Stressing the need for energy conservation and adopting energy-efficiency measures, the State Energy Conservation Mission has decided to launch a six-point program to provide some relief to electricity consumers and utilities to achieve huge energy savings in identified key sectors.
The six points of the program are: Notifying the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECB Code) for enhancing energy efficiency in all large buildings such as multiplexes, malls and Hospitals; Finalizing green factory building code for promoting energy efficiency in existing and upcoming industries; Effective implementation of DSM measures for the benefit of farmers; Evolving measures for replacement of old and inefficient motors and pumpsets in urban and rural water supply schemes; promoting and scaling up generation through non-renewable sources like solar and wind; Studying best practices on energy efficiency to benchmark with international standards in power intensive sectors.
Disclosing these details, Dr P.K. Mohanty, Chief Secretary and Chairperson/SECM, during 4th meeting of SECM held at Secretariat on Saturday late evening with Principal Secretaries of Energy, MA&UD, Finance, Commissioners of GHMC, I&PR, HMDA, Industries, CMDs of APTRANSCO & APCPDCL and representatives from Agriculture and industrial associations, said all Departments shall put in place energy efficiency plans to improve efficiency in power consumption and prevent wastage of precious energy.
NOTIFYING ECB CODE
An ECB Code is in the offing for incorporating energy efficiency components in all large buildings such as multiplexes, malls and Hospitals etc. The code will be applicable to all Non-Residential buildings, with more than 1000 sq mt of plot area or 2000 sq mt of built up area, whichever is higher. Initially single Star Energy Conservation shall be made mandatory in respect of all these structures. Certification of Energy Conservation for these Buildings will be issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) empanelled Architects.
GREEN FACTORY BUILDING CODE
Industries Dept. is working out modalities to bring in the ‘Green Factory Building Code’ for all factories for taking mandatory steps to provide vegetation in at least 15% of total site area, allowing natural day light & fresh air ventilation into the factory building, usage of T5, LED lamps for external lighting etc. to avoid the wastage of electricity.
DSM MEASURES
The Agriculture Department, in coordination with power utilities, has decided to launch a special drive for creation of awareness among the 30 lakhs farmers on the benefits of DSM measures such as usage of ISI marked motor & pump set, usage of friction-less foot valve etc for the benefit of farmers. SECM has decided to recommend uniform subsidy for drip irrigation in Agrl. on par with Horticulture.
ENERGY EFFICIENT PUMPS
The RWS Dept. has been directed to come out with a scheme under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) for replacement old pumpsets with energy efficiency pumpsets so as to achieve an estimated 44,850 units a day savings.
HARNESSING OF GREEN POWER
SECM has decided to initiate steps to tap Solar Power to the maximum extent by creating public awareness about the 50% subsidies/incentives available for erection of Roof Top Solar Power panels, solar heaters, etc. The Chief Secretary directed the officials to expedite the process of erecting solar panels on all Govt. buildings. Agrl. Dept., is also planning to replace conventional pumpsets with Solar-powered ones through ESCO model on pilot basis.
STUDY ON BEST PRACTICES
SECM has directed the officials to study the best practices on energy conservation & efficiency throughout the globe for replicating practically implementable solutions in the state to achieve the targeted goals of energy savings in a time bound manner.
Dr Mohanty stressed the need to continue the tempo in spreading the Energy Conservation message throughout the year i.e. 365 days irrespective of seasons and to bring about a change in the lifestyle of people to ensure judicious usage of energy. The Sri M. Sahoo, Principal Secretary, Energy informed Chief Secretary that energy auditing in AP Secretariat Buildings has been carried out and estimated an annual energy savings of 25.72 lakh units(22% of existing consumption)per annum costing Rs.1.39 crores for which the payback period is only 17 months. Sri Hiralal samariya,CMD/APTRANSCO informed to the CS during the SECM meeting that utilities are contemplating to achieve total Wind Power capacity of around 5258 MW during 12th five year plan(2012-17).
The Principal Secretaries of Energy, Finance, MA&UD M. Sahoo, P.V. Ramesh, Adhar Sinha, CMDs of APTRANSCO and CPDCL Hiralal Samariya, V. Anil Kumar, Commissioners of Agriculture, HMDA, GHMC, Industries and I&PR, K. Madhusudhana Rao, Neerabh Kumar Prasad, M.T. Krishna Babu, Rajath Kumar, M. Dana Kishore, VC&MD/NREDCAP M. Kamalakar Babu, senior officers and representatives of industrial associations participated in the high-level meeting. (NSS)
