Energy Conservation has become a Key Issue in Southern Railways as “Energy Saved is Pure Profit to them”, “Energy Saved results in Less Emission of Carbon into the Atmosphere, thus less Pollution” and “Energy saved can be used to meet the demand of Priority Sectors”. “His Holiness Shri Shri Ravi Shankar”, a renowned Spiritual Master says “Technology has made this World a Global Village, and it is for all of us to make this Village a Beautiful and Greener Place to Live.” Energy conservation definitely helps in making this world a beautiful and greener place to live. With increasing electricity cost and consumption, it has become necessary to reduce the operating cost for survival. it is estimated that annual electricity bill for lighting alone at Chennai Central & Egmore Railway Station was about Rs 15 Lakh.
Innovative Strategies
The Energy Consumed by lighting installations depends upon the power consumptions of the luminaries and the length of the time for which they are switched ‘ON’. Both of these aspects are important, as change in either will affect the Energy Efficiency of the installation. The Innovative strategies, which are now employed in the lighting system in Southern Railways for Energy Conservation to reduce the Energy bills taking in to account both the above aspects, are as under:
Conducting Illumination Energy Audits / Survey
- Detail study of total lighting load- Type of existing fitting & their total consumption.
- Calculation of Existing Annual Electricity and Maintenance bill.
- Calculation of Power Consumption per square feet.
- Calculation of Existing Lux Level requirement at different application areas and calculation of wattage, number and type of fitting to achieve desired LUX level
- Suggestion of suitable replacement of existing conventional fitting with highly Energy Efficient LED Lighting Fittings
- Separating Light Switches from Group Control to Individual Control
- Power Factor improvement
- Lighting solution with true colour rendition.
1. Common Area lighting:
The savings achieved by replacement of existing common area lighting of Chennai Central & Egmore Railway Station are as per table 1 below:
Table 1 Common Area Lighting
| |
Existing 2 X 40 W with Copper Choke |
Replacement with
Goldwyn 40LED (4’X1’) |
| Total No. of fittings in Common Area |
73 |
73 |
| Consumption of Lamp (W) |
80 |
40 |
| Total Consumption (W) including losses |
100 |
48 |
| Gross Consumption per Year in Kwh Units |
31,974 Units (73x100Wx12Hx365D)
1000 |
15,348 Units (73x48Wx12Hx365D)
1000 |
| Total Energy Savings per Year |
|
16626 Units (31974-15348) |
| Total Annual Savings @ Rs.6 per Unit |
|
Rs.99,756 (16626 x 6) |
| Annual Maintenance Cost @ 300 Per Light |
21,900 |
NIL |
| Total Saving |
|
Rs 1,21,656 (99756+21900) |
- The estimated annual saving by Implementing LED lighting in Common Area of Chennai Central & Egmore Railway Station all buildings is Rs.1,21,656
- Consumption reduced by 51%.
2. Platform Area:
The savings achieved by replacement of existing platform lighting of Chennai Central & Egmore Railway Staion are as per table 2 below:
Table 2 Platform Lighting
| |
Existing 400 W HPSV BAY LIGHT |
Replacement with
Goldwyn 132W LED BAY LIGHT |
| Total No. of fittings in platform |
105 |
105 |
| Consumption of Lamp (W) |
400 |
132 |
| Total Consumption (W) including losses |
450 |
150 |
| Gross Consumption per Year in Kwh Units |
2,06,955 Units
(105x450Wx12Hx365D)1000 |
68,985 Units
(105x150Wx12Hx365D)
1000 |
| Total Energy Savings per Year |
|
137970 Units
(206955-68985) |
| Total Annual Savings @ Rs.6 per Unit |
|
Rs.8,27,820
(137970 x 6) |
| Annual Maintenance Cost @ 1000 Per Light |
Rs 1,05,000 |
NIL |
| Total Saving |
|
Rs 9,32,820
(827820+10500) |
- The estimated annual saving by Implementing LED lighting in Platform Area of Chennai Central & Egmore Railway Station all buildings is Rs.9,32,820
- Consumption reduced by 68%.
Conclusion
The Innovative Strategies that have been adopted by Southern Railways in Chennai Central & Chennai Egmore Railway Station for Energy Conservation in lighting system helped them to save Rs 10, 54,476 annually on Electricity & Maintenance bill.
With the use of Energy Efficient LED Lighting, Southern railways able to reduce total lighting load by 60% for these two stations with proper illumination level.