ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION 

INTRODUCTION

The demand on energy resources is continuously increasing over the years. There is a huge gap between supply and demand chains of energy. The energy efficiency along with renewable and other non-conventional energy sources is required for ensuring sustainable energy consumption in the world.

The Energy Conservation (EC) And Energy Efficiency (EE) are two terms involved in utilization of energy in efficient ways and measures for sustainable energy development. The conservation aimed at using less energy while the efficiency denotes the wise use of energy with minimum wastage.

ENERGY CONSERVATION:

 It is a behavioral change in reducing energy consumption. The examples of energy conservation are switching off the lights while leaving a room, unplugging of computers when not in use, etc.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

It is the use of improved technology that need low energy to perform than the existing technology. It is defined as any process, technique or equipment that helps to achieve reduction in energy consumption while performing an operation, while achieving the same or better level of output.

The use of LEDs or OLEDs improve the efficiency than that of incandescent bulb. Efficient energy use is achieved primarily by means of a more efficient technology or process. Energy efficient buildings, industrial processes and transportation could reduce the world’s energy needs in 2050 by one third, and help controlling global emissions of greenhouse gases. 

The government of India aimed at meeting energy demand by cutting down the wastage of energy and saving carbon emissions. The Indian Government has provided various schemes, policies, and strategies for efficient energy consumption.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION

1. Energy Conservation Act, 2001 

The Energy Conservation Act (EC Act) was enacted in 2001 and further amended in 2010 with THE AIM of increasing energy efficiency and energy conservation. The Act gives a regulatory mandate for

– Standards Labeling of Equipment and Devices.

– Energy Conservation Building Codes for Commercial Buildings; And

– Power Consumption Norms for Energy Intensive Industries.

2. NATIONAL MISSION FOR ENHANCED ENERGY EFFICIENCY (NMEEE)

The Eleventh Plan (2007–08 to 2016–17) aimed at reducing energy intensity per unit of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) by 20% during the period. NMEEE aims to boost the programs under the EC Act through four major initiatives

• PERFORM, ACHIEVE AND TRADE (PAT) SCHEME: This is a market-based mechanism to enhance efficiency in nine energy intensive large industries and sectors. This allows voluntary trading of energy savings by Energy Savings Certificates (ESCerts)
• MARKET TRANSFORMATION ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY (MTEE), which envisages an on-going shift to energy efficient appliances and machinery in designated sectors through innovative measures.
• Energy Efficiency Financing Platform (EEFP)
• Framework for Energy Efficient Economic Development (FEEED) that leverage fiscal instruments that can help finance Demand Side Management (DSM) programmes.

3. BUREAU OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY (BEE)

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was created, under the Ministry of Power, for setting the recommendations of the EC Act, 2001.

The BEE is also the legal entity for executing the initiatives under NMEEE and engages in public-private partnership in implementing various EE programs under it.

It is the central agency for developing and establishing systems and procedures necessary for achieving India’s overarching energy efficiency goals.

BEE programs aim to make macro-level conservation by promoting EE in individual sectors. State nodal agencies are authorized to initiate and drive energy conservation measures.

State Energy Regulatory Commissions, Distributing Companies (DisComs) and Utilities are entrusted with implementing regulatory conservation measures and promoting various EE programs.

4. STANDARDS AND LABELLING

The Bureau initiated the Standards and labelling program for equipment and appliances in 2006 to give the consumer an informed choice regarding the energy saves, and thereby the cost saving potential of the important equipment and appliances.

The scheme involves the labelling of Effective Lights, Frost Free Refrigerators, Distribution Transformers, Induction Motors, Electric Geyser, Fans, Colour Tvs, Pump Sets, LPG Stoves, Washing Machine, Laptops, Ballast, Floor Standing Acs, office automation products, diesel generating sets and diesel pump sets, etc.

Environmental Sciences Energy and Environment Energy Efficiency and Energy Audit The other appliances are under voluntary labelling phase. The energy efficiency labelling programs under BEE are aimed at reducing power consumption of devices without compromising on the services.

5. ENERGY CONSERVATION BUILDING CODES (ECBC)

The Govt. of India developed THE ENERGY CONSERVATION BUILDING CODE (ECBC) for new commercial buildings on 27th May 2007. ECBC establishes minimum energy standards for new commercial buildings having a connected load of 100kW or contract demand of 120 KVA and above.

Currently, Rajasthan, Odisha, UT of Puducherry, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana notified and adopted the code for their states.

BEE developed a voluntary Star Rating Programme for buildings which are based on the actual performance of a building, regarding energy usage in the building over its area displayed in kWh/sqm.m/year.