As a part of ocean conservancy, the Environment Protection And Awareness Club (EPAC) of BITS-PILANI-K.K.Birla Goa campus in collaboration with US based NGO Ocean Conservancy took the initiative of holding a beach clean-up on the 25th of September,2011 on the occasion of International Coastal Cleanup Day. About 100 enthusiasts took part in this hugely anticipated event.The beach that was cleaned up was the Majorda beach. Goa is known for its majestic beaches and its impeccable marine life. Hence conserving the ocean is of umpteen importance.

At sharp 7:30am, the students assembled near the main gate. With sleep in many eyes,the bus journey for the most enriching experience began. After the the half hour ride,refreshments were served and then began the main task of cleaning the beach. The pristine waters of the majorda beach under the sparkling sun greeted us and lifted our spirits. The cleanup lasted for three hours where the students collected enough trash to fill 24 garbage bags weighing upto 80 kgs in all. Even the scorching sun could not act as a deterrent to our enthusiasm. Joining us in the novel and noble work were a few faculty members of BITS GOA. Materials collected included majorly plastic,beverage bottles,fishing nets,cigarettes and plastic lids.

The drive wound up by about 12 noon. A large portion of the beachline was cleared. The filled garbage bags and the by now exhausted students bore testimony to this. This was followed by a round of well deserved refreshing lime juice.

Truly this experience strengthened the feeling of global environmental awareness in all of us. It was a feeling of pride and honour for all of us to have participated in such a drive. We at EPAC clearly appreciate and endorse such drives. So people think twice before you litter anywhere anytime..

--Swati Humbad

Save the Earth, in style :)

Many of us think its too boring to just blab blab and blab while doing nothing. Also, there are some who think that saving environment is “uncool” and not the “in” thing. This post would be very useful for them. Because what I m about to share with you are the ulti-cool gizmos and gadgets to save our environment in style.

The ASUS Ecobook-The cover is made of bamboo and is truly a decent way of getting your compute power while lowering your electricity costs. All of the plastic inside this Ecobook is labeled and recyclable. The components are lined with cardboard and there are no paints, sprays or even electroplating used on its components.

These sunglasses will trap the solar energy and convert it into electric energy so that it can power your small devices through the power jack at the back of the frame. This gadget would be useful when you are sun tanning, listening to your iPod and the batteries run out. Just Zap these glasses on and start charging your iPod

I almost felt in love when I found this. It has a combination of water and salt and the clock electrodes generate an electric current sufficient to power the clock for a few days after which you need to change the water. Cool! Isn’t it?

The Freeloader Solar Charger we mentioned below is really good for charging small gadgets but for those prople that would like to charge their laptops on the go too, here is a better option. This Voltaic Generator Solar Laptop Charger is the first solar bag powerful enough to charge a laptop. It has high-efficiency cells and includes a battery pack that is custom designed to store and convert the electricity generated more efficiently. Apart from charging laptops, it will also charge cell phones and most other hand held electronics.

People that love environment and at the same time just can’t live without music will love to own one of these Eco Cube Speakers. These Eco Cube speakers are made out from 70% recycled material and you will not even need batteries for them to work as they’re powered by your MP3 player or Audio Source. They are compatible with any device that has a 3.5 mm Speaker jack

And now!! For the coolest of all, I want to present the Hummer O2 concept(also fondly known as the Algae concept). The HUMMER O2 concept features a revolutionary phototropic body shell that produces pure oxygen throughout the lifespan of the vehicle. It’s actually quite simple, algae-filled body panels transform harmful CO2 into pure oxygen that is subsequently released back into the environment. To further reduce environmental impact, the O2’s construction specifies the use of 100% post consumer materials like aluminum (frame), VOC-free finishes (seats) and PETE (glazing).. Oil changes are replaced by annual algae replacement. The used algae are then recycled as biomass for the production of energy. A central aluminum “tree” creates a perfect hexagonal structure that both protects the central hydrogen tank and supports the external structural body panels.

Over the years that I have been observing the actions and awareness campaigns for saving our Earth, I have found out that people won’t listen to you unless you yourself are following it. Leading by example, that is. That’s the best way to influence people. Ramdev baba does it, and you know the rest. Being an EPAC has made me more conscious about the threat that we as humans pose to our own selves. We have done so much damage in so little time that they seem irreversible. Yet, we are still turning a blind eye towards it. Maybe it’s that way because either we are too busy improving our lives or just too lazy to take a step forward. Whatever the cause maybe, it’s the earth that’s paying the price of our negligence. No fancy slogans, no touchy lines. Just a simple statement. Move your legs and pick up the stick. This hope will not be always there. It’s now or never!!

CAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION HELP YOUR NATION PROGRESS?

The question in consideration surely stimulates the reader’s grey cells to think out of the box. Whenever one contemplates about a nation’s progress, he/she attributes it to various factors, viz. education, infrastructure, health facilities etc. But hardly does anyone ever think that caring for your environment can actually go a long way in determining the fate of your country.

With the advent of the industrial revolution, the rate of consumption of natural resources saw a gigantic leap. The nations who had plenty of natural resources combined with requisite technical know-how, redefined the industrial map of the world. In the present day world, these lines become even more meaningful. Take for example the middle-east countries. Our nation is one of those who depend heavily on them to fulfil our oil needs. If people don’t care for the environment and continue wasting petrol and diesel carelessly, then that day is not far away when India will be completely dependent on these nations for its fuel requirements which could even lead to a financial crisis. So, next time you land up in a long traffic jam, please don’t keep your vehicle’s engine on.

A large part of a nation’s budget is spent on satisfying its energy needs. Our country is largely dependent on fossil fuels, which not only affect the environment adversely but also are being depleted rapidly. Reports say that most of these fuels would be over by 2040. Thus there is an urgent need to shift to greener renewable energy sources with a faster pace so as to make India energy efficient.

Apart from these issues, we also need to use our natural resources more wisely and sustainably. Gandhiji too understood the vitality of this and that’s why he said:

“There is enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed”

As responsible citizens, we need to ensure that we don’t pollute the environment around us by any of our activities. Our country spends so much money to mitigate the after effects of environmental degradation of rivers, air etc. in a span of ten years that the same amount could have helped to eradicate more than half of India’s poverty. But reading and spreading awareness alone does not serve the purpose. Words are and always will be the way to perdition. It does not matter that at what level we are trying to do good for environment. Even small efforts by each and everyone of us can bring a sea of change. Buy eco- friendly and energy efficient products. Try reducing or atleast minimising pollution in water, land and the air around you. If you don’t even care for the environment, atleast care for your nation. Care for the people who inhabit it and the people who will live here in the coming generations. Remember:

“WE HAVE NOT INHERITED THE EARTH FROM OUR FOREFATHERS,

BUT WE HAVE BORROWED IT FROM OUR COMING GENERATIONS”

By Ankit Vikrant

The comeback of Wind-powered ships

Sailing ships once carried much of the world’s cargo across the seas, until canvas sheets were replaced by low-grade “bunker” oil. Now it appears that wind power is about to make a comeback, with many companies vying to create such a system. The dream of a high tech, sustainable energy cargo ship has been percolating for a number of years now, but it hasn’t caught on in a big way. . At first, wind power for today’s ultra-huge cargo ships looks like a nice idea, but just not possible. The scale alone makes it seem impractical. However, that hasn’t stopped anyone from trying.

A German company, SkySails, has come up with a parachute-like design for cargo ships, which involves connecting giant parasail-like kites to ships via rope and allowing them to generate enough propulsion to cut down on fuel use (by 35%, in ideal conditions). The kites are controlled by computers that steer their flight path for maximum wind benefits. Each sail is about the size of a football field.

One of the cargo ships fitted with SkySails technology.

Another British company has developed a more traditionally styled, rigging-free sail system for smaller cargo ships.

Another solution comes in the form of rigid “sails” that double as solar panels. The patent-pending technology, called the Aquarius Solar and Wind Marine Power System, is being developed by a company called Eco Marine Power.

Eco Marine’s solution is a bit of a twofer. Instead of flexible fabric sails it uses an array of rigid “sail panels” that double as solar collectors. The incorporation of solar technology means that the ship can continue to harvest energy while in berth. If the technology proves itself, it gives rise to the potential for berthed cargo ships to contribute energy to the land grid, helping to cut down on the use of fossil fuels at ports. Eco Marine expects a prototype to be tested early in 2012.

The Eco-Sails concept

The shipping industry is set to spew up to 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 if no action is taken. With such high emissions, it’s necessary to encourage alternate ways to generate energy, and these technologies may help in reducing emissions tremendously.

