Social Science (087) — CBSE Class 10 board question

Energy conservation is essential for sustainable development because of the following reasons:

1. Limited fossil fuels: Coal, petroleum and natural gas take millions of years to form and are non-renewable. Their rapid consumption threatens future energy security.

1. Environmental protection: Increasing use of fossil fuels causes serious environmental problems like pollution and climate change. Conservation reduces this damage.

1. Economic stability: Rising prices of oil and gas and potential shortages create uncertainties that have serious repercussions on the national economy.

1. Promotes renewables: Conserving conventional energy encourages greater use of renewable sources — solar, wind, biogas, tidal — ensuring long-term supply.

1. Individual responsibility: Using public transport, switching off unused lights, using power-saving devices all reduce consumption significantly.

As the textbook rightly states, "energy saved is energy produced" — conservation and renewable energy are the twin planks of sustainable energy development.

Source: Chapter 5, Conservation of Energy Resources & Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

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Examiners expect 5 distinct, well-labelled points for a 5-mark question. The key arguments are: non-renewable nature of fossil fuels, environmental harm, economic impact, promotion of renewables, and individual action. Always quote the textbook line "energy saved is energy produced" — it directly supports the statement and shows textbook grounding. Avoid writing a lengthy essay; crisp points with one-line elaboration are ideal.