Energy Management
Energy management is the proactive and systematic monitoring, control and optimization of an organization's energy consumption to conserve use and decrease energy costs. Energy management includes minor actions such as monitoring monthly energy bills and upgrading to energy-saving lightbulbs.
Need for Energy Management
Around the globe, there is a great need to save energy, which impacts prices, emissions targets, and legislation that affects us all. Not only can energy management help reduce the carbon emissions that contribute to global warming, it also helps reduce our dependence on increasingly limited fossil fuels.
Steps for the process of energy management:
- Collecting and analyzing continuous data.
- Identify optimizations in equipment schedules, set points and flow rates to improve energy efficiency.
- Calculate return on investment. Units of energy saved can be metered and calculated just like units of energy delivered.
- Execute energy optimization solutions.
- Repeat step two to continue optimizing energy efficiency.
Role of Energy Manager:
EM duties revolve around the identification, reporting and implementation of energy savings opportunities. The responsibilities of Energy Manager are :
· Electrical Energy Saving Project Implementation
· Energy Tracking & Monitoring
· Primary Assessment
· Maintenance and Operating Schedules
· Energy Savings Opportunities & Action Plan
· Measurement & Verification Strategy
· Energy Management Behaviour and Business Process Improvements
· Employee Awareness Programs
Different Ways of Conserving Energy
Energy can be effectively conserved through the following means:
Improving Energy Efficiency
· Energy efficiency could be improved through some technological upgradations such as
· Using LED lights.
· Using CNG enabled vehicles to avoid causing air pollution.
Wastage Prevention
· Switching off electricity and appliances when not in use.
· Substituting old sockets with new ones.
· Using smart grid technologies.
· Prefer commuting through public transports and opt for carpooling to reduce air pollution.
Optimum Utilization of Energy Resources
· Appropriate infrastructures of industrial, office, or private buildings.
· The right selection of building materials.
· Green buildings optimization for renovating residential areas and environmental surroundings.
· Reduction in energy and water usage via green building initiative.
Using Renewable Sources of Energy
· To conserve energy, it is best to use resources that can be iteratively reused and replenished.
· In fact, India plans to set up 175 GW of renewable energies in the country which includes:
· 60 GW of wind power plants.
· 100 GW of solar power plants.
· 10 GW for biomass efficient energies.
· 5 GW for hydropower plants.
Energy Efficiency and its need
Energy efficiency is the use of less energy to perform the same task or produce the same result. Energy-efficient homes and buildings use less energy to heat, cool, and run appliances and electronics, and energy-efficient manufacturing facilities use less energy to produce goods.
Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to combat climate change, reduce energy costs for consumers, and improve the competitiveness of businesses. Energy efficiency is also a vital component in achieving net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide through decarbonization.
The Energy Conservation Act, 2001
The Energy Conservation Act, 2001 was enacted to provide for efficient use of energy and its conservation and for matters connected therewith.
Important Features of Energy Conservation Act, 2001:-
1.) Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
· The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has been established with effect from 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
· It is responsible for the implementation of policies and programmes related to energy.
· It also coordinates the implementation of energy conservation activities.
· Its primary objective is to reduce energy intensity in the Indian economy.
· It also promote use of energy efficient processes, equipment, devices and systems.
· It can recommend to the Central Government for notifying any user or class of users of energy as a designated consumer
2.) Standards and Labelling
- Standards and Labelling (S & L) has been identified as a key activity for improvement in energy efficiency.
- The S & L programme, when in place, would ensure that only energy-efficient equipment and appliances would be made available to the consumers.
3.) Central Energy Conservation Fund
- This fund is to be set up at the Centre to develop the delivery mechanism for large-scale adoption of energy efficiency services, such as performance contracting and promotion of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs).
- The fund is expected to give a thrust to R & D and demonstration in order to boost market penetration of efficient equipment and appliances.
