Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas has called for adopting energy efficient techniques for ensuring energy security of the nation. He was speaking at a function here today after launching three landmark initiatives for Energy Efficiency. These three initiatives are, “Design Guidelines for Energy Efficient Multi-Storey Residential Buildings and Star Ratings for Diesel Gensets and for Hospital Buildings”. The Minister said by adopting energy efficient equipment and techniques, valuable money, much needed for the nation’s development and for providing basic amenities to the rural masses can be saved. He said crude oil worth about Rs. Six lakh crore is imported annually and if the energy efficient techniques could bring down the consumption by even 10 %, it will usher in a big change.
Emphasising that conservation and efficiency is the only way forward, the Minister said that technology should be adopted in a befitting manner. Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Shri. P.K. Sinha said that the Design Guidelines are the first initiative of the government to bring energy efficiency into the design of homes. He said that hospital buildings are highly energy intensive commercial buildings and the introduction of star labels for hospital buildings provides both energy benchmarking and recognition for a fast - growing sector. He also said that these labels will help hospitals benchmark their own energy consumption and also identifying opportunities for improvement. The launch ceremony was attended by over 300 stakeholders in the energy sector, along with Shri. R.N.Choubey, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency and several officers of Ministries of Power, Coal, NRE, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Delhi Development Authority and Town & Country Planning Organisation.