Smita: Hello, I’m off to Switzerland tomorrow for the Environment Conclave.
Neena: Wow! The Swiss Alps. What’s the focus of the
Conclave?
Smita: It’s quite clear from the name - Environment!
The major disasters we see across the world today are caused by a lack of environmental consciousness leading to environmental
degradation.
I started a major initiative to promote solar panels across
the states in India. So, I’ve been invited to speak on the panel about the
results of my initiative.
Neena: Kudos to you! Amazing work.
Smita: Thank you. Why don’t you come home for dinner
this evening? We can talk more.
Neena: Great! See you in the evening.
At Smita’s home
Neena: Wow! What a posh home. Is it a four-bedroom
apartment?
Smita: No, it’s a five-bedroom apartment with four
balconies.
Neena: And every room has an air-conditioner?
Smita: Oh, isn’t that obvious these days? Who can
live without air-conditioning? Our entire energy needs are powered by solar
energy, of course. That’s one of the norms new redeveloped buildings need to
follow.
Neena: I can! I don’t have an air-conditioner at
home, and I don’t feel the need for one. We have cross-ventilation, so there’s
plenty of breeze and natural light. Besides, old brick homes are generally
cooler than today's newly redeveloped homes which use Mivan construction. I am told their thin concrete walls can
contribute to heat transfer and poor thermal comfort. This often means people, even if they don't wish to, end up using air-conditioners more than ever.
Smita: Yes, we keep the air-conditioners running
24/7. My children can’t live without them, especially since their schools are
air-conditioned too. They travel by air-conditioned cars as well, so you can’t
really blame them!
Neena: Schools are air-conditioned too? Wow!
Solar panels on one hand and air-conditioners running 24/7
on the other. And we call this environmental consciousness?
Smita: Well, let’s have dinner. I have an early
flight tomorrow for the Conclave.