Guj Govt to formulate energy conservation action plan soon

Gandhinagar, Sep 8 (UNI) Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has announced formulation of short, medium and long-term Energy Conservation (EC) action plans with aim of reducing energy consumption level by 20-30 per cent in the Government and Municipal sectors.

The draft of the action plan will be proposed in next 2-3 months, a statement of GEDA said.

The decision to formulate the action plans was taken at the two-day workshop on ''Raising Profile of Energy Efficiency in the state'', organized by Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA).

The workshop has also planned to enhance architectural education and promote energy simulation for promoting ECBC compliance for the new building. The ECBC spreads awareness on building glazing concepts and also implements the glazing concepts across the state.

The workshop also emphasized that the benchmarking of commercial building is expected to raise the awareness levels of energy consumption in different buildings.

The GEDA has also proposed constitution of an EC Advisory and Monitoring Committee by the Gujarat Government as well as assistance in formulating and developing EC Fund of the Government.

The workshop has decided to launch an award scheme at state level to promote the manufacture of energy efficient equipments.

The two day workshop, which concluded on Friday, marked the launch of the Eco-III program in Gujarat that is to be implemented in the state with technical support from USAID and International Resources Group (IRG). Gujarat is the third State after Delhi and Punjab to be selected by the USAID.

The two technical sessions deliberated and discussed issues on the ECBC Code, its importance and suggested an overview of integrating the program into the architectural curriculum and legislative implications.

The presentation highlighted the opportunities and an energy efficient design module that can be replicated. A highly interactive presentation on the SMEs co-operative sector and networking efforts of the model in Gujarat received an applaud from the participants.

Some of the significant case presentations on glass glazing, challenges and barriers in the ECBC applications, energy efficiency measures in the municipal sector, energy audit in the commercial building sector, generated enthusiasm in the project.

A market driven approach together with outreach activities that include information, education and communication will help the program implementation process. Further, a framework on program implementation was discussed in detail.

The workshop also decided that GEDA will organize a series of capacity building, sensitization and awareness generation programs and work on the deliverables charted by the MoU.

A tentative budget of Rs four crore has been ear-marked for the EC activities this year. This will include a broad-base school energy education and youth energy audit program that will inculcate energy skill as life skill and conduct door-to-door audit in home, schools and neighbourhood. The project has mobilized a force of 50,000 students for this program. Energy audit in industries and dissemination of energy efficient devices will form the major program implementation strategy.

Plans to install 600 SPV street lights are on anvil in the municipal sector.

UNI