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INTERVIEWER
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WEB DESIGNER & VIDEO EDITOR
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TEAM LEADER
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Energy conservation is the decision and practice of using less energy. Turning off the light when you leave the room, unplugging appliances when they're not in use and Walking instead of driving are all examples of energy conservation. It is of great importance that we conserve energy wherever we go because utilization of non renewable resources also impacts our environment. Energy conservation plays a significant role of lessening climate change. It helps the replacement of non renewable resources with renewable energy. |
AT SCHOOL, STUDENTS, AS WELL AS TEACHERS, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SAVING ENERGY AND MAKE THEIR SCHOOL GREENER. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT TEACHERS MAKE SURE THEIR STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO CONSERVE ENERGY. THIS IS BECAUSE WHAT A STUDENT LEARNS AT AN EARLY AGE IS WHAT HE WOULD DO FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. AFTER ALL, THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD IS TODAY’S YOUTH. HENCE, EDUCATING STUDENTS ABOUT SEEMINGLY SMALL THINGS LIKE SWITCHING OF THE LIGHTS AND FANS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO THE WORLD.
EARTH PROVIDES ENOUGH TO SATISFY EVERY MAN’S NEEDS, BUT NOT EVERY MAN’S GREED. - MAHATMA GANDHI |
THE AVERAGE ANNUAL ENERGY CONSUMED BY SCHOOLS
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First, we have to think. And most of us WOULD FEEL, “it’s just 2 extra minutes that I left the tap on” or “I forgot to turn off the lights for fifteen minutes. BUT How does it matter anyway?” Well, individually this would be true, but the thing is we are sharing Mother Earth with 7.8 billion other people. Imagine even if 1% of the population thinks the same way as you do, that amounts to 78 million! Imagine 78 million people using tap water for 2 minutes longer! Now that’s a lot of water wasted.
Now comes action. From now on, switch off the tap while washing your hands at school (which nowadays is a crucial step to battle COVID 19).
Saving is easy and highly beneficial in the long run. Try methods like rainwater harvesting in your school, installing water free urinals or touch free taps which stop automatically after a certain time.
Units used in this article include the units of energy and power
The SI unit of energy is the joule and
power and ELECTRICAL POWER are MEASURED IN WATTS AND 1000 WATTS = 1 KILOWATT
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A meeting will be conducted with all the members of the team to discuss the various aspects of the topic and to decide the Research question
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INTERVIEW WITH STUDENTS:
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We conducted Interviews with the following students:
1. Yash Hegde (14 years old)
2. Mayan Daga (14 years old)
3. Arnav Kaul (14 years old)
4. Nrip Swar (13 years old)
5. Deepak Iyer (12 years old)
6. Upamanyu (13 years old)
7. Aditya Chand (12 years old)
8. Vasudha (12 years old)
9. Aarna (11 years old)
10.Advita (12 years old)
Questions asked:
1. Do you think saving energy at school is important?
2. What changes would you make to save more energy at school?
3. With some schools facing a limited budget what, according to you, is the most cost effective way to save energy at school?
4. Name a few initiatives which our school can take to save energy.
5. Where do you think maximum energy is used in school?
We gave the students a few minutes of time to think over the questions, after which we interviewed them. The varied viewpoints that emerged made it a truly enriching experience.
An interesting insight was that almost all the students believed that Step one to Saving more energy at School was Switching off lights and fans when not in use. The more we heard this, the more we realised that though this is the most basic way to save energy - it is the most important. Another insight we gained is that even though Solar Panels, LED Lights, and other energy saving appliances cost more upfront, they do save a lot more money as well as energy in the long run.
On the basis of the responses, we realise that many students believe maximum energy is used in computer labs - and it is therefore important we explain the importance of saving energy there, by turning the computers off when we leave, right from the start.
We also realised that a lot of energy is being used in the classrooms, especially during the hotter parts of the year when many classes have all the fans, as well as 2 ACs on. Using Fans and ACs together is not a great idea AND 2 ACs are surely not required, and we understood that it is important that students SHOULD be aware of this.
Thus, these interviews provided us with a lot of valuable information, and helped us realise what all is necessary for saving energy at school. We were glad to see that the students were well informed about the need to conserve energy, and we cannot stress enough on how much we have taken from them.
Interview with a Person responsible for Saving Energy at School:
We interviewed Meenakshi Ma’am, a Science teacher in our grade. We asked her the following questions:
1. Could you suggest any policy for your school to save energy?
“IN MY OPINION, the best policy is - TO use energy ONLY when needed.”
