Government To Drive Energy Efficiency Initiatives

Flagging off the launch of its India Chapter, Climate Savers Computing
Initiative (CSCI) held a small gathering in the capital to inform the media
about its plans. At the event were government officials, official representing
IT bodies and senior members of IT companies. What was notable was that the CSCI
had a measurable and accountable goal for India. Speaking about the goal, Ravi
Singh, co-Chairman of CSCI India and CEO & Secretary General of WWF India said,
“In India, our target is to reduce 40 lakh tons of carbon emission over the next
three years. We are partnering with companies to educate users and consumers
organizations. We hope that with the involvement of the government we can take
on initiatives that India will follow.”

The government's role in mooting green IT cannot be underestimated, and that
was why government officials had been roped into the event. One of the important
initiatives that are being undertaken by the government is that of energy
efficiency labelling.

“Beginning January 7, 2010 four energy intensive appliances/products will
come under the mandatory labelling. The list includes ACs, fluorescent lamps and
refrigerators. By July 2010 three more important energy guzzlers-color TVs, LPG
stoves and electric motors will also come under this labelling,” shared Jairam
Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, who was also the Chief
Guest at the event. Ramesh added that this was the first time something of this
sort was being made mandatory for energy efficiency, but that it was an
important step.

The panel discussing how everyone can contribute to the green cause

(L-R) Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency; R Ravichandran and Praveen Vishakantaiah of Intel, Dr Pat Gelsinger, CSCI global special invitee; Seema Arora, Head CII-ITC centre for Sustainable Development; Annapurna Vancheswaran, Director, TERI; Faisal Paul, Head-ESS, HP; Mahesh Bhalla, Director Consumer Business, Dell, Rahul Bedi, first Chairman of CSCI India and Vinnie Mehta, ED MAIT pledge to promote smart technologies and best practices and sensitize organizations and individuals towards adopting power management techniques

Earlier this year in May, during a meeting that was organized by Bureau of
Energy Efficiency (BEE), under Ministry of Power, Government of India, BEE
proposed implementing energy efficiency standards on PCs and laptops. The labels
would indicate the consumption of energy by each unit. Shedding light on the
progress of that initiative, Vinnie Mehta, Executive Director, Manufacturers'
Association of IT (MAIT), said, “We need to have a system in place for labelling.
It entails a number of activities like coming out with ratings, setting
standards and creating various committees. The BEE has appointed an Apex
committee. We are looking at the areas we can work on to increase power
efficiency such as power supply and processors.” Asked when this rating would
come into effect and be made mandatory, Mehta said that so far only one meeting
had been held and they had not progressed further.

Dr Ajay Mathur, Deputy General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency spoke about the
need to mould the initiative for local languages. “This is an important step in
reaching out to not only users but also channels and retail sales. If there is a
need for us to come in and provide training in various languages we will do so,”
said Mathur.

During the last meeting in May 2009, BEE was said to have decided on
formation of two committees to take care of the implementation process-the
steering committee and the technical committee. The steering committee would
comprise MAIT, Nasscom, Delhi-based Progressive Channel Association of IT (PCAIT),
Mumbai-based Trade Association of IT (TAIT) as well as the PC manufacturers. The
technical committee would comprise laboratories across the country, who will set
the technical standards.

Ruth Samson

(ruths@cybermedia.co.in)