Since the 1990s, India has stepped up its efforts to conserve energy. In 2001, the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 was enacted, requiring the establishment of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) which was established in the following year. The Act is the basic law underlying the regulation of energy conservation in the country and also provides for energy savings in equipment and devices, industry (facilities) and buildings.

 

Energy Efficiency for Products

In India, the Standards & Labelling Programme (SLP), an energy-efficiency labeling scheme for consumer products, has been in operation since May 18, 2006 under the jurisdiction of BEE. The SLP is implemented based on Article 14(d) of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. The purpose of the scheme is to encourage consumers to purchase energy-saving products by providing information on energy conservation. The label shows the energy-saving performance with a 5-star rating.

The products covered by the scheme are divided into two categories: products for which labelling is mandatory and ones for which labelling is voluntary.The list of products subject to the scheme as of August 2020 is shown below.

Mandatory:

  • Frost Free (No-Frost) Refrigerator
  • Tubular Fluorescent Lamps
  • Room Air Conditioners
  • Distribution Transformer
  • RAC (Cassette, Floor Standing Tower, Ceiling, Corner AC)
  • Direct Cool Refrigerator
  • Electric Geysers
  • Color TV
  • Variable Capacity Air Conditioners
  • LED Lamps

Voluntary:

  • Induction Motors
  • Agricultural Pump Sets
  • Ceiling Fans
  • Domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Stoves
  • Washing Machine
  • Computer (Notebook /Laptops)
  • Ballast (Electronic/Magnetic)
  • Office equipment’s (Printer, Copier, Scanner, MFD’s)
  • Diesel Engine Driven Monoset Pumps for Agricultural Purposes
  • Solid State Inverter
  • Diesel Generator
  • Chillers
  • Microwave Ovens
  • Solar Water Heaters
  • Light Commercial Air conditioners
  • Deep Freezers

Under the SLP, BEE formulates rules for contents in label and its design, while the Ministry of Power publishes notifications specifying the energy efficiency standards for each product.

 

Energy Efficiency for Buildings

In addition to provisions on energy conservation for products, the Act stipulates energy management for buildings (establishments). Business establishments designated under the Act are positioned as “Designated Consumers” and are required to assign an energy manager and submit an energy consumption report. Designated Consumers are defined as those in the following industries.

No. Industries Annual Energy Consumption
1 Thermal Power Stations ≧ 30,000 toe
2 Fertilizer ≧ 30,000 toe
3 Cement ≧ 30,000 toe
4 Iron and Steel ≧ 20,000 toe
5 Chlor-Alkali ≧ 12,000 toe
6 Aluminum ≧  7,500 toe
7 Railwasys ≧ 30,000 toe
8 Textile ≧  3,000 toe
9 Pulp and Paper ≧ 20,000 toe
10 Petroleum Refinery ≧ 90,000 toe
11 Electricity Distribution Companies ≧ 86,000 toe
12 Commercial buildings or establishments (Hotels) ≧  5,000 toe
13 Gas Crackers and Naphtha Crackers ≧100,000 toe

Designated Consumers are required to improve their energy efficiency through the mandatory PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) scheme as determined by the Ministry of Power. The eligible Designated Consumers are listed in the notification.

On 13 February, 2018, the Ministry of Power published “Energy Conservation Building Code Rules, 2018” which applies to every building, which is used or intended to be used for commercial purposes, having a connected load of 100kW or above or a contract demand of 120kVA or above. Building systems covered by this rule include building envelope, comfort systems and controls (heating, ventilation and air conditioning service hot water system), lighting and controls, electrical and renewable energy systems and any other system, as may be specified from time to time by BEE. However, this rule shall not apply to equipment, appliances, devices and parts of building that use energy primarily for manufacturing processes. Complying with the “Energy Conservation Building Code 2017” is also required for this rule.