Oil Conservation towards Healthy and Better Environment

Someone has rightly said, “Oil is a liquid gold and one day it will cost you gold
if you don’t conserve it today”

Oil is one of the most important natural resources. Oil fuels the world and makes
it run and progress. However, oil is a non-renewable source of energy meaning
that its injudicious use will ultimately lead to its exhaustion. Thus, oil
conservation is the need of the hour.

By conserving oil, we are delaying its exhaustion, which means that we are
leaving this precious resource for the coming generations and are not about to
make our name as the ‘Highly Selfish Generation’. Global warming, caused due
to the emission of greenhouse gases that are produced by burning of fossil fuel,
will become a problem of the past when we begin conserving oil.

Environment aside, about 119 billion USD were spent on oil imports by India in
2018. By substantially decreasing its usage, we are saving the funds of the country,
which can be used, for our betterment. Research, being one of the fields where
this money can be spent, will not only help us progress further to become at par
with other countries, but will also help in increasing the quality of living of the
citizens of the country.

Organizations like PCRA (Petroleum Conservation Research Association) with

support from Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas are working diligently
towards oil conservation. They are taking innovative steps like social media
(creating interactive short films), banners, and hoardings at public places to reach
out to the larger masses and impart the importance and benefits of emission
reduction. In addition, PCRA is actively voicing over at various occasion, like
world environment day and world energy day.

As we are aware that vehicle exhausts emits lots of gases and particulate matter
in the environment and they are the major source of air pollution. These pollutants
causes both immediate and long term negative effects on environment and
eventually cause global warming, respiratory diseases and acid rain. The
greenhouse gases, which are emitted from these vehicles, trap the heat in the
atmosphere, cause rise in temperature, and negatively affect wildlife and sea level.

The oil, which is used in sea transportation sometime cause oil spills in the water,
which creates an unwarranted vulnerability for sea animals. Not only sea but also
the land vehicles which runs on highways also discards fuel on the road and that
seeps in to nearby waterbody and contaminate lakes and river.
Government is stressing and supporting in exploring new alternatives for oil.
Sustainable development is one importance initiative taken by many
organizations. New alternatives could be exploring renewable sources like solar,
wind, tidal, nuclear and geothermal energy or use of unconventional sources
biogas and biofuels.

Energy industry and associated R&D organizations are tirelessly investigating

either alternate source of energy or improving the efficiency of existing machines
so that we can conserve more.

As we know, our population is exponentially increasing and with rising

population, demand for necessities increases. In addition, to meet those demands,
a heavy burden comes on the transport sector. Plenty of manpower and resources
are required to fulfill those needs. Looking at the increasing demand government
is also promoting electric vehicles and zero emission vehicles as cost effective
transportation solution.

Few simple measures we can take to save oil in our day-to-day life:
 GPS gives us a best route for any destination. Therefore, to avoid oil wastage
we can set the GPS for our destination and follow the best route.
 For nearby small work we can either walk-down or use a cycle. We cannot
only get health benefits by cycling or walking but also can save a lot of fuel.
 While buying your next vehicle you can take renewable energy (natural gas) /
electrical energy vehicle.
 We can carpool or take a public transport while going to our daily destinations
 Always check your tire pressure so as to save fuel
 Use air conditioner only when necessary
 Maintain your vehicle in good condition to give better average speed

Remember, “Oil is like time once gone will never come back”.