Electricity consumption in domestic sector in India accounts for about 21% of total electricity consumption in the country. Substantial increase in purchase of electrical home appliances by the households in the country has been leading to the increasing electricity consumption trend in the sector.Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) ‘Energy Star Rating and Labeling Program’ for domestic appliances initiated as a voluntary program for appliance manufacturers in May 2006, has been guiding the consumers on energy efficiency aspects of several commonly used home appliances.Since 7th January 2010, energy star labeling of room air conditioners, frost free refrigerators, and tubular fluorescent lamps has been made mandatory by BEE. It is expected that more home appliances will be gradually come under the mandatory provision of the program.
In West Bengal the electricity consumption in the domestic sector is about 30% of total electricity consumption in the state. To raise energy efficiency awareness of public at large, the West Bengal Renewable Energy Agency (WBRDEA) with support from West Bengal Government and USAID has been establishing a ‘Regional Energy Efficiency Center (REEC) for Home Appliances’ at Kolkata.
Objectives
- Create awareness for adoption of energy efficient home appliances by reaching households and other cross-sections of the society
- Demonstrate and showcase energy efficient home appliances in the Center
- Act as an information hub on energy efficiency of home appliances
Accomplishments
- With financial support of $222,000 (Rs.10 million) from the West Bengal Government and technical and design assistance from the ECO-III Project, WBREDA has started the process of constructing an energy efficient REEC Building at Energy Education Park. A number of private sector vendors (e.g. DOW, Saint Gobain, Fenesta, etc) supplying energy efficient building material and equipment have shown commitment to provide in-kind support towards the construction of REEC Building. Discussions with suppliers of in-house electrical metering and facilities for demonstration of energy efficient home appliances have been undertaken
- With technical assistance from ECO-III, three energy efficiency guides on home appliances (Room Air Conditioners, Home Refrigerators and Ceiling Fans), which were made earlier, have been updated and printed (2000 copies) for public distribution. Due to high demand for these publications, WBREDA has translated these guides into local language (Bengali) and printed 10,000 copies of each for wider distribution and awareness in the state/region
- In association with the state electricity distribution company (WBSEDCL), the Manoranjan Roy Energy Education Centre published a book (50,000 copies) in Bengali on procurement and maintenance of home appliances. Extensive dissemination of these is being done by WBREDA for raising energy efficiency awareness amongst general public, households, school children, university and college students, practicing electricians, etc.
- WBREDA presented its REEC activities in a two-week International Book Fair, which was visited by about 200,000 people. In addition, several awareness workshops, training programs, exhibitions, quiz competitions, etc., have been conducted in various cities and districts of the State
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- Lighting Research Center
- Regional Centre for Lighting
- Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)
- Government of West Bengal
- West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (WBSEDCL)
- Jadavpur University
