What We Do
Mitra Foundation conducts public engagement events to promote renewable energy using innovative and interactive programs for students and resident associations. Check out our Carbon Neutral Campus Program.
- Mitra Foundation facilitates design and installation of Hybrid Renewable energy solutions at educational institutions, campuses, housing colonies and individual households.
- Mitra Foundation produces communication material for school and college students to sensitise them to the concepts of environmental and sustainable alternatives.
- Mitra Foundation works strategically with mainstream media and other forums of popular entertainment to spread the message of renewable energy.
- Mitra Foundation organises training programs for students, NGOs, citizen groups and entrepreneurs on green and alternative business and lifestyle solutions.
What Can You Do
Step 1
Begin by checking out the phrases - Climate change, Global warming, Carbon dioxide (co2) and Today’s weather online, on tv, from your neighbour, teacher and friends in other cities around the world. Get yourself a perspective. See yourself and your geographical location from a global perspective and understand how you are affected by atmospheric pressures from the other side of the planet. Recommended websites.
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Scientists have confirmed that our addiction for energy (oil and coal) is actually a giant chemical experiment gone wrong, threatening the very existence of the planet as we know it. Greenhouse gas emissions caused by centuries of literally burning the planet, the forests on land, the coal and oil below it has released carbon dioxide and assorted gases to critically damage our atmospheric protection. The earth is warmer and wetter, the icecaps are melting, and more cities have gone underwater in last ten years than they did in the last 100 years; and yet instances of droughts, famines and water shortages are on the rise.
Step 2.
During your daily meditation, rumination, reflection, nose-picking session, try and remember the last few times you turned your ignition key on, flipped a switch on, opened a refrigerator door, used the remote to flick on the tv from stand-by mode or forgot to switch off the water heater. Check your personal and family’s carbon footprint.
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This is an important part of the exercise to build your energy conscience. Because, honest reflection and rumination, will help you understand how you directly contribute to global warming. The carbon calculator actually helps you identify your rough CO2 emission to the atmosphere per annum. The electricity you consume invariably comes from ancient energy systems like coal, oil, gas, nuclear or large dams. The burning of coal and oil, the most predominant systems for energy production and transport, releases vast quantities of gases that are responsible for global warming.
Step 3
Now that you are convinced that your energy consumption habits are responsible for part of the environmental problem, review your family’s monthly electricity, petrol and travel bills for the last year. Set a target for cutting down your electricity bills by reducing wastage of electricity and unnecessary travel.
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- Switch off (not stand-by mode) all electrical appliances when not in use.
- Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent CFL or LED bulbs.
- Make energy efficiency a criteria for your next buy or replacement of electrical appliances.
- Don’t spin-dry your clothes in the washing machine – Air-dry them on line.
- Buy a laptop instead of a desktop, if practical. It consumes five times less electricity.
- Minimise use of air-conditioning or electrical heating by ensuring good ventilation or insulation for your homes and offices.
- Use public transport when traveling alone or pool your car for regular commutes.
- Rediscover the wonders of rail and bus travel, reduce your flying.
- Buy locally grown and produced food especially, fruits, vegetables and cereals etc
- Plant and nurture trees in your locality. The more the merrier.
- Demand green electricity by writing to your utility and local governments.
- Become an energy efficiency campaigner, spread the word about the need for an energy conscience amongst your friends, relatives and colleagues.
Step 4
You are now ready to contribute to Mitra Foundation’s mission to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy by supporting our programs, like the carbon neutral campus program. This could be in the form of donations for the program or paying for installations at campuses. If you want to volunteer your specific skill or expertise in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency, please contact: choices@mitrafoundation.org.