She gave several suggestions:
-Ensuring the electrical fittings and appliances used in the school are energy efficient right from the beginning.
-Installation of rooftop solar panels in our school.
-Installation of energy saving sensors.
-Involving the entire school in energy saving campaigns.
-Creating regular awareness in school by plays, posters and projects, etc.
- Rewarding people who go the extra mile to save energy.
2. Does Your school save energy currently? Are students expected to implement any of these measures?
“Our school does save energy at the moment by using energy saving fixtures and taking conscious measures by turning off the devices when not in use. However, there are a few lapses which can be taken care of by following a few measures suggested above. Also, students can play a pivotal role in bringing about the awareness amongst the school community to save energy and make the most of it towards the path of sustainability”
Contacting a company which creates products which help in Saving Energy at School
WE CONTACTED SYSKA LED LIGHTS PVT. LIMITED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW LED LIGHTS SAVE MORE ENERGY. THE COMPANY, WITHIN A SHORT SPAN OF TIME, HAS EXPANDED TO BECOME A LARGE ONE IN THE FIELD OF LED LIGHTS. WE CONTACTED MR. PRADEEP BHATNAGAR – THE EX-VICE PRESIDENT OF SYSKA LED LIGHTS.
ON BEING ASKED ON HOW LED LIGHTS SAVE ENERGY, HE SAID THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY SAVES ENERGY BECAUSE LED (LIGHT EMITTING DIODE) LIGHTS CONVERT A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF ENERGY INTO HEAT AND PREVENT WASTE OF ENERGY. IN COMPARISON, INCANDESCENT BULBS RELEASE 90% OF THEIR ENERGY AS HEAT. LED LIGHTING PRODUCES BRIGHTER LIGHT WHILE CONSUMING LESS POWER. ALTHOUGH THE UPFRONT COST OF LED LIGHTS IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER, THEIR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND DURABILITY COMPENSATE FOR IT.
HE ALSO SAID THAT SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD IMPLEMENT WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY AT SCHOOL. THUS, WE UNDERSTOOD BY CONTACTING HIM THAT USAGE OF LED LIGHTS ARE CRUCIAL TO SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL
CONCLUSION FROM THE INTERVIEWS:
OUR INTERIVEW WITH THE STUDENTS GAVE US USEFUL INSIGHTS ON SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL - IMPORTANCE OF SWITCHING OFF LIGHTS AND FANS WHEN NOT IN USE, USING LED LIGHTS, SWITCHING TO SOLAR PANELS AND SO ON.
THE INTERVIEW WITH OUR TEACHER GAVE US USEFUL INSIGHTS ON METHODS THE SCHOOL CAN ADOPT TO SAVE ENERGY. IDEAS LIKE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AND REWARDING PEOPLE FOR GOING THE EXTRA MILE FOR SAVING ENERGY MADE US REALISE THAT SUCH SIMPLE IDEAS COULD GO A LONG WAY IN OUR MISSION. WE ALSO DECIDED TO TRY TO INITIATE SOME OF THESE POLICIES LIKE USE OF ENERGY SAVING SENSORS IN OUR SCHOOL. IT MADE US REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF US, AS STUDENTS AND THE PIVOTAL ROLE WE PLAYED IN SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL.
THUS, FROM ALL OUR RESEARCH WE CONCLUDE THAT SAVING ENERGY IS CRUCIAL AT SCHOOL, AND IT IS SOMETHING EACH STUDENT AND TEACHER AT SCHOOL SHOULD KEEP IN MINDBY
Based on our interview with Meenakshi Ma’am, we observe that our school does Save Energy by using energy Saving fixtures. In our school, students have repeatedly been told, right from the start, that they should always switch off electrical appliances when not in use. However basic this looks, it is the most important way to save energy because if this simple step is applied in each classroom, every day in the year, a huge amount of energy can be saved.
In our school, we also have a collaboration with an NGO called CMCA where all the students come together to make a difference. Saving Energy is often discussed in such sessions and various rallies and awareness building campaigns are done by all the students of the grade on these topics.
However, there is much scope of improvement, and following are some ideas that can be included in the policy of the school for saving energy:
1. Installation of Solar Panels to produce electricity in our school.
This is something we heard very commonly during the interviews, with the students as well as our teacher. Using Solar Panels may be quite expensive upfront, but if the school makes an investment into it, it would save a lot of money as well as Energy in the long run.
