The ongoing energy-saving measures in Mysore’s most sought-after tourist destination, the palace, has resulted in about 60 per cent savings in the energy consumption bill, according to T Ananthapadmanabha, chairman of the committee constituted by the Palace Board.
“We have already replaced 40-45 per cent of the incandescent and other powerful bulbs in the palace surroundings with high energy-efficient and eco-friendly Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs. This has resulted in savings of about 60 per cent in the electricity bill,” he told Business Standard on Sunday.
“However, we have not replaced the present incandescent bulbs fixed to the palace structure and the temples in the palace area. This can be replaced with LED bulbs without compromising on the brightenss and the luminosity of the present incandescent bulbs,” he said.
The present specially-manufactured 15-watt incandescent bulbs numbering over 100,000 fixed to the iconic palace and the entire area throws up a golden glow when the erstwhile residential palace of the Mysore rulers is lit after sunset to the joy and amazement of the locals and tourists who gather there for the breath-taking moment.
It is illuminated on all Sundays and public holidays from 7 pm to 7.45 pm.
“Though the expenditure on energy-efficient LED lights is on the higher side, its pay back period is about seven years. The investment can be recovered within this period. The investment was about Rs 1.6 crore,” he said.
“Presently, we have only replaced the old high energy-consuming flood lights and ornamental lights around the palace and the streets around it. They were consuming high energy. This cost has been reduced now,” said Ananthapadmanabha, professor of electronic and electronics engineering, National Institute of Engineering, said.
He said, the next phase of replacing incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs needs to be taken up as part of energy-saving steps. This and proposal to install surveillance cameras at the Palace may come up for consideration at the committee meeting tomorrow.
Nearly 90 per cent of the energy consumption of incandescent bulbs can be saved by replacing with LED bulbs, Ananthapadmanabha said.
