In a rare exercise, the state has decided to conduct energy audit of seven government buildings.

The aim is to find out how much energy is being wasted by these buildings. Ways to conserve energy will also be suggested.

Public awareness about the "catastrophe" of climate change is not high enough to pressure politicians into taking action, former Vice President Al Gore said on Tuesday.

Gore, who shared a Nobel Prize in 2007 for his environmental campaigning, said politicians will only do more once the people who elect them force the issue.

The Energy Research Institute (TERI) said it was disappointed with the Union Budget 2009-10, considering the fact that Central government has the mandate to carry out reforms in the energy and environment sectors.

ENLIGHTENING: Actor R.Sarath Kumar switches on an LED light bulb as part of the run-up to the 99999 lights-out campaign, in Chennai on Sunday. Exnora International Founder M.B.Nirmal is in the picture.

The ever-increasing demand for power and its low generation calls for the use of energy saving devices. It is a good sign that India too is fast waking up to the need for use of energy-efficient lighting.

New power-efficiency specifications being implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday could help consumers purchase energy-efficient electronics while cutting energy costs.

After Punjab last week banned the use of air conditioners in government offices, the Haryana government too on Sunday imposed a similar ban across the state to tide over the power crisis the heat wave conditions have caused in the region

Increasing the efficiency of the traditional stoves through conversion will save 3.5 crore tonnes of firewood within 10 years.

This was stated by Dr Khalequzzaman, Chief Adviser of the Sustainable Energy for Development (SED), at a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday.