India: Institute in Odisha asks students, staff to stop ironing clothes to reduce carbon emissions
In an effort to reduce carbon emissions for the sake of the planet, the Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Berhampur, in the Indian state of Odisha has asked students and teaching staff to stop putting on ironed uniforms on Monday, starting on February 5.
The people will be observing a “Wrinkle Bhi Accha Hai Day” once a week, reported India TV News. The development follows an order from the ITI Principal Dr Rajat Kumar Panigrahi after the celebration of “International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day’ on January 28.
Just like too much of carbon dioxide is harmful for our lungs, it is equally harmful for the environment. The global climate has already undergone significant changes due to years and decades of unhealthy anthropogenic activities.
COP28 participants agree to transition away from fossil fuels
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service recently confirmed 2023 as the hottest year on record. It’s undoubtedly high time the international community starts getting concerned about carbon emissions and find reliable alternatives.
Every year, the International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day is observed to make people aware of the repercussions and urge them to do better for the sake of the planet. Participants at the COP28 Summit in November acknowledged the need to transition away from fossil fuels.
Ironing of clothes consumes a tremendous amount of electricity and fossil fuel, resulting in huge CO2 emissions. On average, a 2000-watt electric iron consumes around 0.5 kWh of electricity if used for 15 minutes, and this comes to 15 kWh a month.
ITI Berhampur can be “the harbinger of a new beginning”
Normally, if a person puts on two pieces of clothes, it takes 5 to 7 minutes to iron one – resulting in emissions of roughly 200 grams. Dr Panigrahi noted that if the average is followed, the country will be emitting 250 million grams of CO2 per day.
Since a major portion of India’s electricity is derived from coal, one unit of electricity results in one kg of CO2 emissions. “If we decide not to iron our clothes for one day, we can save 250 million units of electricity across India daily,” he added.
ITI Berhampur has nearly 3,500 students and 150 teaching and non-teaching staff. Not ironing uniforms for one day in a week can be just a small step. But if can be “the harbinger of a new beginning that can impact environmental protection,” noted Dr Panigrahi.
Read More: E-commerce giant Amazon raises serious concerns over climate change in annual filing
