BEE to offer Rs 350 cr for promoting energy efficient fans

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) will provide Rs 350-crore incentive to the manufactures of high energy efficient fans in the country.

The BEE was created under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act.

The nodal agency is encouraging the manufacturers of 35 watt fans against the makers of normal 70 watt products. "We are working on promoting energy efficient fans in the country and we have a budget of Rs 350 crore to promote it," BEE Director General Ajay Mathur told PTI here.

"We are trying to have 35 watt fans against 70 watt fans which are commonly sold in India. We will on an average give an incentive of Rs 500 for each 35 watt fan to manufacturers," he said.

In the past, BEE found that the response from consumers was tepid for 5-star rated energy efficient fans, consuming 50 watt. "Only 1.5 per cent of the total 30 million branded fans sold are of this star category. In case of air-conditioners consumer acceptance is higher at 18 per cent for 5-star rated products, Mathur said.

"We will offer incentive (for) up to seven million fans. This can bring huge saving in energy," Mathur said. offer an incentive of Rs 500 for each unit to manufacturers after verification, to promote such fans.

New products likely to be brought under mandatory energy rating are: colour television and water geysers which can be notified by March.

He ruled out claims by white goods makers that upgrade of ratings are frequent. "The rating upgrades were finalised in 2008 in consultation with the industry in the interval of two years. The final upgrade was implemented in January," Mathur said.

In January, upgrade was for one star ACs and two star refrigerators.

"This rating will continue till we come out with new norms. We will now focus on broad-based efficiency norms instead of just best saving performance under defined weather parameters which is currently the practice," Mathur said.

In other words, BEE wanted to bring norms for ACs that would be efficient for all weather conditions.