Govt bungalows go eco-friendly, use solar power

dChief Minister Narendra Modi, who initiated the first of its kind Climate Change Department in the nation in the state, and is keen to promote the use of alternate renewable energy in Gujarat, has first started the use of solar power in his own, his fellow ministers’ and in senior IAS/IPS officers’ bungalows.

Vagmin Buch, director of GEDA (Gujarat Energy Development Agency) said: “As a part of the state government’s plan to make Gandhinagar a Solar City, we have installed the solar power generation systems in the bungalows of ministers in the minister’s residential complex and in the bungalows of senior officers.

The work in around 100 properties is about to completed. “We are also preparing plans to expand the Solar Power System to the other government buildings in Gandhinagar,’’ Buch said.

The government is also planning to establish a solar power system in the secretariat building on which even the air-conditioner of the secretariat will run.

Buch added: “We want to install a solar power run air-conditioner in the secretariat. But it is not possible to run all the A/Cs  in this way, so we are planning to do it wherever possible. Studies are on to check the feasibility.’’

Solar A/Cs will probably be the first of their kind in Gujarat. Government has also planned to undertake projects with specific focus on development of Gandhinagar as a solar and carbon neutral city.

This move will aim to reduce carbon footprints of government and government aided institutions and establishments in the state capital.

Design and construction of carbon neutral climate change complex in Gandhinagar would be initiated with the help of TERI. Systems like solar power packs, water heaters and  air-conditioners will be installed in government owned and government aided institutions and organisations.