26 Sep :Chairing the Governing Council of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) today Union Minister of Power, Shri Sushilkumar Shinde, , announced that savings of 3.3 million tonnes of oil-equivalent of energy had been possible in 2007-08 through activities related to the programmes and schemes of the Bureau.
These savings also resulted in an avoided generation capacity of 623 MW. The savings have been made as a result of the sales of BEE-STAR labeled products, interventions by the states and demonstration programmes in industry. Further, 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 Council noted that the energy savings on activities related to the Bureau’s programme during the 11th Five Year Plan period (2007-12) are estimated to result in an avoided generation capacity of 10,000 MW. 11th Five Year Plan outlay for these activities was pegged at Rs. 502 crores. The Council recommended appropriate budgetary support to meet this objective of energy saving through efficiency and Demand Side Management.
The Council approved the preparation of standards and labeling programme for a number of appliances and equipments, including ceiling fans, pumps, LPG cooking stoves, electric geysers and colour TV sets. It is expected that the labeling schemes for these equipments would be released shortly. The avoided generation capacity on account of these labeling programmes of Bureau is estimated to reach about 3000 MW by 2012.
The Council commended the Building Energy Conservation programmes of BEE, both for new buildings as well as for existing buildings. The Council 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. Shri Sushilkumar Shinde announced the creation of a Task Force, consisting of representatives of Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of 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 Council emphasized the need to ensure that consumers were fully informed about and aware of energy efficiency opportunities and programmes. The Council noted that the joint outreach effort of BEE and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs under the “Jago Grahak Jago” programme had been very effective in communicating information about the labeling programme on refrigerators, air-conditioners and tube lights. Shri Anil Razdan, Secretary, Ministry of Power 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.
Shri Sushilkumar Shinde, noting the importance of energy efficiency in the country’s quest for energy security, said that energy efficiency is 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.