Energy games, comics to get youths hooked to conservation

KOLKATA: Smash incadescent bulbs in the game Bulb Man and win prizes; create your own comic strip featuring Energy Superhero; select appliances in use at home in energy calculator to check how efficient they are; read stories and watch videos on energy conservation.
A nearly two centuries-old chamber of commerce that usually organizes heady conferences turned a new leaf on Thursday when its youth brigade launched a quirky new portal to influence energy conservation behaviour among youngsters.
"In this hyperconnected world with increased dependance on modern gadgets, lifestyle energy demand is increasing at a brisk pace. At the other end of the spectrum, a vast section of the population does not have access to electricity. To make energy access more equitable, there is a need to energize a behavioural change among the urban elite young. We have therefore, adopted a quirky approach and used the virtual world to connect with youth, create the awareness and trigger the behaviour change," said Deb Mukherjee, the key resource person in energy and environment committee at Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry and managing director of energy solutions firm Enfragy.
It was during an interaction with Bureau of Energy Efficiency director-general Ajay Mathur that Mukherjee realized the need for a movement on energy conservation. Back in Kolkata, he put together a young team that went about creating the interactive and entertaining portal to attract the young.
"Google and Facebook are now part of the urban lifeline. Hence, we decided to tap the virtual space and created WattGuru. The portal will use stories, games, comics and energy calculator and a forum involving social media to engage with youths, followed by physical events. We plan to go national with events in 12 cities over the next 12 months," said Mukherjee.
BCCI president Kallok Datta said the chamber would do its utmost to build a community that is committed to bring about a change that would encourage responsible living. Mathur, nuclear scientist Bikash Sinha and former Union finance secretary Sunil Mitra welcomed the attempt and hoped the site www.wattguru.com would go viral among youngsters and instill in them a culture of energy conservation.