Concept:
Energy conservation refers to the practice of reducing unnecessary energy usage while maintaining the required level of output or comfort.
It plays a major role in:
• Reducing fuel consumption
• Conserving natural resources
• Minimizing environmental pollution
• Lowering greenhouse gas emissions
Most conventional energy generation systems depend upon fossil fuels such as:
• Coal
• Petroleum
• Natural gas
Combustion of these fuels releases pollutants into the atmosphere.
Step 1: Analyze Assertion (A)
Assertion (A) states:
\[
\text{Energy conservation reduces environmental pollution}
\]
This statement is correct.
When energy is conserved:
• Less electricity is required
• Less fuel is burned in power plants
• Fewer pollutants are emitted
As a result:
• Carbon dioxide emission decreases
• Air pollution decreases
• Greenhouse effect reduces
• Environmental quality improves
Hence:
\[
A \text{ is correct}
\]
Step 2: Analyze Reason (R)
Reason (R) states:
\[
\text{Reduced Energy consumption leads to lower fuel consumption}
\]
This statement is also correct.
Most thermal power stations require large quantities of fossil fuel to generate electricity.
If energy demand decreases:
• Less coal is burned
• Less diesel is consumed
• Less natural gas is required
Therefore:
\[
R \text{ is correct}
\]
Step 3: Determine Whether Reason Explains Assertion
Now we check whether the reason properly explains the assertion.
The assertion says:
\[
\text{Energy conservation reduces pollution}
\]
The reason explains that:
\[
\text{Reduced energy usage lowers fuel consumption}
\]
This directly explains the assertion because:
• Lower fuel consumption means reduced combustion
• Reduced combustion means lower pollutant emission
• Lower pollutant emission reduces environmental pollution
Thus, the reason provides the correct logical explanation of the assertion.
Step 4: Final Conclusion
• Assertion (A) is correct.
• Reason (R) is also correct.
• Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A).
Therefore, the correct answer is:
\[
\boxed{(A)\ \text{Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)}}
\]