Publications
Going beyond incomes: Dimensions of cooking energy transitions in rural India
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
Most studies on household energy choices have considered income and education as suitable proxies for socio-cultural contexts, primarily because the available data on household energy is from census surveys which are mainly household consumption surveys, not focused energy surveys. Acknowledging the existing data constraints, a more focussed household energy survey was designed for rural India with the aim of better understanding determinants of current energy use patterns, energy choices, to measure the impacts of these factors, and importantly, arrive at key policy insights.
Green Economy in South Asia: Challenges and Opportunities.
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines a “green economy” as one “that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while signifi cantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities”. It makes a tantalizing claim that “a green economy grows faster than a brown economy over time, while maintaining and restoring natural capital”. Rising oil prices, the financial crisis of 2008, and the ever growing debate around global ecological crises, including climate change, can be seen as key triggers for the pursuit of green growth worldwide.
High density polyethylene and silane treated silicon nitride nanocomposites using high-density polyethylene functionalized with maleate ester: Mechanical, tribological and thermal properties
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
In this study, attempt has been made to improve the overall performance of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites by blending with silane treated silicon nitride (SN) using HDPE grafted dibutyl maleate as compatibilizer. A small quantity of surface modified nanoclay has also been added in order to improve the mechanical properties. The mechanical properties show that both silane modification of silicon nitride accompanied by nanoclay addition has led to the substantial enhancement in mechanical properties.
How sustainable are forestry clean development mechanism projects? - A review of the selected projects from India
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
This paper analyses social, economic and ecological issues affecting sustainability of the four selected forestry clean development mechanism (CDM) projects from India. Data from the group discussions and stakeholder interviews suggest that three out of the four projects are economically unsustainable for local people because of high opportunity cost of land and labour, and delayed and low benefits.
Hyperspectral imagery for disaggregation of land surface temperature with selected regression algorithms over different land use land cover scenes
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
Land surface temperature (LST), a key parameter in understanding thermal behavior of various terrestrial processes, changes rapidly and hence mapping and modeling its spatio-temporal evolution requires measurements at frequent intervals and finer resolutions.
Identifying public preferences using multi-criteria decision making for assessing the shift of urban commuters from private to public transport: A case study of Delhi
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
Shifting urban commuters to public transport can be an effective strategy to deal with the energy and environmental problems associated with the transport sector. In order to enhance public transport the mode of choice for urban commuters, public expectations and requirements should be at the centre of the policy-making process. This study uses pair-wise weighing method (i.e. Analytical Hierarchy Process) to derive priorities for different criteria for shifting urban commuters to the public transport system based on their opinion.
Identities and Access to Energy: A Case From India
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
Cross cutting identity issues plays a significant role in shaping individual identities. These identities are quintessentials determinants of access to energy services, which in turn are interlinked with equity and development. The variations in levels of access to energy across identity groups are largely governed by rural-urban disparities, gender difference and poverty levels within rural and urban areas.
Impact of total organic carbon (in sediments) and dissolved organic carbon (in overlying water column) on Hg sequestration by coastal sediments from the central east coast of India
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
Total organic carbon (TOC) (in sediment) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) (in water column) play important roles in controlling the mercury sequestration process by the sediments from the central east coast of India. This toxic metal prefers to associate with finer size particles (silt and clay) of sediments. Increasing concentrations of DOM in overlying water column may increase complexation/reduction processes of Hg2+ within the water column and decrease the process of Hg sequestration by sediments.
Impacts of electrification with renewable energies on Local Economies: The case of India
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
For India, it is crucial to promote rural electrification to raise the well-being of the people since electrification provides a wide range of opportunities for people to change the social, economic, and environmental aspects of their lives for the better. In its rural areas, which have a larger number of households and higher populations than its urban areas, two types of electrification are in progress. One is electrification by connecting to the conventional grid. The other is electrification with renewable energies such as solar, biomass, hydro, and so on.
Improved test method for evaluation of bio-mass cook-stoves
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
More than two-thirds of the world's population is relying on biomass fuel to meet their cooking and heating energy-requirements. Traditional biomass stoves operate at low efficiency and cause severe health problems and pollute the environment. Due to higher quantity of fuel use, these cookstoves increase the burden on fuel management. Several test protocols are being used across the world for evaluating the performance of cookstoves.