The Sandalwood City of India or Mysore, as it is popularly known, is a beautiful city which boasts of a rich history, art and a culture still preserved in its splendor. From the famous palace to serene lakes, from placid temples to heaven-like gardens, the city has much to offer to the respite of the human monotony. Mysore can comfortably claim to be one of the greener cities in the country, thanks to the local authorities who have been very pro-active in preserving the ecology and making best possible efforts to keep it intact. Various large green patches, in and …

Her love for the beaches took Elsie Gabriel to Bali, where she was fascinated by unique turtle conservation efforts by the local government. Watching any living creature lay eggs is a breathtaking experience. It’s like stepping back in time where one forgets the madness the world comprises of and comes to appreciate the beautiful gift of life. It is creation at its best! I was in Bali, at the Moncot Sari Turtle Farm, Turtle Island, dedicated solely to turtle conservation. Here I was, watching the caretakers call out the vital signs of a healthy turtle, after carefully measuring and weighing …

Starting today, Ek Titli presents to you a 7 part series on Greenomics, by guest writer and young economist, Mr Abhishek Ranjan. A green economy is understood as a system that is attuned with the environment and thus, is environmentally friendly. Today, the concept of green economy has evolved to also accommodate social issues. By using clean technology and clean energy, the green economy is expected to provide safer and healthier environments, create alternative green jobs and maintain the development of societies. This concept is often associated with ideas such as “low-carbon growth” or “green growth”. With this perspective the …

When I first heard of Mawlynnong’s claim of being “The Cleanest Village in Asia”, I knew I had to plan a trip to see it. The village is at a distance of around 90 km from Shillong, and the road leading up to it has some of the most panoramic and breathtaking views in the country. Nestled in the pristine East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya the residents of this picturesque village along the Indo-Bangla border have learnt to live at harmony with Mother Nature and might very well become an example that urban folk  should emulate. Till over a decade …

So when we talk green, we talk about the plants, the trees, waste management, recycling, reuse and sustainable ways of leading life. Well, how much difference can a single hand make to this global issue of depleting environment, is a persistent question on our minds all the time. Well, one does what one can. Even as you read this, you are concerned about the environment but are you living a sustainable life? A simple thing as your bathing soap can be a cause of environment depletion. Interesting, eh? It gets better as you read this further. A normal bathing soap …

Indiaco Ventures Limited is India’s only BSE listed private equity player and interestingly has a fund dedicated only to Energy Efficiency. What does this entail, Ek Titli finds out. When and why did you feel the need to have a dedicated fund for Energy Efficiency? Rahul Patwardhan – VC & MD of IndiaCo Ventures Limited We feel that energy efficiency, a critical factor for India’s economic growth and sustenance, requires innovative ideas converging into practice. India’s energy demand has grown rapidly in past decades and is poised to double by 2030. India currently ranks as the world’s eleventh greatest energy producer …

InEnCy, a business plan competition dedicated only to electric energy efficiency sector, is nearing its closing date on 31st March 2011. The competition has been launched with the idea to mentor all entrants and eventually fund the best one. Apart from this, there are huge cash prizes to be won too. The competition has been sponsored by some very big names. The association of these distinguished organizations with InEnCy ensures that every participant will get an exposure to an enriched mentorship process to help them enhance their business plan to the extent that they become ready to be funded. Indiaco …

InEnCy Business Plan Competition is unique since it not only evaluates business plans but also mentors them individually to develop them to an extent that they become commercially viable. For the same, InEnCy has got on board industry experts and those with rich experience in the entrepreneurial practices. Subramonia Sarma, Director, Entrpreneurship Development at Wadhwani Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Indian School of Business (ISB). With over 25 yrs of experience in assisting hi-tech entrepreneurs, Mr Sarma has even mentored State Bank of India’s Consultancy Cell. He has also served as a member of the Technology Mission on Oil and Oilseeds …

The industrial sector in India accounts for upto 36% of electricity consumption in India. That makes industrial sector the biggest consumer of electricity. The energy intensive sectors like cement, textiles, iron, steel, cement and fertilizers are the prime users, consuming upto 70% of this electricity. Around 15-25% of this consumption is avoidable. The second biggest consumers of electric energy are the domestic and the commercial sectors, consuming upto 33% of the total electricity. Daytime lights usage is the biggest contributor to the electricity consumption in buildings. Similarly, in the domestic sector, lighting and fans contribute the maximum to the electricity …

It has been estimated that India’s energy requirement will more than double in another 20 years. Is this for real? We are already living in a furnace of an environment where winter, summer and monsoon occur in extremes, losing the balance they should have. For our country, where the thrust of all economic activities is to achieve rapid growth, the CO2 emissions are bound to be high. So is the battle already lost? Not really. Well, there isn’t any U-turn, but the way ahead need not be like the path taken so far. It’s surprising how energy efficiency can be …