2. Installation of energy saving sensors
This is extremely useful as it prevents waste of energy and utilises energy efficiently. Though, like solar panels, it costs more money upfront, it is an investment to save energy in the long run.
3. Using LED lights
LED (LIGHT EMITTING DIODE) LIGHTS CONVERT A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF ENERGY INTO HEAT AND PREVENT WASTE OF ENERGY. ALTHOUGH THE UPFRONT COST OF LED LIGHTS IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER, THEIR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND DURABILITY COMPENSATE FOR IT. THUS ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD USE LED LIGHTS INSTEAD OF OTHER ONES.
1. Buying high power efficiency appliances:
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency or the BEE, has a star rating system (ranging from one to five stars) that rates appliances on the basis of their energy saving capabilities. For example, a fridge with a one star rating would save much less power as compared to say a three star or a five star rated fridge. To go more in detail, the difference between 3 star and 5 Star AC is that if the monthly electricity bill of a household with a 3 star AC is ₹ 580 ($7.99), keeping all variables constant, a 5 Star AC would result in a bill of ₹ ₹ 500 ($6.89) therefore the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a 5 Star AC is lower in the long run as compared to a 3 star AC. Although it might be more expensive at first, a five star appliance is much more effective in the long run.
2. Switch off lights when not in use:
This trick is almost as old as time but that gives us no excuse to forget it. Now the literal amount of money you save by switching off lights varies for how long you wasted energy, what bulb did you use (hopefully a 5 star!) and much more. Now, not all light bulbs are created equal. Incandescent bulbs, the oldest lighting technology still in use today, is the least efficient and most expensive to operate. The Department of Energy breaks down electricity use and costs by bulb, each of which is equal in brightness to a 60 watt (W) incandescent:
While these numbers do seem small, think about the hundreds or maybe even thousands of bulbs or tube lights in offices, schools, etc. furthermore think about the Benjamins (or Gandhis for us Indians) that would save provided we switch off the lights when not in use.
This trick is almost as old as time but that gives us no excuse to forget it. Now the literal amount of money you save by switching off lights varies for how long you wasted energy, what bulb did you use (hopefully a 5 star!) and much more. Now, not all light bulbs are created equal. Incandescent bulbs, the oldest lighting technology still in use today, is the least efficient and most expensive to operate. The Department of Energy breaks down electricity use and costs by bulb, each of which is equal in brightness to a 60 watt (W) incandescent:
- 60W Incandescent: A 60W incandescent bulb consumes 0.06 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per hour. This means after 1,000 hours, it consumes 60 kWh of electricity. At $0.11(₹7.99) per kWh, this comes to $6.60 (₹479.10).
- 43W Halogen: Slightly more efficient than incandescent lights, halogens use about 25 percent less energy to produce the same amount of light. After 1,000 hours in use, one bulb costs about $4.73 (₹343.36) to operate.
- 15W CFL: At about 75 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs, one compact fluorescent light only costs $1.65 (₹119.78) to operate for 1,000 hours.
- 12W LED: The most efficient of all, light-emitting diodes are up to 80 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs. One LED costs an insubstantial $1.32 (₹95.82) to operate for 1,000 hours.
While these numbers do seem small, think about the hundreds or maybe even thousands of bulbs or tube lights in offices, schools, etc. furthermore think about the Benjamins (or Gandhis for us Indians) that would save provided we switch off the lights when not in use.
3. Investing in renewable energy sources:
Now would be a good time to start filling up your assets with appliances/ sources of renewable energy. For example, sell your car that still runs on petrol or diesel and by putting some extra money, buy an electric car! We know it’ll hurt your wallet for the time being, but the cost of charging say a Tesla model X is $18 and to charge a Chevrolet traverse is $54. While the model X costs $40,000 and the Chevrolet is approximately $7,000 cheaper standing at $33,000, both the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and the carbon footprint are lesser when you buy a model X. Hence look for long term benefits on both your wallet and the environment.
Now would be a good time to start filling up your assets with appliances/ sources of renewable energy. For example, sell your car that still runs on petrol or diesel and by putting some extra money, buy an electric car! We know it’ll hurt your wallet for the time being, but the cost of charging say a Tesla model X is $18 and to charge a Chevrolet traverse is $54. While the model X costs $40,000 and the Chevrolet is approximately $7,000 cheaper standing at $33,000, both the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and the carbon footprint are lesser when you buy a model X. Hence look for long term benefits on both your wallet and the environment.
