Standards and Labeling

Standards and Labeling (S & L) has been identified as a key activity for energy efficiency improvement. The S & L program, when in place would ensure that only energy efficient equipment and appliance would be made available to the consumers.

The main provision of EC act on Standards and Labeling are:

• Evolve minimum energy consumption and performance standards for notified equipment and appliances.

• Prohibit manufacture, sale and import of such equipment, which does not conform to the standards.

• Introduce a mandatory labeling scheme for notified equipment appliances to enable consumers to make informed choices

• Disseminate information on the benefits to consumers

Designated Consumers

The main provisions of the EC Act on designated consumers are:

• The government would notify energy intensive industries and other establishments as designated consumers;

• Schedule to the Act provides list of designated consumers which covered basically energy intensive industries, Railways, Port Trust, Transport Sector, Power Stations, Transmission & Distribution Companies and Commercial buildings or establishments;

• The designated consumer to get an energy audit conducted by an accredited energy auditor;

• Energy managers with prescribed qualification are required to be appointed or designated by the designated consumers;

• Designated consumers would comply with norms and standards of energy consumption as prescribed by the central government.

Certification of Energy Managers and Accreditation of Energy Auditing Firms

The main activities in this regard as envisaged in the Act are:

A cadre of professionally qualified energy managers and auditors with expertise in policy analysis, project management, financing and implementation of energy efficiency projects would be developed through Certification and Accreditation programme. BEE to design training modules, and conduct a National level examination for certification of energy managers and energy auditors.

Energy Conservation Building Codes:

The main provisions of the EC Act on Energy Conservation Building Codes are:

• The BEE would prepare guidelines for Energy Conservation Building Codes (ECBC);

• These would be notified to suit local climate conditions or other compelling factors by the respective states for commercial buildings erected after the rules relating to energy conservation building codes have been notified. In addition, these buildings should have a connected load of 500 kW or contract demand of 600 kVA and above and are intended to be used for commercial purposes;

• Energy audit of specific designated commercial building consumers would also be prescribed.

Central Energy Conservation Fund:

The EC Act provisions in this case are:

• The fund would be set up at the centre to develop the delivery mechanism for large-scale adoption of energy efficiency services such as performance contracting and promotion of energy service companies. The fund is expected to give a thrust to R & D and demonstration in order to boost market penetration of efficient equipment and appliances. It would support the creation of facilities for testing and development and to promote consumer awareness.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):

• The mission of Bureau of Energy Efficiency is to institutionalize energy efficiency services, enable delivery mechanisms in the country and provide leadership to energy efficiency in all sectors of economy. The primary objective would be to reduce energy intensity in the Indian Economy.

• The general superintendence, directions and management of the affairs of the Bureau is vested in the Governing Council with 26 members. The Council is headed by Union Minister of Power and consists of members represented by Secretaries of various line Ministries, the CEOs of technical agencies under the Ministries, members representing equipment and appliance manufacturers, industry, architects, consumers and five power regions representing the states. The Director General of the Bureau shall be the ex-officio member-secretary of the Council.

• The BEE will be initially supported by the Central Government by way of grants through budget, it will, however, in a period of 5-7 years become self-sufficient. It would be authorized to collect appropriate fee in discharge of its functions assigned to it. The BEE will also use the Central Energy Conservation Fund and other funds raised from various sources for innovative financing of energy efficiency projects in order to promote energy efficient investment.