Apart from queuing up to buy energy-saving home appliances, people are also showing keen interest in solar energy. Following the setting up of the first solar housing complex — Rabi Rashmi Abasan — by the West Bengal Renewable Energy

Development Authority, many local builders have decided to install integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technology in their housing complexes.

Besides the builders, the WBREDA outlet, Aditya, is also witnessing a steady stream of people — mostly middleclass and upper middleclass families — who want to buy solar energy appliances.

“We are getting an increasing number of individual households who have shown interest in solar home appliances,” said Sanjay Mukherjee, an official managing Aditya.

Located at Alipore, this government outlet was set up to give information about eco-friendly appliances to the general public.

“People come and seek information from us regarding different appliances that are available here. Once they select them, we make the bookings and inform the companies concerned for delivery,” said Mukherjee.

There is a wide range of energy-saving appliances for the consumers to choose. While some go for solar lighting system (SLS), some are drawn to solar water heating systems.

Home utilities like solar cookers, solar lanterns, solar dryers, solar fans and other solar home appliances which a few years back were not much spoken of are quite poular with buyers.

“I have opted for solar fans and solar lighting for my house. Though the initial investment was a little expensive, I am ultimately benefiting, as after sometime it becomes cost effective,” said G Baidya, a laboratory technologist.

While solar power panels cannot work on cloudy days or at night, the power stored in batteries, is usually enough to power most devices throughout the night until the batteries are recharged by the solar power.

“I wanted to have solar lighting for my home and so I went to Aditya but did not quite get what we wanted. But we are still interested as it will save energy,” said Subrata Sarkar, a resident of Entally.

While the entire SLS system with solar modules and battery costs Rs 14,500, the government provides a subsidy of Rs 4,100. The demand for solar appliances can be gauged from the fact that last year the Kolkata outlet sold Rs 1,20,000 worth appliances for domestic purposes. The WBREDA has one such outlet in Durgapur, Narendrapur and Siliguri each.