WE HAD A VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH NEHALENNIA ON THE 10TH OF DECEMBER, 2020. WE ASKED THEM CERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THEIR PROJECT ON SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL AND THEY DID TOO. THEY ANSWERED OUR QUESTIONS WELL AND THEIR QUESTIONS TOO WERE WELL THOUGHT OF. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HAVE A SECOND VIDEO CONFERENCE FROM THEM.
THEIR GROUP ON SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL HAS DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH TOO AND THEY FOUND SEVERAL
METHODS TO SAVE ENERGY AT SCHOOL. WHILE FEW OF THESE WERE SIMILAR TO OUR IDEAS, ONE THAT REALLY APPEALED TO US WAS THEIR IDEA OF WALL INSULATION. THIS IS A REALLY EFFECTIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH HEAT LOSS, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS QUITE COLD IN THE NETHERLANDS.
GIVEN THE COVID SCENARIO, THE ENTIRE PROJECT WAS CONDUCTED ONLINE, AND THERFORE ALL THE COMMUNICATION HAPPENED ONLINE. THERE WAS ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS AND MEETINGS WERE CONDUCTED FREQUENTLY TO DISCUSS WHAT TO DO NEXT. THE GROUP MEMBERS WERE ACTIVE ON WHATSAPP TOO, AND ANY IDEA OR PROBLEM WAS DISCUSSED ON THE GROUP. HAVING TO DO IT VIRTUALLY CERTAINLY WASN'T THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY, BUT DOING IT VIRTUALLY WE DID SAVE A LOT OF ENERGY ALONG THE WAY!
ARSH DHAR:
THE GREATEST PART OF THE PROJECT WAS THAT IT WAS A SUCCESS DESPITE BEING DONE VIRTUALLY. THIS MAINLY GOT ME TO REALIZE THAT HOW MUCH TECHNOLOGY CAN DO AND HOW MUCH ENERGY GOT SAVED IN THIS. WHILE IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY AMUSING TO MEET OUR DUTCH FRIENDS IN PERSON, BUT WE COULDN’T DO THAT THIS YEAR FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. BUT HEY, WE SAVED ENERGY ALONG THE WAY AND IRONICALLY A PROJECT ON SAVING ENERGY HAD REDUCED ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT. THIS PROJECT OVERALL TAUGHT ME A LOT OF THINGS I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CONSERVING ENERGY AND MY PASSION FOR RESEARCH AND SEEKING KNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN FULFILLED. PUTTING ASIDE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT, I LEARNT ABOUT DUTCH CULTURE IN BITS AND PIECES, INCLUDING LEANING HOW TO SPEAK BASIC DUTCH AS WELL. IT NEVER FAILS TO AMUSE ME SEEING HOW MANY DIVERSE CULTURES IN THE WORLD THERE ARE, BEING FROM A COUNTRY WITH ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CULTURES ITSELF. EUMIND HAS BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR MY GROUP; AND WITH ASSURANCE I CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE BIG PLANS TO DAZZLE THE JUDGES WITH OUR WORK. KEEPING ALL OF THIS IN MIND, I WISH MY DUTCH COUNTERPARTS GOOD LUCK FOR THIS PROJECT.
RUSHIL MATHUR:
THE ENTIRE PROJECT HAS BEEN A TRULY AMAZING EXPERIENCE. DESPITE THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY COVID-19 THIS YEAR, I FEEL THE ENTIRE GROUP CAME TOGETHER VIRTUALLY, AND IT IS EVERYONE’S COMBINED EFFORT THAT MADE THE PROJECT A SUCCESS. CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEWS WAS A LOT OF FUN, WE SPENT 2-3 WHOLE DAYS PLANNING THEM TOGETHER AND HAD A LOT OF FUN ALONG THE WAY. WE LEARNT A LOT ABOUT OUR TOPIC – SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL, WHICH WAS SOMETHING WE HAD NOT GIVEN MUCH ATTENTION TO EARLIER. MAKING THE WEBSITE WAS A LOT OF FUN TOO. IT WAS A PITY WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO HAVE ONE SHORT TALK THROUGH GOOGLE MEET WITH OUR NETHERLANDS COUNTERPARTS, WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SECOND ONE. OVERALL, I REALLY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF THIS PROJECT, AND CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH ON HOW MUCH I HAVE LEARNT.
