BEE to Share Energy Efficiency Know-How with Andhra Pradesh

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency will assist the Andhra Pradesh government with Indo-Swiss technology for affordable housing in the state. This follows an announcement by the state’s energy minister B Srinivasa Reddy that electricity use per household is projected to increase from 650 KWh in 2012 to 2750 KWh by 2050.

According to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Director-General Abhay Bhakre, the bureau will provide technological support to housing and financial support to hospitals, model schools and rural water supply for implementation of energy efficiency schemes. He said energy-efficient methods will save about 20% of energy compared to traditional housing methods.

Financial support for the efficiency programs is grant-in-aid nature which is 100% free. The BEE has agreed to provide technology for the state’s flagship program of ‘affordable housing’ for the poor, without any financial burden on the government, through Energy Conservation Building Code for Residential Buildings (Residential ECBC).

In a communication to N Srikanth, energy secretary and chairman-managing director of AP Transco, Bhakre said since AP is a proactive state in energy efficiency readiness, the BEE wants to promote the technology aggressively in key sectors. Additionally, a workshop will be conducted on residential ECBC in Vijayawada on August 26 and 27.

“While the Centre was planning to build above 2 crore houses in the entire country, the AP government itself has determined to build lakhs of houses to the poor, which is exemplary. The technology will directly impact heat loss, natural ventilation, daylight availability, reduction in electricity consumption and electricity bills” the letter says.

Srikanth said huge potential of the energy efficiency sector is untapped in the state.

The BEE has also agreed to support the implementation of energy efficiency measures in nine government teaching hospitals as a pilot project. As part of this, energy-efficient air conditioners, fans, and tube lights would be arranged in hospitals and the expected energy savings for the nine hospitals would be 1.81 MU.