Eco-Bulb: New energy-saving light bulb

From Korea comes a special light bulb, with a design that says a great deal about its characteristics. We can tell by simply observing it that this is no ordinary light bulb. Eco-bulb, created by young Korean designer Seokjae Rhee, saves on energy very differently than the high-efficiency bulbs we are used to.

Seokjae has decided to focus on visual comfort, designing a bulb whose light intensity can be regulated using the gauges located at the base of the light bulb.

The bulb, made up of six sections, can be partially switched on, illuminating only the part of the room where light is actually required.

We can, therefore, choose the amount of light and where we would like it according to our individual needs and preferences. Basically, there are six distinct sections in each bulb, which can be customized according to the circumstances. For a relaxed atmosphere, we can turn on one section; if we need to study, we can shine the light on our books; or, we can turn it on completely to brighten the whole room.

If you are worried about having to get a chair or step-ladder every time you need to regulate your light bulb, worry no more. This young eco-designer has also developed a remote control with buttons for each of the bulb’s six sections.

Eco-Bulb is an example of how design and energy conservation can successfully coexist.

SAVE ELECTRICITY

There are alot of ways we can all save electricity and money, and save a little piece of our planet while doing so.

1. Replace ALL bulbs in your home with CFL bulbs (the spiral flourescent bulbs) This can save you thavsands of Rs a year as well as reducing your energy used from the power company, which makes you a little more earth friendly.
2. Use less air conditioning when possible, This can be achieved by turning your a/c off when your not home (its alot easier to cool a home in 30 minutes than to let the air run for 8 hours while your at work)
3. Sleep in the dark and quiet! Just by turning the tv and fan off at night.
4. Turn off outside lighting after 1 am, instead of allowing the lights to run for eight or more hours a night.
5. Keep the refrigerator door closed, and adjust the thermostat to keep it cold, but not overly cold, try a med-low setting
6. Adjust your hot water heater down to 70 degrees to save money heating water, also try using as little hot water as possible, washing laundry in cold water, can save you over money a year. Also consider using less hot water in the shower by taking a cooler shower or shortening the time your in. You can also insulate your hot water heater, and water lines, to make them more energy efficient. 
7. Powered down computers when not in use.
8. Try using natural lighting when possible through the day, opening the blinds or cutrains whenever you need light, and closing them when you dont.

In The Kitchen

1. Keep your oven door closed and peek through the window.
2. Cooking multiple meals at a time can also be helpful
3. When possible try using a small skillet on a small burner
4. Remember that a slow boil is just as effective as a pot boiling with furry!
5. Use a lid when possible to trap heat, and cook food faster
6. Use your ovens timer and set it to precise times, and use the left over heat to finish curing your food.

CHIPKO

Sunderlal Bahuguna

is an Indian eco-activist and Gandhian peace worker, who has been one of the leaders of the Chipko movement, fighting for the preservation of forests in the Himalayas। Chipko means 'embrace' or 'tree huggers' and this vast movement has been a decentralized one with many leaders, usually village women, who have worked to protect the environment। Often they would chain themselves to trees so that loggers could not cut down the forests. These actions slowed down the destruction, but more importantly they brought the deforestation to the public's attention. In 1981 to 1983 Sunderlal Bahuguna led a 5000 kilometer march across the Himalayas ending with a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who then passed legislation to protect some areas of the Himalayan forests from clear-cutting. Sunderlal Bahuguna was also a leader in the movement to oppose the Tehri dam project and in defending India's rivers, and has also worked for women's rights and rights of the poor. In the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi, his work for change has always been done through peaceful resistance and other nonviolent methods. The Chipko Movement received the 1987 Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the Alternative Nobel Prize, "...for its dedication to the conservation, restoration and ecologically-sound use of India's natural resources.”

Historic Roots

Sunderlal Bahuguna was born about 1927 to an affluent family in a Himalayan village. Despite his family’s wealth, Sunderlal’s mother worked eighteen hours a day most days to finish the work considered only fit for women. Watching his mother struggle under the burden of village life and work served as an early impetus for Sunderlal to ease the burden of Indian women.
When Sunderlal was only thirteen years old he began a political career. His older friend Sridev Suman influenced him. Suman was the foremost nonviolent nationalist. Sunderlal learned how to create change through nonviolent means from his mentor. Sunderlal’s political career lasted until his marriage in 1956. Following his marriage to wife, Vimla, Sunderlal retired from public life and moved back to a village within the Himalayas.
By 1960 Sunderlal could no longer ignore the devastation around him. Sunderlal began moving throughout the mountains and providing strength and encouragement to the mountain women to eradicate alcohol from the mountains. Traditionally these Hindu people do not consume alcohol; however the drink was flowing heavily between India and China, influencing many in its path.
Directly following the elimination of the threat of alcohol, Sunderlal and the women of the mountains turned their energy to another prominent threat, the deforestation of the Himalaya Mountains. The British government and then the Indian government came into the Himalayan Mountains and began clear-cutting the forests. The ecological effect was devastating for the mountaineers. Sunderlal worked with others to ignite the Chipko movement. Chipko literally means tree huggers. Sunderlal and the local women would chain themselves to the trees so that the loggers could not cut the trees down. This method often slowed the work and brought attention the government’s actions. The Chipko is still working to protect the trees today through the same nonviolent methods.
Sunderlal is most famous for his work to stop the creation of the Tehri Dam. This Dam affects the flow of the Ganges River from the Himalaya Mountains. The intention of the Tehri Damis to divert water from wandering through the mountain villages and increase water flow to New Delhi. This will cost the mountain villagers their supply of water. Because of the Dam many women must now wait all night for their family’s allotment of four liters of water per day. To show his opposition to the Dam, Sunderlal has petitioned the government and gone on hunger strikes to show his unfailing commitment to stopping the Tehri Dam Project. The Tehri project began in 1972. Sunderlal protested with many others until 2004. Finally in 2004 the Dam began to fill and Sunderlal and his wife Vimla were forcibly moved to a government issued home upstream. Sunderlal has vowed that this is not the end; he will continue to fight for ecological protection in India.

Importance

Sunderlal Bahuguna has contributed globally through awareness raising measures concerning deforestation, the negative effects of liquor on mountain life, and the health of the Ganges River. Through his work, Sunderlal has become synonymous with the Chipko movement. He was one of the first people to point out the fallacies of judgment when creating the Tehri Dam. Sunderlal’s outspoken views have ignited the young people of India into action to perpetuate the protest against the ecological ruin imposed on India. He will be most remembered in history for igniting a grassroots movement for protecting the environment.

Ties to the Philanthropic sector

All of Sunderlal Bahuguna’s work is a form of philanthropy in motion। Sunderlal has given his time and talent freely to work of the good of India। Sunderlal has not established or contributed to an existing foundation. He has, however, been the catalyst of change encouraging thousands of people to work without pay for the good of India’s people and ecology.

Along with his wife, Vimla, Sunderlal has “taught in the villages, mobilized people against colonial rule, worked for the welfare of the harijans (the untouchables), lobbied against deforestation and encouraged forest-based small-scale industry.” (Goldsmith)

Chipko Movement

is the title of a movement that spread through India during the 1970’s. Chipko literally means to “embrace”. People, mostly women, would chain themselves to trees that government officials planned to cut down.