KABIR MITTAL:
EUMIND – WHERE I GOT TO INTERACT WITH STUDENTS FROM NETHERLAND WHILE WORKING ON THE IDEA OF “SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL”. IT WAS A TRULY ENRICHING EXPERIENCE AND IN MANY WAYS A SUCCESSFUL INTERACTION. WE CAME OUT VICTORIOUS BY CONDUCTING THIS PROJECT VIRTUALLY AMIDST COVID PANDEMIC. THE ENTIRE GROUP WAS BUZZING WITH ENTHUSIASM WHILE CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS. LEARNING DUTCH SALUTATIONS WAS FUN AND IN THE PROCESS I GOT A GLIMPSE OF DUTCH CULTURE.
DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT I LEARNT IN DETAIL ABOUT OUR TOPIC “SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL” AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR OUR GENERATION TO TAKE STRONG, IMMEDIATE STEPS IN THIS. HOW TECHNOLOGY WILL PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE TOWARDS ENERGY AND REDUCING CARBON FOOT PRINTS. ALTHOUGH I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN HUMAN TOUCH AND FACE TO FACE INTERACTIONS, I CAN SAFELY ASSUME THAT LOOKING FORWARD WORLD WILL COME CLOSER MORE VIRTUALLY AND IN THE PROCESS WILL IMPROVE ENERGY CONSERVATION. LASTLY I WISH TO CONVEY MY GRATITUDE TO HFS TEACHERS AND BEST WISHES TO FELLOW PARTICIPANTS.
EMIL VINOD:
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT OF SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL. AS EDITOR OF THE WEBSITE FROM MY TEAM, I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED EDITING THE WEBSITE AND MAKING IT ATTRACTIVE, AND I LEARNT A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE ON WEEBLY ALONG THE WAY. THE INTERVIEWS WERE A LOT OF FUN, WE LEARNT A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL THROUGH OUR RESEARCH. IT WAS FUN TO COLLABORATE WITH THE TEAM FROM THE NETHERLANDS, WE LEARNT A LOT OF THINGS FROM THEM TOO. THE VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THEM WAS FUN - THEIR ANSWERS GAVE US A LOT OF INFORMATION ON SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO BE A PART OF THE PROJECT AND I TRULY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF IT.
MADHUR NK:
THE EUMIND PROJECT HAS REALLY BEEN AN INTERESTING AND FUN PROJECT FOR ME. IN SUCH A YEAR, WHERE WE WERE GETTING BORED AT HOME, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DISTRACTION FROM OUR NORMAL DAY TO DAY ROUTINE. WE ALL DID SO MUCH RESEARCH, AND WE REALISED WAYS THAT WE COULD HELP BOTH OUR SCHOOL AND OUR ENVIRONMENT THAT WE NEVER CONSIDERED BEFORE. IT WAS ENLIGHTENING TO SEE OUR COUNTERPARTS FROM THE NETHERLANDS PUT FORTH THERE IDEAS, AND IT GAVE US AN IDEA ABOUT HOW THEY INTEGRATE SUCH PRACTICES INTO THEIR DAILY LIVES. I AM REALLY THANKFUL TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF SUCH A PROJECT.
THE GREATEST PART OF THE PROJECT WAS THAT IT WAS A SUCCESS DESPITE BEING DONE VIRTUALLY. THIS MAINLY GOT ME TO REALIZE THAT HOW MUCH TECHNOLOGY CAN DO AND HOW MUCH ENERGY GOT SAVED IN THIS. WHILE IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY AMUSING TO MEET OUR DUTCH FRIENDS IN PERSON, BUT WE COULDN’T DO THAT THIS YEAR FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. BUT HEY, WE SAVED ENERGY ALONG THE WAY AND IRONICALLY A PROJECT ON SAVING ENERGY HAD REDUCED ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT. THIS PROJECT OVERALL TAUGHT ME A LOT OF THINGS I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CONSERVING ENERGY AND MY PASSION FOR RESEARCH AND SEEKING KNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN FULFILLED. PUTTING ASIDE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT, I LEARNT ABOUT DUTCH CULTURE IN BITS AND PIECES, INCLUDING LEANING HOW TO SPEAK BASIC DUTCH AS WELL. IT NEVER FAILS TO AMUSE ME SEEING HOW MANY DIVERSE CULTURES IN THE WORLD THERE ARE, BEING FROM A COUNTRY WITH ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CULTURES ITSELF. EUMIND HAS BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR MY GROUP; AND WITH ASSURANCE I CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE BIG PLANS TO DAZZLE THE JUDGES WITH OUR WORK. KEEPING ALL OF THIS IN MIND, I WISH MY DUTCH COUNTERPARTS GOOD LUCK FOR THIS PROJECT.
