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I ndia enters a new year at a challenging time: a tech industry on a high, an
economy squeezed by global recession, and a people reeling from a year of
terror.
At this time, it may sound odd to speak of green tech and power as major
issues for the new year. Even when global warming has already melted tonnes of
ice, raised the sea level, and changed local weather patterns.
In 2008, the fuel price hike hit the world, renewing interest in greener
vehicles. Petrol prices crashed, but the interest remained.
In 2009, power shortage will be among the top issues facing Indian homes.
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Prasanto Kumar Roy
is president and
chief editor (ICT Publications) at CyberMedia
pkr@cybermedia.co.in |
It pushes up costs, affects businesses, and limits the places families
relocate to. (In Gurgaon, most families insist on an apartment with 100% power
backup, and with good reason.)
You already know the value of power, when the batteries in your mobile
products out of charge. Battery life, for mobile users, is a major need.
Across our group of publications at CyberMedia, we're taking up a common
focus in 2009 on green tech and energy efficiency: the need, products,
solutions, opportunity.
Living Digital will look hard at the power efficiency and impact of products
and tech. It will also test, at CyberMedia Labs, products, hardware and
software, for power footprint and impact.
Most products have an impact on power, and not just hardware. Software such
as GPS maps or instant messenger clients keep using GPRS and other services,
reducing mobile battery life on a charge.
And there is the power impact of devices on standby, with the TV, audio and
other devices in a typical home drawing many tens of watts, day or night.
If you have a home PC, and it's not set to stand by on non-use, you'll be
wasting power and reducing back-up time if you have power cuts and an inverter.
Living Digital will also cover technologies and gadgets that help you
aggressively save power in your house or small office.
Have you any power-saving success stories to share from your home, or
questions? Have you spent money, or saved money, on greener products? Write to
me.
And have a great 2009. May the power be with you.
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