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Mosques to consume less energy
The directorate issued a circular that said environmentally friendly and energy-saving lamps that generate more light using less electricity began to be utilized in all of the 80,013 mosques in Turkey in 2008.
Some 961,427 lamps were replaced with 895,390 energy-saving lights, which resulted in a 65 percent reduction in electricity costs in mosques. The directorate aims to encourage the widespread use of energy-saving lamps in the country this year.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Hatay deputy Professor Mustafa Öztürk, the deputy chairman of the parliamentary Environment Commission, who pioneered this idea, presenting a report on how to reduce energy consumption in mosques, stated that wasting energy increases the risk of global warming.
Noting the importance of energy efficiency in minimizing the negative effects of global warming, Öztürk said electricity consumption in Turkey is 2,200 kilowatt hours (kWh) per person per year, noting that Turkey is an energy-poor country that is dependent on foreign countries for 70 percent of its needs. “Less energy consumption in mosques constitutes a major precaution against global warming and a contribution to Turkey's economy,” added Öztürk.
Religious Affairs president to consider Friday sermons in Kurdish if requested Directorate of Religious Affairs President Ali Bardakoğlu has said he will evaluate the issue of allowing religious sermons to be made in Kurdish in southeast Turkey if there is demand. Speaking after an iftar (fast-breaking dinner) at the Prime Ministry on Thursday, Bardakoğlu responded to questions by journalists. When asked if the Directorate of Religious Affairs is planning to allow the Friday sermon to be delivered in Kurdish in mosques located in predominantly Kurdish regions of Turkey as part of the government's efforts to settle the Kurdish issue, he said that although there is no such plan today, the directorate is open to the idea if it receives such a request. Every Ramadan, the directorate chooses a theme. This year it is going with “Sharing is Good” and will draw up sermons and talks to be delivered in the country's 80,000 mosques that emphasize sharing. Noting that one of the leading problems of recent years is becoming more and more worldly and without any boundaries, he said this can lead to social disasters. Bardakoğlu called for keeping the balance between this world and the hereafter. “We have to understand that Islam is far from tension and make it one of the elements of social unity.” Stressing that insufficient religious education may be a cause of conflict among people, he said, “If religion is not taught and understood well, it can feed tension and conflict." Ali Aslan Kılıç Ankara |
In his report, Öztürk maintained that energy consumption can be reduced with some precautionary measures involving lighting, heating and cooling. The Religious Affairs Directorate has written energy policies that will be instated in mosques not only in terms of heating, cooling and lighting but also in terms of water consumption. During the winter, thermostats will be kept below 20 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, natural gas has started to be used instead of fuel oil.
Environmentally friendly schools
The Education Ministry has also decided to conduct a similar project, seeing the achievements of the directorate in the realm of energy savings. Öztürk prepared another report for the Education Ministry to offer suggestions for reducing energy and water consumption in schools.
The report outlined steps that would cut down water consumption in schools by as much as 40 percent. “In 2050, 54 countries will be suffering due to the scarcity of water. Turkey is in danger of being one of them; therefore, we should consume water mindfully,” Öztürk stated.
Commenting on energy-saving suggestions for the Education Ministry, Öztürk said these steps would help raise a generation that will, hopefully, be attentive to environmental concerns. “The amount of energy saved by 15 million students and their 680,000 teachers will constitute a great contribution to the economy,” he added.
Water tanks used by schools that can contain 16 liters of water would be replaced by the ones having a capacity of six liters. The ministry will also change the specifications of school buildings to reduce the capacity of water tanks from 12 liters to a maximum of seven liters.
Meanwhile, according to a protocol signed by the Ministry of Energy and the Minister of Education in 2008, 2.8 million energy-saving lamps have been allocated to primary schools in 13 cities. Some 1,828,742 old lamps were replaced by 1,758,954 environmentally friendly lights. Although it cost TL 11,549,139, the amount was amortized in just 101 days.
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