4.) Power of Central Government
To enforce efficient use of energy and its conservation.—The Central Government may, by notification, in consultation with the Bureau,—
(a) Govt. can specify the norms for processes and energy consumption standards for any equipment, appliance which consumes, generates, transmits or supplies energy;
(b)Govt. can specify equipment or appliance or class of equipments or appliances, as the case may be, for the purposes of this Act;
c) prescribe energy conservation building codes for efficient use of energy and its conservation in the building or building complex;
d) The Central Government may issue the energy savings certificate to the designated consumer whose energy consumption is less than the prescribed norms and standards
5.) Power of State Government
The State Government may, by notification, in consultation with the Bureau—
(a) amend the energy conservation building codes to suit the regional and local climatic conditions
(b) direct every owner or occupier of a building or building complex being a designated consumer to comply with the provisions of the energy conservation building codes;
(c) designate any agency as designated agency to coordinate, regulate and enforce provisions of this Act within the State;
(d) take all measures necessary to create awareness and disseminate information for efficient use of energy and its conservation;
(e) arrange and organise training of personnel and specialists in the techniques for efficient use of energy and its conservation;
Standard & Labeling
Standard & Labeling (S&L) Program incorporates the provisions as detailed in the Energy Conservation Act 2001 with the objective of reducing the energy consumption of appliance / equipment without diminishing the services they provide to consumers.
Standard: It is the specified minimum energy efficiency level product must meet before they can be legally sold.
Labeling: It is the display of energy consumption information on product.
Objectives of Standard & Labeling (S&L) Program:-
The broad objective of the scheme is:
· To reduce the end-use energy consumption of appliances without diminishing the service levels.
· To create awareness of energy efficient appliances amongst the consumers.
· To monitor and verify energy savings that incur annually through the sale of energy-efficient appliances
Products notified under mandatory appliance
The following products have been notified under mandatory labeling.
1. Frost Free (No-Frost) Refrigerator
2. Tubular Fluorescent Lamps
3. Room Air Conditioners
4. Distribution Transformers
5. Room Air Conditioners (Cassette, Floor Standing Tower, Ceiling, Corner AC)
6. Direct Cool Refrigerator
7. Electric Geysers
8. Color TV
9. Room Air Conditioners (Inverter type)
10. LED lamps
Products under voluntary labelling
The following products have been notified under voluntary labeling.
1. Induction Motors
2. Pump sets
3. Ceiling fans
4. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Stoves
5. Washing machine
6. Computer (Notebook/Laptops)
7. Ballast (Electronic/Magnetic)
8. Office equipment's (Printer, Copier, Scanner, MFD's)
9. Diesel Engine Driven Monoset Pumps for Agricultural Purposes
10. Solid State Inventor
11. Diesel Generator
12. Chillers
13. Microwave Ovens
14. Deep Freezers
15. Light Commercial Air Conditioners (LCAC)
Importance of Standard & Labeling (S&L) Program:-
· It helps in energy conservation
· It helps consumers to make an informed choice about various appliances based on their energy efficiency.
· It helps in reduction of carbon emissions and pollution
· It helps to reduce electricity bills of consumers
Star Rating
What is BEE Star Rating?
Star ratings are provided to all the major kind of appliances in the form of labels. These star ratings are given out of 5 and they provide a basic sense of how energy efficient each product is, just in a single glance.
The manufacturers are officially required to put these labels as per the Standards and Labelling Program introduced in 2006.
Why do they put these BEE Star Rating labels?
The prime importance of these Star Ratings is to educate and inform consumers about how energy efficient each product is. This also makes the manufacturer responsible for creating products which are highly energy efficient as consumers may eventually prefer better rated products.
There are two variants of these labels, a big one and a smaller version:
1. Big label:
The big energy rating label is aimed at appliances which have a constant usage and consume more electricity. These labels show additional information such as the yearly energy consumption of the product, brand name, product category and much more. For consumers, this big label is helpful as it allows you to calculate the actual money you would spend in electricity bills for that particular product.
Products with a big label: Refrigerators, air-conditioners, geysers and washing machines.
2. Small Label:
Small labels can be found in appliances which usually don’t consume more energy. These labels just give you a visual representation of the energy consumption levels by showing star ratings.
Products with a small label: Ceiling fans, tube lights, computers/laptops and televisions.
