The Consumption of Coal and Petroleum
Coal is used mainly to produce electricity. So, if we can save electricity, then the consumption of coal ill be automatically reduced. Similarly, the petroleum products kerosene and LPG are used for cooking food, and petrol and diesel are used as fuel in motor vehicles, so if we can save on kerosene, LPG, petrol and diesel, then the consumption of petroleum will also get reduced. Some of the steps which can be taken to conserve energy resources (like coal and petroleum) are as follows:
- Switch off the lights, fans, television and other electrical appliances when not needed. This will save a lot of electricity.
- Use energy efficient electrical appliances to save electricity. This can be done by using Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) and fluorescent tube-lights instead of traditional filament-type electric bulbs (because CFL and tube-lights consume much less electric energy as compared to filament-type electric bulbs for producing the same amount of light).
- Use stairs to climb at least up to three floors of a building instead of taking a lift. This will save electricity.
- Pressure cookers should be used for cooking food to save fuels like kerosene and LPG.
- Good quality stoves should be used to burn fuels like kerosene and cooking gas (LPG) so as to obtain maximum heat.
- Solar cookers should be used to cook food whenever possible.
- The use of biogas as domestic fuel should be encouraged in rural areas.
- Bicycles should be used for covering short distances to save precious fuel like petrol (which is used in cars, scooters and motorcycles).
- Public transport system (local bus and train service) in the cities should be improved so that people do not commute in their personal vehicles. This will save a lot of petrol and diesel.
- Fuel efficient engines of motor vehicles should be designed to reduce the consumption of petrol and diesel.
