Great Power Race is a clean Energy competition between Indian, Chinese and American universities. Brain child of many organisations such as 350.org, IYCN and many others.
You’re all invited to a Party!
Regardless of whether or not you are a student or if you do or don’t live in China, India, or the US, on the 10th of October, 10/10/10, we invite you to join in for a Global Work Party.
In every corner of the globe, we will implement solutions to the climate crisis: from solar panels to community gardens, wind turbines to bike workshops. We’ll tell leaders: “We’re getting to work–what about you?” To read more about the plans and to join in, please visit www.350.org/1010.
There would be Global Action Parties in major cities all over the globe. Mumbai is having its own on the same date. For more info contact Siddhartha Jain at siddhartha.jain@iitb.ac.in
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Green Campus Committee
We are thankful for Prof M.B.Patil assistance and support in shaping the activities.
Jairam Ramesh Visiting IITB Campus
IIT Bombay alumnus Jairam Ramesh Union Minister of Environment and Forests – Govt of India, will be speaking on campus in the Convocation Hall at 11:30 am 1400 hrs on March 13. It is a initiative taken by all IITs to show their concern over the raising climate issues. All the leading faculties and some deans from IITs would be joining in this conference.We would like to invite all the students of the campus to attend the conference and to participate in the discussion over the climate change issues.
PM Dr.Manmohan Singh said “India has not caused the problem of global warming. But try and make sure that India is part of the solution. Be constructive; be proactive”. Subsequently India has the largest number of CDM projects in the world and has earned substantial economic credits. The government has realized the importance of this issue and its now up to the coming generation to live up to it and contribute towards the cause.
Jairam Ramesh has been the central figure on India’s stand on Climate Change. India doesn’t one need Jairam Ramesh, it needs hundreds of them. Be the change and stand up to the India’s commitment towards fighting climate change.
Date: 13th March 2010, Saturday
Venue: Convocation Hall
Time: 11:30 am
World Wetlands Day celebrations
On 2nd Feb, TERI in association with CIDCO organized a public function to commemorate the World Wetlands Day at Khandeshwar Lake Complex in Navi Mumbai. TERI has recently setup a National Institute of Wetland Analysis, Policy and Research (NIWARA) in the same complex. There was an exhibition on eco-friendly techniques like compost and root zone pitting as well as TEAM (Enhanced Acidification and Methanation Process) and the concept of ‘Solar Tree’ was revealed. We participated in the stakeholders’s dialogue on wetland conservation representing IIT Bombay Sustainability Cell and gave a talk on our activities. The meeting was attended by dignitaries like Mr.Nayak, Minister of Non-Conventional Sources of Energy (GoM) and Mr.Gill, Managing Director, CIDCO.
10 things that everyone can do to fight climate change, without changing lifestyle
Following are the 10 things which everyone of us can easily do, for a really effective fight over climate change.
1) The age old principle of switching lights off and shutting down the computers when not in use.I guess everyone must have realized that this applies to all other electrical appliances. The idea is NEVER EVER keep them in standby mode, it gobbles up considerable amount of power. —- “PLUG them out always.”
Further Reading – http://eetd.lbl.gov/newsletter/cbs_nl/nl17/leaking.html
2) Do not waste even a drop of water.
Surprised ..? Contrary to popular belief water is very heavy, when it is required to be pumped to our urban homes from underground water sources, it requires huge amount of power to run municipality pumps. So when you decide not to waste water, you are actually killing two social problems of water scarcity and carbon emissions.
IITB Junta chk out http://nobathonsundays.com/ 
Further Reading – http://watergy.org/
3) Rethink Materials – If given the choice between two, always choose the one which is easily recyclable. And while disposing it off ensure that it is recycled properly. Rethink Electronics, plastics, mobiles, packaging… every other thing for that matter. Reuse is also a very good way to rethink materials. You can donate most of the regular household stuff here for reuse.
1. http://www.karmayog.com/matnee.htm
2. http://www.toybank.org/
If you know more websites/NGO’s which accept/buy old stuff, do write it in the comments.
4) Eat more of local foods – Now this one is serious, whatever we eat is sometimes grown in really far off places, and the transport related emissions are huge and hidden from the monetary costs. Of course first criteria for choosing has to be food quality, but think one more time before buying Peanuts and juices from Thailand and oranges of New Zealand, when very good local substitutes are available.
“Decrease your food-miles”
Further reading – http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1200783-1,00.html
5) Buy Energy Efficient Electrical Appliances, BEE rates most of electronic products on a scale of 5 and you can check for these ratings in the brochure provided by the companies. Also, as far as possible CFL lightning should be used.
Further Reading http://www.bee-india.nic.in/
6) Do carpooling, its really becoming a popular way to reduce traveling costs and carbon emissions. It helps if you travel on a same route daily.
Register on http://www.carpooling.in/
For IITB Junta sharing auto rides will do.
7) If you are a celebrity, then build a green home i.e. you can Ask GulPanag how to do it. 
For IIT Junta – follow your passion, job rarely makes you a star or millionaire.;)
8.) Be a part of groups promoting sustainability, be a climate champion.
Call up http://iycn.in/ and discuss how can you contribute.
For IITB junta mail us at earth.club.iitb@gmail.com. 
9) Make at least 5 of your friends read this blog. The idea is to spread the word. These measures will be really effective when each and everyone of us start being aware of these responsibilities.
10) Discuss about sustainable practices at workplace, home etc. If possible do a green job.
For Green Job listing in India visit http://www.greeneconomyindia.com/find_green_job.aspx
In the end some gyan and statistics:-
61% of GHG (Greenhouse Gas Emissions) produced by India comes from Energy Sector, and that is primarily consumed to meet Electricity and Transportation requirements. Therefore, above points which make you save electricity as well as reduce transportation will cumulatively help in reducing GHG’s in a substantial manner.
The 2nd largest emitter is agriculture sector at 28%, yes that means being a vegetarian and not wasting food also helps. Though they arent included in main 10 points, as we promised that following them you wont need to change your habits, still you’re welcome to make those changes.
