Power Ministry urges to set green example in Delhi Games

The Power ministry of India has written to the Commonwealth Games organising committee to set an example by using energy-efficient appliances and lighting in the Commonwealth Games stadiums and Village.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, a division of the ministry of Power, has written to the committee urging it to “showcase” India as leader in energy efficiency. The committee has been asked to procure appliances with a five-star energy rating only.

According to a senior official of BEE, “We believe equipment and appliances still need to be procured for Games venues and the housing complexes. The time for intervention is now, and the Games should be the way of setting an example”.

Under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (conceived two years ago), setting up energy-efficient systems falls under methods of mitigating climate change — and mandatory labelling of electric appliances is one of the first targets under the plan. While work on this has already begun, several other policies are still in the conception stage.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests held a meeting with the BEE and the Games officials last week to chart a strategy to achieve targets and showcase India’s climate-friendly policies through the Commonwealth Games.

While energy efficiency labelling — more stars signify that more energy is saved — is now mandatory for tubelights, frost-free refrigerators, air-conditioners and transformers, the same rules will soon be imposed on washing machines as well. “We are still in the process of bringing more products and appliances under the ambit of energy labelling. The Games (committee), meanwhile, should certainly invest in ensuring that most appliances are energy-efficient,” the official said.