India Thinks about Mandatory Solar Power for Offices
by Warren McLaren, Sydney 
on 06.28.06
Some years ago there was a call for India’s Delhi to make all billboard signage (see pic above) solar powered. Now moves are afoot for there to be a mandatory requirement for installation of solar panels on any office or major commercial space that has an area of 250 sq/m (300 sq/yds). This follows on from our story about the push for Delhi’s traffic lights to become solar-powered LEDs. Delhi Power Department has proposed making solar heating and lighting in all commercial buildings drawn at least some of their energy from the sun. “What we are looking at initially is to make sure that the large commercial establishments such as five-star hotels, banquet halls, large kitchens and restaurants in the city switch to solar energy so that the power consumption for these particular establishments as well as for the city as a whole is brought down,” said Rakesh Mehta, Principal Secretary (Power). Energy efficiency and use of renewable energy are the two main strands of the proposal. What a great move coming from one (if not, now wearing the mantle), of the most populated of all countries. via ::Delhi Newsline.
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What a great idea!
Imagine flying in a airplane over the city to see a giant solar energy grid! The energy bills will reduce and the number power plants that create pollution could be reduce too. I hope that our north american governments think about that!
Edgar Echevers
Treeofprosperity.com, Co-Creator
www.treeofprosperity.com
I live in Delhi and have seen the soot filled skies of the early 1990s with burning eyes and sore throats. People visiting Delhi would start coughing when they landed at the airport those days.
The city had the foresight to fight for the change of public transportation from diesel to CNG, then introduced the Metro to remove the buses and cars from the road, and now solar power for offices and commercial establishment.
The sky today is blue over Delhi.
I must acknowledge that I am surprised that we have been able to achieve this considering that we are a noisy multi party democracy prone to passing files around.
Of course there is a lot more we can do, but we have mileage behind us and learnt that things can be done even in a slow crazy country like India.