Billion units of power saved

Nishu Mahajan | Chandigarh

The energy conservation (EC) initiatives of Haryana Government have proved to be a blessing in disguise as the State Government estimates a potential saving of 3.273 billion units of electricity annually in agriculture, commercial buildings, municipalities, domestic and industrial sectors.

Keeping in view a large energy saving potential of these sectors, the Government is now focusing on commercial buildings, municipal demand side and small and medium enterprises (SME) clusters of either plywood or ricemills.

“The Department of Renewable Energy, Haryana had been instructed to formulate a focused action plan for energy efficiency for commercial buildings, municipal street lighting and SME clusters of plywood industry or ricemills. The Department is acting as a facilitator in the process,” a senior official in the State Government told The Pioneer.

He said: “To ensure effective use of the solar energy is also on top agenda of the Government. Academic institutions, government hospitals, hotels have already been directed to workout their requirements of hot water and install solar water heating systems on priority basis before the deadlines issued to them.”

“There is also a need for continuous awareness creation and advocacy in this regard and the concerned departments are assisting the State Government to create awareness about various EC measures among various sectors and masses,” he said.

The official said: “The Government is already ensuring the newly designed buildings to have compliancy of Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC). The State Architecture Department had been directed to make drawings of the new buildings as ECBC compliant.”

Through energy conservation measures, the Government has saved 86 MW electricity during 2007-08 and also received the national award for the same. The 2008-09, nearly 132 MW electricity has been saved through energy efficiency and conservation initiatives, he informed.

“The State Government is now exploring the possibilities of developing Industrial Model Township (IMT) at Rohtak and IMT at Faridabad as sustainable energy efficient townships,” he added.

Energy efficiency measures will be implemented in six more municipal councils of the State through Energy Service Company (ESCO) route. As ESCO projects had encouraging results in Hisar and Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) sectors of Panchkula, the State Government decided to extend this ambitious project in six more towns namely Yamunanagar, Palwal, Bhiwani, Karnal, Jagadhri and Municipal Council area of Panchkula.

The official said: “The energy conservation measures implemented by Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) in Hisar have been very beneficial as the civic body of Hisar has showed monitory benefits of Rs 65 to 67 lakhs annually.”

ESCO projects for the Municipal Street Lighting included EC measures like fast rectification of the detective lights and faults to ensure adequate lighting. All old and defective street lights to be replaced with more energy efficient systems or lights. With the automation of the system, the streetlights are switched on or off at preset times, eliminating the possibility of lights remaining on when not required.

He further said: “Through EC measures, a remarkable change in the illuminance and luminous emittance (Lux) levels on the streets has also been observed.