Karnataka - Bangalore

Energy efficiency rating for motors and pumps

BANGALORE: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has decided to introduce the system of Standards and Labelling, which is a method of rating the electrical gadgets based on their energy efficiency, for motors and submersible pumpsets also.

Disclosing this to presspersons after inaugurating a refrigeration and air-conditioning testing laboratory at Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) in Bangalore on Thursday, BEE Director-General Ajay Mathur said the labelling system would be extended to submersible pumpsets and general purpose motors, including those used in fans, within a few days. The labelling would not be mandatory and it will be left to the manufacturers to decide on whether to go for such a grading of their gadgets. Already, the BEE has introduced the system of voluntary labelling for air-conditioners, refrigerators, tubelights and transformers. The rating is done on a scale of five stars.

A gadget with high-energy efficiency would be accorded five stars while that with least energy would get a single star. The gadgets would have a label certified by the BEE indicating the number of energy efficient stars accorded to the gadget and also the approximate quantum of energy consumed by the gadget in a year.

The system, which is being practised in about 35 countries, was introduced in India under the provision of Energy Conservation Act 2001, to help consumers choose energy efficient gadgets and also to create public awareness on the need for giving importance to energy efficiency while purchasing an electrical gadget.

The main intention behind the scheme is to achieve energy conservation by bringing pressure on the companies, through consumers, to manufacture energy efficient appliances.

Dr. Mathur said the BEE had commissioned a survey to gauge the response of consumers to the standards and labelling system of grading introduced by it. The survey, to be conducted by an independent agency, was expected to be completed by April.

Meanwhile, the CPRI also inaugurated the Research and Test facility for the performance evaluation of refrigerators (up to a capacity of 600 litres) and air-conditioners (up to 3 tonne refrigeration) on the basis of their energy efficiency.

While the CPRI is the first public sector unit in the country to launch such a facility for ACs, it is the second government organisation to provide testing facility for refrigerators.

The testing and energy efficiency rating are being done as per the Standards and Labelling programme under the Energy Conservation Act 2001. CPRI Director-General A.K. Tripathy also spoke on the occasion.

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