Energy-savings of 3.3 mn tonnes effected in 07-08 by BEE

New Delhi, Sep 26 (UNI) Savings of 3.3 million tonnes of oil-equivalent of energy have been possible in 2007-08 as a result of the sales of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)-STAR labelled products, interventions by the states and demonstration programmes in industry.

Chairing the governing council of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) here today, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the savings had been possible through activities related to the programmes and schemes of the Bureau and resulted in avoided generation capacity of 623 MW.

Further, he said, "312 new buildings are now under construction which are complying with the Energy Conservation Building Code released by Bureau in May 2007." When completed and operational, these buildings would result in avoided generation capacity of about 300 MW.

The minister, noting the importance of energy efficiency in the country's quest for energy security, said the energy efficiency was the need of the hour. Electricity and fuel savings could not be more relevant in the country at any time than at present, he added.

The council noted that the energy savings on activities related to the Bureau's programme during the 11th Five Year Plan period (2007-12) were estimated at an avoided generation capacity of 10,000 MW. The Plan outlay for these activities was pegged at Rs 502 crore.

The council recommended appropriate budgetary support to meet this objective of energy saving through efficiency and demand side management.

It also approved the preparation of standards and labelling programme for a number of appliances and equipment, including ceiling fans, pumps, LPG cooking stoves, electric geysers and colour TV sets, due to be released shortly. The avoided generation capacity on account of these labelling programmes of the Bureau is estimated to touch 3,000 MW by 2012.

The council commended the Building Energy Conservation programmes of BEE, both for new as well as existing buildings. The members felt that, it was important for BEE to synergise with the building and urban energy programmes of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Ministry of Urban Development. Mr Shinde announced the creation of a task force, consisting of representatives of BEE, Ministries of Power, New and Renewable Energy and Urban Development, to identify these synergies and develop a joint action plan.

Consumer VOICE, a consumer NGO, would be a special invitee to this task force.

The need to ensure that consumers were fully informed about and aware of energy efficiency opportunities and programmes was emphasised. The Council noted that the joint outreach effort of BEE and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs under the "Jago Grahak Jago" programme had been effective in communicating information about the labelling programme on refrigerators, air-conditioners and tubelights.

Power Secretary Anil Razdan noted that apart from the national painting competition for children, the Bureau should also promote awareness about energy efficiency through debate, essay and quiz competitions for school and college students, preferably in local languages.

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