Big savings through energy efficiency

A new study indicates that switching off lights and electrical appliances when not in use, as well as choosing more efficient models, has more impact on reducing CO2 emissions than previously thought.

Adam Hawkes of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London looked at the estimated figure for emission rates that the UK Government uses to calculate the impact of energy efficiency measures. His analysis shows that this estimated figure could be up to 60% too low.

The argument centres on how the estimated figure is determined. Currently, the Government uses an average across all forms of generation to come up with a value of 0.43 kilograms of CO2 per kilowatt hour of electricity consumed.

This figure includes low-carbon energy sources such as wind and nuclear. These energy sources, however, are not able to respond to instantaneous fluctuations in electricity demand – which is where fossil fuel power plants come in.

Hawkes calculates that the actual rate observed between 2002 and 2009 is 0.69 kilograms of CO2 per kilowatt hour.

Meanwhile, the Indian government's Cabinet approved the implementation plan of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) with a budgetary support of Rs.235.38 crore required for implementation of the Mission with effect from 2010-11.
These initiatives will avoid capacity addition of about 19,598 MW. It would result in fuel savings of around 23 million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE) and reduction in Green House Gasses (GHG) emissions of 98.55 million tonnes.

The National Mission seeks to create and sustain markets for energy efficiency in the entire country which will benefit the country and the consumers. It is estimated that this will unlock new and innovative forms of market for energy efficiency estimated at Rs.74,000 crore.