The global climate change debates and strategies focus on macro level issues, micro level participation is often not given enough consideration as a part of emission management strategies. In India too there is a need to focus some of the efforts to control household’s emission footprint. Households, much more than their quantitative contribution towards controlling emissions, can contribute qualitatively in terms of mobilising individuals and therefore hold key to climate change mitigation efforts. A micro and household centric approach can help boost carbon abatement efforts throughout the economy if appropriate emission management mechanisms can be evolved.

The major green house gas contribution of Indian households is from their electricity usage as about 64% of the power generated in the country is by thermal power plants (OIFC, 2010) which release green house gases (GHG) into the atmosphere during the electricity generation process. Another unnoticed but important source of households GHG emissions is from the slow leakage of refrigerants that are used in air conditioners and refrigerators. These refrigerants are commonly referred to as ozone depleting substances due to their destructive effect on the stratospheric ozone layer. Additionally these refrigerants are strong GHG gases which can have up to 10,000 times the global-warming impact of carbon dioxide therefore also contribute to climate change. Thus old energy inefficient domestic refrigerators and air conditioners as long as they are in use until safely disposed are a source of green house gases and therefore agents of climate change.