RUSHIL MATHUR:
THE ENTIRE PROJECT HAS BEEN A TRULY AMAZING EXPERIENCE. DESPITE THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY COVID-19 THIS YEAR, I FEEL THE ENTIRE GROUP CAME TOGETHER VIRTUALLY, AND IT IS EVERYONE’S COMBINED EFFORT THAT MADE THE PROJECT A SUCCESS. CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEWS WAS A LOT OF FUN, WE SPENT 2-3 WHOLE DAYS PLANNING THEM TOGETHER AND HAD A LOT OF FUN ALONG THE WAY. WE LEARNT A LOT ABOUT OUR TOPIC – SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL, WHICH WAS SOMETHING WE HAD NOT GIVEN MUCH ATTENTION TO EARLIER. MAKING THE WEBSITE WAS A LOT OF FUN TOO. IT WAS A PITY WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO HAVE ONE SHORT TALK THROUGH GOOGLE MEET WITH OUR NETHERLANDS COUNTERPARTS, WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SECOND ONE. OVERALL, I REALLY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF THIS PROJECT, AND CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH ON HOW MUCH I HAVE LEARNT.
KABIR MITTAL:
EUMIND – WHERE I GOT TO INTERACT WITH STUDENTS FROM NETHERLAND WHILE WORKING ON THE IDEA OF “SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL”. IT WAS A TRULY ENRICHING EXPERIENCE AND IN MANY WAYS A SUCCESSFUL INTERACTION. WE CAME OUT VICTORIOUS BY CONDUCTING THIS PROJECT VIRTUALLY AMIDST COVID PANDEMIC. THE ENTIRE GROUP WAS BUZZING WITH ENTHUSIASM WHILE CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS. LEARNING DUTCH SALUTATIONS WAS FUN AND IN THE PROCESS I GOT A GLIMPSE OF DUTCH CULTURE.
DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT I LEARNT IN DETAIL ABOUT OUR TOPIC “SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL” AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR OUR GENERATION TO TAKE STRONG, IMMEDIATE STEPS IN THIS. HOW TECHNOLOGY WILL PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE TOWARDS ENERGY AND REDUCING CARBON FOOT PRINTS. ALTHOUGH I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN HUMAN TOUCH AND FACE TO FACE INTERACTIONS, I CAN SAFELY ASSUME THAT LOOKING FORWARD WORLD WILL COME CLOSER MORE VIRTUALLY AND IN THE PROCESS WILL IMPROVE ENERGY CONSERVATION. LASTLY I WISH TO CONVEY MY GRATITUDE TO HFS TEACHERS AND BEST WISHES TO FELLOW PARTICIPANTS.
EMIL VINOD:
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT OF SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL. AS EDITOR OF THE WEBSITE FROM MY TEAM, I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED EDITING THE WEBSITE AND MAKING IT ATTRACTIVE, AND I LEARNT A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE ON WEEBLY ALONG THE WAY. THE INTERVIEWS WERE A LOT OF FUN, WE LEARNT A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL THROUGH OUR RESEARCH. IT WAS FUN TO COLLABORATE WITH THE TEAM FROM THE NETHERLANDS, WE LEARNT A LOT OF THINGS FROM THEM TOO. THE VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH THEM WAS FUN - THEIR ANSWERS GAVE US A LOT OF INFORMATION ON SAVING ENERGY AT SCHOOL FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO BE A PART OF THE PROJECT AND I TRULY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF IT.
MADHUR NK:
THE EUMIND PROJECT HAS REALLY BEEN AN INTERESTING AND FUN PROJECT FOR ME. IN SUCH A YEAR, WHERE WE WERE GETTING BORED AT HOME, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DISTRACTION FROM OUR NORMAL DAY TO DAY ROUTINE. WE ALL DID SO MUCH RESEARCH, AND WE REALISED WAYS THAT WE COULD HELP BOTH OUR SCHOOL AND OUR ENVIRONMENT THAT WE NEVER CONSIDERED BEFORE. IT WAS ENLIGHTENING TO SEE OUR COUNTERPARTS FROM THE NETHERLANDS PUT FORTH THERE IDEAS, AND IT GAVE US AN IDEA ABOUT HOW THEY INTEGRATE SUCH PRACTICES INTO THEIR DAILY LIVES. I AM REALLY THANKFUL TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF SUCH A PROJECT.