Wasting electricity a national pastime

THE EDITOR: With all the talk about the need to remove fuel subsidies, and the impending increase in electricity rates, it is ironic that no one has bothered to mention the one thing that everyone (individuals, businesses, government) can do to save much more than all the fuel subsidies combined — stop wasting electricity.

It is no secret that “wasting current” is a national pastime. Individuals leave on lights, televisions and air-condition units in their homes when no one is using them. Many government and business offices do the same after hours and on weekends/public holidays.

Even during working hours, the rooms/offices are so cold that employees/visitors have to wear warm clothing or freeze to death.

We also have a multitude of playing fields around the country with floodlights blazing and not a soul in sight. Surely, there must be a better way to manage/use these facilities. I went to the Brian Lara Cricket Academy to watch the recent day-night match between West Indies and Sri Lanka (women).

Even as I approached the stadium at about 2 pm, I could see all the floodlights were on. None of the officials present could tell me why. One mentioned that Udecott was responsible.

And I learnt that the lights were on long before I got there. You mean they turned them on at 1 pm for when it got dark at 6 pm? How wasteful.

In all of this, it is acknowledged that some premises may need lights for security, or air-conditioning to keep sensitive equipment cool but these are exceptions rather than the rule.

I can only surmise that most individuals and businesses waste electricity because it is cheap for them.

Yet I am certain that the biggest culprits would be the first and loudest to complain if rates were to increase.

They would not appreciate that, even if the rates double, they will see little change in their monthly bill if they make a conscious effort to use only what they need.

Rather, they would continue wasting at the same rate and gripe about the increase in their bill. Some attitudes die hard.

It is my ardent wish that we could see a countrywide change in attitude towards wasting electricity. It would be useful to have a national drive to convince citizens (and others) that using electricity wisely is in the best interest of all.

But it really is quite easy for each of us to do our part to conserve our dwindling energy reserves.

By all means, use what you need but, starting today, make a conscious effort to identify areas of wastage and do what you can to reduce it. Together, we will make a difference.

NOEL KALICHARAN via e-mail