If one visits an electronic store, yellow labels on appliances with stars drawn on it, is common sight. These labels convey to the consumer about all the dimensions of electricity consumption of that particular appliance. The main organization behind these labels is Bureau of Energy Efficiency.

 

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was setup by the Government of India on 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. The agency's function is to develop programs which will increase the conservation and efficient use of energy in India. It administratively works under the Ministry of Power. 

 

The mission of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency is to assist in developing policies and strategies with a thrust on self-regulation and market principles, within the overall framework of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. The primary objective of BEE is to reduce energy intensity of the Indian economy. This will be achieved with active participation of all stakeholders, resulting in accelerated and sustained adoption of energy efficiency in all sectors.

 

With the increasing concerns of environmental degradation because of carbon emissions, role of BEE has become even more important to reduce energy intensity in the economy. Energy intensity is a measure of the energy efficiency of a nation's economy.

 

It is calculated as units of energy per unit of GDP. High energy intensities indicate a high price or cost of converting energy into GDP. India ranks among top ten countries in terms of energy intensity, which is a worrying sign.

 

BEE coordinates with designated consumers, designated agencies and other organizations and recognizes, identify and utilize the existing resources and infrastructure, in performing the functions assigned to it under the Energy Conservation Act. The Energy Conservation Act provides for regulatory and promotional functions.

 

It is also entrusted with the task of establishing systems and procedures to measure, monitor and verify energy efficiency results in individual sectors as well as at a macro level. It is under this that the government had made it mandatory for all appliances in India to have ratings by the BEE since January 2010.

 

Bureau of Energy Efficiency is also implementing Bachat Lamp Yojana, which is a program by the government of India to reduce the cost of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs, i.e., energy saving lights) sold to consumers. The program's goal is to deliver CFLs at the cost of normal lightbulbs. The difference in cost will be covered by the sale of Certified Emission Rights under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. 

 

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that sets binding obligations on industrialized countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is one of the flexibility mechanisms defined in the Kyoto Protocol that provides for emissions reduction projects which generate Certified Emission Reduction units which may be traded in emissions trading schemes. So this route has been used in reducing prices of CFL by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.

 

BEE will play a major role in fighting climate change through its work of reducing energy consumption without compromising on the lifestyles of the people.