ENERGY CONSERVATION

Salient features
The Act empowers the Central Government and, in some instances, State Governments to:

Specify energy consumption standards for notified equipment and appliances.
Direct mandatory display of label on notified equipment and appliances.
Prohibit manufacture, sale, purchase and import of notified equipment and appliances not conforming to energy consumption standards.
Notify energy intensive industries, other establishments, and commercial buildings as designated consumers;
Establish and prescribe energy consumption norms and standards for designated consumers.
Prescribe energy conservation building codes for efficient use of energy and its conservation in new commercial buildings having a connectedload of 500 kW or a contract demand of 600 kVA and above.

Direct designated consumers to -

Designate or appoint certified energy manager in charge of activities for efficient use of energy and its conservation.
Get an energy audit conducted by an accredited energy auditor in the specified manner and interval of time.
Furnish information with regard to energy consumed and action taken on the recommendation of the accredited energy auditor to the designed agency.
Comply with energy consumption norms and standards;
Prepare and implement schemes for efficient use of energy and its conservation if the prescribed energy consumption norms and standards are not fulfilled.
Get energy audit of the building conducted by an accredited energy auditor in this specified manner and intervals of time;

State Governments may-

Amend the energy conservation building codes prepared by the Central Government to suit regional and local climatic conditions.
Direct every owners or occupier of a new commercial building or building complex being a designated consumer to comply with the provisions of energy conservation building codes.
Direct, if considered necessary for efficient use of energy and its conservation, any designated consumer to get energy audit conducted by an accredited energy auditor in such manner and at such intervals of time as may be specified.

Establishment of Bureau of Energy Efficiency :-

Under the provisions of the Act, Bureau of Energy Efficiency has been established with effect from 1st March, 2002 by merging the erstwhile Energy Management Centre, a society under the Ministry of Power. The Bureau would be responsible for spearheading the improvement of energy efficiency of the economy through various regulatory and promotional instruments.
The mission of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency is to develop policy and strategies with a thrust on self-regulation and market principles, within the overall framework of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 with the primary objective of reducing energy intensity of the Indian economy. This will be achieved with active participation of all stake holders, resulting in accelerated and sustained adoption of energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy.

The primary objective of BEE is to reduce energy intensity in the Indian economy through adoption of result oriented approach. The broad objectives of the BEE are:

To assume leadership and provide policy framework and direction to national energy efficiency and conservation efforts and programmes;
To coordinate policies and programmes on efficient use of energy and its conservation with the involvement of stakeholders;
To establish systems and procedures to measure, monitor and verify energy efficiency results in individual sectors as well as at national level;
To leverage multi-lateral, bi-lateral and private sector support in implementation of the Energy Conservation Act and programmes for efficient use of energy and its conservation;
To demonstrate energy efficiency delivery mechanisms, through private-public partnership,
To plan, manage and implement energy conservation programmes as envisaged in the Energy Conservation Act.

Functions of BEE

The functions of BEE can be classified as regulatory functions being recommendatory body to the Central Government in implementing the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act and facilitation, market development and market transformation functions such as:

Arrange and organize training of personnel and specialists in the techniques for efficient use of energy and its conservation;
Develop testing and certification procedures and promote testing facilities;
Strengthen consultancy services;
Create awareness and disseminate information;
Promote research and development;
Formulate and facilitate implementation of pilot projects and demonstration projects;
Promote use of energy efficient processes, equipment, devices and systems;
Take steps to encourage preferential treatment for use of energy efficient equipment or appliances;
Promote innovative financing of energy efficiency projects;
Give financial assistance to institutions for promoting efficient use of energy and its conservation;
Prepare educational curriculum on efficient use of energy and its conservation and
Implement international co-operation programmes relating to efficient use of energy and its conservation.