Conclusions

Karnataka state depends both on commercial and non commercial forms of energy. Non commercial energy constitutes 53.2%, met mainly by sources like firewood, agricultural residues, charcoal, cowdung. While commercial energy's share is 46.8% met mainly by electricity, oil coal etc. Energy intensity (energy consumption per GDP) and GDP per capita data reveals that India and Karnataka state have high energy intensities compared to other developed industrialised countries. Which clearly shows that Karnataka state and India have good potential in energy conservation. A comparative study of energy use, mainly electrical, in industries in Karnataka and in those of some industrialised countries reveals that Karnataka consumes 6.13 times the energy consumed in the Switzerland, 5.28 times the energy consumed in Japan, 3.35 times the energy consumed in U.K., 1.98 times the energy consumed in U.S.A. for the same GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The growing environmental degradation demands for review of energy policy. The energy policy should emphasis on energy conservation, development and exploitation of renewable resources of energy, accerlate the development of energy sources in an environmentally sound way and optimum utilisation of the existing capacity.