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.