By Saksham Bhatla

The Great Power Race ends

The race finally comes to an end. The projects have been completed and the final reports submitted. The winner gets crowned at the COP16 in Cancun, Mexico. We are among the top 10 green campuses of the world with others from India, China and the US.
Irrespective of the result, everyone emerges a winner. Each campus and each student who participated in the race, through their registrations and the completion of projects have shown their commitment towards the environment and towards building a greener future.

For us, this was a unique opportunity to showcase our continuing efforts to make our campus green. It was a medium to network with other people working towards the same goal and mutually share our resources and ideas. We completed 50 projects through the course of the competition. We studied the current systems, management plans, conducted eco-audits, energy tours, plantatons, clean-up drives, awareness campaigns, competitions, exhibitions, celebrated green diwali, saved a beach, etc. among other activities. We thank everyone for their support and dedication!

The race may have ended, but our efforts won't. Giving way to the next big plan on our agenda for this year.

This Quark, we introduce for the first time, a dedicated panel of green events focusing sectors like Clean Energy, Green Buildings, Agricultural Efficiency, Rural Electrification and Urban Waste Management.
This Quark, we GO GREEN!

Quark 2011 - Initiatives

This will provide a perfect platform for the participants, professionals and policy makers to come together and deliberate on the solutions to the chronic problems of the society and the world today. It also creates an ideal environment for spreading awareness about the development sector and usage of clean and efficient energy. We plan to organise guest lectures, exhibitions and workshops on renewable energy, environment protection and sustainability. Apart from these events, we will aim at making the festival sustainable, spread awareness and reduce the environmental impact as far as possible.
The events include GanGreen, Eco-Architect and Bhagirath.

We invite everyone to indulge in this technical extravaganza. Registrations now open!

Let us GO GREEN !!

Green Diwali

Diwali is meant for new beginnings so we, the students at BITS Pilani- K.K.Birla Goa Campus pledge to celebrate a Green Diwali. Diyas lit on the moonless Diwali night signifies the end of darkness, ignorance and the beginning of light that enlightens all. This Diwali, we choose to enlighten all about the hazards posed to the environment by the boisterous celebrations of Diwali.

Eco friendly crackers

One can, of course, try and burst fewer crackers or none at all. But if you’re one of those who just can’t celebrate Diwali without sending a few rockets into the sky, then opt for the eco-friendly variety. These crackers are made up of recycled paper and the sound produced by these crackers is under the decibel limit defined by the Pollution Board. These crackers produce paper fluffers and different color lights instead of sound on bursting.

Get the traditional feel

Light diyas in the true spirit of Diwali, rather than opting for electric illumination which will only use up electricity. Though earthen lamps need oil, the quantity required is very less and it burns for at least 3-4 hours.

This will help you save electricity and also add a traditional stroke with social responsibility in the festival.

Gifts go organic

Go green this Diwali and gift your family and friend from an organic store.These days there are plenty of options in organic gifts from exotic food items to cosmetics and personal use items to bags and clothes. Go one step ahead and wrap your gifts in handmade or recycled paper, jute or cloth bags.

Decorate the eco-friendly way

Opt for natural decorative items like flowers and leaves instead plastic decorations which are detrimental for the environment. Fresh flowers, foliage and floating candles can be used to decorate the house. Rangolis and alpanas are more traditional ways to decorate the courtyard.

Reduce Energy Consumption

The festival of lights puts a considerably heavy load on electrical energy sources that are already overloaded. The use of electric lights to adorn homes, business establishments, monuments and roads requires a huge amount of electricity. The older tradition of burning oil lamps is a possible alternative to electric lights - even though it does use oil, the duration of the lamps is shorter.

Be generous and donate

Diwali can be a great time for recycling and donating unused items lying around the house. Often there are a lot of clothes and toys that are no longer in use.

It is hoped that this articles will encourage you to celebrate a green Diwali, where there will be an explosion of joy without crackers!

Wishing all readers a Happy Diwali and a Prosperous new Year!!!

Great Power Race

The Great Power Race is a clean energy competition between students in China, India and the United States. This spring we're seeing which country can sign up the most teams to take part in the official competition starting this September, when campuses will win points for achieving climate solutions. The race to a clean energy future is the greatest challenge of our time and young people are ready to lead the way. Together, we'll make our campuses models of sustainability and spur our nations to create whole new industries.

India already emerged as a winner in the first stage. We signed up way more teams than the other two countries!
We plan to win the next stage of the competition!

With just a month left.....let us gear up...to GO GREEN!

Visit our campus page at: http://www.greatpowerrace.org/node/1765

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