SDG7-Local-community-outreach-for-energy-efficiency

Local community outreach for energy efficiency

School of Electrical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology organized an one week awareness program on Energy Conservation in the month of December which is aligned with National Energy conservation day December 14. This year as well the event has been successfully hosted from Dec 14 to 18, 2022, which is open to all Local, Regional, National colleges and Schools. Dr. Gilles Nougier, from Schneider Electric inaugurated the program. Various technical events like energy hackathon, skill development program, and awareness talk by industry experts have been organized to enhance the skills of college students. Skill development has around 80 participants.

The awareness program ensured the following

Cost Savings: VIT helps individuals to cut their energy bills.
Environmental Impact: We Help to reduce carbon footprints and promotes sustainability.
Community Empowerment: VIT Educates and inspires residents to use energy-efficient methods.
Access to Resources: Vellore Institute of Technology enables vulnerable communities to benefit from energy audits, rebates, and improvements.
Behavioral Change: We encourage long-term improvements in energy usage behaviors.
Collaboration: VIT fosters relationships between corporations, schools, non-profits, and local governments.
Economic Opportunities: Promotes local economies through green jobs and energy-efficient renovations.
Social engagement strengthens communal relationships and promotes collective action for sustainability.

Overall, it results in long-term energy savings, enhances environmental sustainability, and boosts community resilience.

Energy Hackathon is one of the major events hosted as a part of the Energy Conservation Week (ECW) and had been conducted on December 15, 2022. Energy Hackathon invited students to come up with their innovative ideas or solution towards the industry related challenges. It is fortunate that the industry “India 4.0” has agreed to sponsor Rs. 5,00,000 for the best two innovative ideas identified from the Energy Hackathon event. Around 60 college students participated in this event. To create energy conservation awareness among the student community, slow cycling event have been conducted successfully on December 16, 2022.

To create awareness to the public, the Walkathon event has been conducted on 18th December and more than 250 participants including Faculty members, college students, school students and parents participated in the Walkathon event from Chittoor bus stand to VIT. This event has been flagged by our Honorable Vice President Shri. G. V. Selvam at 7.30 am. Around 300 participants from various schools in and around Vellore participated in the various events planned for school students on December 18, 2022 from 9.00am to 6.00 pm. Students exhibited their talents in the various events like painting, model exhibition and art & craft. The prizes have been sponsored by the Industry sponsors Schneider Electric and India 4.0 along with VIT. Our honorable Vice President Shri. Shankar Viswanathan and Er. Suresh Babu, EE, TNEB, along with industrial sponsors Mr. Sri Vignesh from Schneider Electric and Mr. Hasan from India 4.0 distributed the prizes to the winners. Dr. Mathew M. Noel, Dean, School of Electrical Engineering has also joined the ECW prize distribution function.

S.No	Activity	Event date	Participants	No. of Participants
1	Energy Hackathon	December 15, 2022	Schools and Colleges	60
2	Slow Cycling	December 16, 2022	Schools and Colleges	25
3	Walkathon	December 18, 2022	Students, parents and Faculty members from Schools and Colleges	250
4	Poem, Essay Writing, Animation and Video making (online submission) to promote Energy Conservation	December 18, 2022	Local school students	150
5	Painting, Model Exhibition , Art and Craft	December 18, 2022	Local school students	150

Awareness to the public on Energy Savings: The Walkathon event has been conducted on 18th December and more than 250 participants including Faculty members, college students, school students and parents participated in the event from Chittoor bus stand to VIT (3 Kms).