change’ on http://www.youthunited.in,” Saloni of the club tells us they have already sent about 5,000 e-mails to suggest people some simple ways to be environment friendly. But at Rotract,the students will organise an awareness camp at the Sukhna Lake on June 5 at 5:30 pm. “We will also form a human chain and hold a tree plantation drive,” tells Sumit of Rotract Club.

If students are taking the initiative,companies too are not far behind. At Desiccant Rotors International (DRI) their products are designed to save energy. “We are involved in various initiatives that can help in providing a sustainable environment. The core technology of DRI focuses on energy efficiency and providing better indoor air quality which minimizes the operational cost and maintain a healthy atmosphere inside,” tells Rahul Aeron,National Sales Head of the company,as he tells us that their equipments are capable of recovering upto 75 per cent of each sensible and latent energy from the stale exhaust air. “The energy saved can be utilized for different uses like lighting a street light,or utilizing a part of the energy to light up a village and the resources or fossil fuels which are burnt to produce energy like coal and mineral oils that lead to global warming can be reduced to a certain extent,” he reels that the technology is being heavily used in Chandigarh hospitals including Fortis and in larger projects like Olympia Tech Park,Chennai and AVANI,Ist rated green home in India.

Even Citizen eco-drive is doing its bit. The watch maker will be collaborating with NGO Eco-Watch to make earth a greener place. “On the day every customer who purchases a Citizen watch will be gifted a ‘Reusable bag’. The evident idea is to reuse the bag and thereby reduce the usage of plastics. The concept bag is very easy to carry and can be folded into a small pack if not in use,” marketing head Sandeep Hegde tells us on the day Citizen will also plant some saplings with the NGO Eco Watch.

Closer home,Tiwana Service Station,Sector 43,is offering free pollution checks to mark the day. “Development has its own price to pay,but it’s for us to do our bit to negate the effect,” says Sukhveer Tiwana. Hope you are doing yours.