India has been proceeding with energy conservation efforts for a few decades now. Yet most people don’t know of the conservation efforts that are already underway. For example, very few people are aware of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) that was created in 2002. The bureau was created to standardise energy efficiency ratings in the country. To be effective, however, people must know of its existence and how it can improve everyone’s daily lives. Yet, only one in four Indian households are aware of the BEE star ratings. The popularity of LED bulbs has led to almost 90% of Indian households to adopt its usage. Only 8% of that population that use ceiling fans are even aware of efficient energy use.
Popularity and the drive to modernise households may have led to using greener alternatives. However, without awareness of managing energy, conservation cannot be truly achieved. The onus lies on the power corporations, and they are responsible for this not being common knowledge. MBA in Energy management is beneficial to corporations and power companies. These courses help them realise how energy management can change energy logistics for the better. The process of generating energy itself is at fault for being inefficient for the most part. Adding to that the effect of energy production has on the environment, it behoves the Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) to make use of efficiency on their end, as well as promote it for general consumption.
The question on everyone’s minds should be, whether educating the industry leaders will help change the process, especially those who are already in the energy sector? Energy standards keep changing with new policies and reforms coming up every year. There are new standards, as greener technologies come up and replace inefficient technology. These courses help leaders in energy and allied sectors stay up to date with that information.
How Energy Management Courses Can Change The Way?
Management of energy teaches how energy is used, and to analyse how its use can be reduced. As a means to reduce energy costs in the long run and help the general public save on costs themselves, energy management is a necessary component. Those in the energy sector should not only utilise strategies towards efficient managing of energy but should be aware at the top level as well.
In the end, this helps out the citizens as much as it helps out the DISCOMs. Yet most power companies function on older inefficient technologies themselves. This has led to energy wastage and has also contributed to problems like pollution and power outages. The use of newer technologies and strategies can help reduce all the inefficiencies caused during the generation of energy up to its consumption. This is where renewable energy management courses come in. an executive course is designed only for those industry leaders who need to stay updated, as well as those who’re entering the sector and wish to stay ahead in the race.
How Can Star Labels Help in Energy Conservation?
The Council of Environment conducted a study on Energy and Water (CEEW) across 21 states in approximately 15,000 households. It found that air conditioners benefitted the most after LED bulbs through star ratings. It was also found that the adoption rate of efficient ceiling fans was low. This poor reception is caused by the public not purchasing higher-priced alternatives, as well as the limited availability of products. Ceiling fans make the majority of residential electricity use. Even though the government had introduced a scheme to distribute more inefficient variants, it has been unable to promote the use of higher efficiency fans.
As people are quite conscious of the rising costs, they have been gradually purchasing efficient appliances. People have even given into buying star labelled air conditioners, one of the energies intensive household appliances. CEEW has noted the effective role BEE’s mandatory labelling has in making a fraction of India’s population aware. For example, according to the study, 75% of air conditioner users have star-labelled ACs. Even so, one-sixth of AC users are unaware of the function of the star-labels, which still can be improved.
Sustaining Energy Standard Awareness
According to Dhruvak Aggarwal, a research analyst at CEEW, “Long-term energy efficiency is a two-way street. While it needs to be made the default option for consumers, they need to be aware that the endgame is to reduce gross consumption.” The study highlighted the need for a sustained awareness campaign for different kinds of energy products. As of now, Delhi has benefitted the most from consumer awareness in 61% of households, followed by Maharashtra’s 48%, and 43% of Himachal Pradesh and Kerala.
To promote awareness at a local level, the local institutions like panchayats in rural regions and resident’s welfare associations in urban areas can help spread them effectively. Promoting in regional languages also helps in propagating the same. But why is sustaining an awareness campaign necessary? According to DISCOMs, the cooling load particularly in summers is the main reason for power demand increase. Managing this would require educating consumers about choosing improved appliances.
A BSES spokesperson said, “Almost 50% of Delhi’s power demand in summer is because of the cooling load, so customer behaviour and testimonials play an important role in changing habits. BSES has been promoting energy conservation aggressively and helping consumers bring-in energy efficiency.” BSES had also launched an AC-replacement scheme in partnership with some leading manufacturers.
Inefficient power consumption among most of India’s population will keep on increasing unless people realise that there’s an option through the Bureau of Energy Efficiency star-ratings. In terms of energy conservation, the use of efficient LED lightings and air conditioners has been driven mostly by brands. People have also taken to using greener alternatives for cost savings and eco-friendly appliance usage. This sort of growth however takes a lot of time to spread especially when initial costs are concerned.
Government schemes have helped to a degree, and advertisements have set people on the path to awareness as well. But the best way to promote the spread of awareness is through the power companies. They have a direct reach to the consumer’s homes and thus can affect the change in appliances for the better. Even though it has been slow, it has been a gradual change for India. One can hope, along with other accomplishments, India overcomes inefficient energy use as well.