Before the Blackout...

 

Energy conservation is the foundation to energy Independence…

-Thomas Hodge Allen

Year 2000, California, US. Known as the Silicon Valley of the West, the heartland of several billion dollar companies of today. California wasn't just a state which grew almonds, it was an almond branch of the IT sector for the world. 

It was June, the heat wave scorched earth. Yet, it was very normal as California had seen several times before. A state like California which had a mix of natural geography, uneven atmospheric patterns, and massive human-driven changes, the state was used to such heat waves. Or was it? The summers intensified, still didn't break the record but definitely broke the patience of the Californian populace as the electricity demand shot up. Millions of people ran their air conditioners simultaneously, leading to a titanic electricity demand which was beyond supply. Before the authorities could do anything, the power grid did, it collapsed. Authorities were forced to impose rolling blackouts, and the energy agencies cautioned that peak-hour consumption would exceed grid capacity. But despite these warnings, no measures were taken. 

Despite a decent growth in renewable energy, advanced weather forecasting and smart grid technologies, the blackouts were long. The real issue remained, which were unregulated peak-hour usage, comfort-first consumption habits and public resistance to temporary conservation. Energy was treated as an infinite entitlement, and not a shared resource. Two decades later the issue persists. 

A pattern that you would notice in other examples like California is, it's not the failure of the energy system but an absolute lack of foresight. All types of warnings were given, data was provided and alternatives were known, yet the almond eye of the IT sector lost light several times. 

It is precisely to counter this human tendency of delayed responsibility that World Energy Conservation Day finds its relevance. The day seeks to transform awareness into anticipation, encouraging societies to conserve energy not when darkness is imposed, but while the lights are still on.

In a world where warnings are no longer subtle, overloaded grids, climate extremes, and depleting resources, World Energy Conservation Day arrives as a pause rather than an alarm. From the 14th of December till the date itself, this day reminds us of some forgotten concerns and responsibilities we have towards our planet. Championed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power, this day serves as a purpose to promote energy saving, sustainable living and combat climate change. It's also a reminder that conscious energy consumption through efficient practices and technologies is a shared responsibility to secure resources and protect the planet.

-Soham Sonar