Govt asked to reduce energy consumption by 20 pc

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has taken up the task of implementing energy efficiency services and institutionalising delivery mechanisms through development of a platform for ESCOs. The BEE is also engaged in benchmarking energy use in commercial buildings for public and private sectors to standardise energy data collection,which would thereafter help in establishing a baseline database on energy usage. The government has already piloted the ESCO business model successfully to upgrade energy efficiency of some of its buildings in the national capital.

Currently the government occupies commercial space of around two million square meters. Given the wide range in their annual energy consumption,opportunity for energy saving at government buildings is equivalent to about 150 MW,thereby sparing the government of an investment of over Rs 1,000 crore.

Besides,the BEE has notified standards of truthful labeling wherein at least 10 electrical appliances like ACs and lamps have been conferred the status of ‘star’ categories. The standards in at least four of these appliances are being made mandatory and would be notified forthwith. “The BEE is upgrading the standards and if it maintains the current tempo,then the standards would exceed world standards by 2016,” the official said.

The power ministry has reasoned that deterrent penalties ought to be made more stringent as the provisions in the Energy Conservation Act,2001,of imposing a lump sum fine of Rs 1,00,000 was clearly not a deterrent. The ministry has already launched the Bachat Lamp Yojana to provide compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) at Rs 15 as a replacement to incandescent bulbs. It targets the replacement of 40 crore such bulbs in the country,leading to a possible reduction of 6,000-10,000 MW electricity demand every year,the official said.