State on power saver mode,to upgrade equipment at 3 buildings

The basis of the exercise is an energy audit of the two buildings,conducted on a pilot basis in UP by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA),an accredited energy audit agency,on behalf of the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) following the directives of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE),a statutory body under the Ministry of Power. According to the PCRA report,the state government pays a huge amount ¿ around Rs 160 lakh annually ¿ against electricity bill of Annexe and around Rs 108 lakh annually for Bapu Bhawan.

In Bapu Bhawan,the average monthly energy consumption is 1.75 lakh units,while it is around 3.45 lakh units in Annexe building.

The PCRA experts said the illumination equipment is consuming maximum energy in these two buildings.

In the Annexe,there are 92 conventional single tube-light fixtures,795 double tube light fixtures and 15 sodium vapour fixtures. In Bapu Bhawan,there are around 655 single tube-light fixtures,1,554 double tube-light fixtures and 50 sodium vapours.

The PCRA has recommended that all tube-lights and sodium vapors be replaced with T-5 lights and incandescent bulbs be replaced with CFLs. The experts say a conventional tube-light consumes 40 watts and its choke consume 12 to 15 watts. A T-5 light consumes around a total of 24 watts.

“With a one time investment of Rs 21 lakh,about Rs 28 lakh could be saved every year in electricity bill in Bapu Bhawan. Around Rs 8 lakh could be saved annually by an investment of Rs 11 lakh in Annexe building,” said V Dwivedi,state coordinator,PCRA.

The PCRA reported that air-conditioners were running below efficiency in Bapu Bhawan. Power consumption could be reduced on this head also by maintaining the air handling units and chillers of AC units in both Bapu Bhawan and Annexe.

According to the audit report,Rs 12 lakh could be saved every year by upgradation and proper maintenance of AC units in Bapu Bhawan. In Annexe,Rs 2.25 lakh could be saved every year by the one time expenditure of 6.54 lakh under the same head.

“The PCRA has suggested that Power Factor Controllers be installed in both buildings to conserve power more. It will save around Rs 5.50 lakh per year in Bapu Bhawan and around Rs 16 lakh every year in Annexe,” Dwivedi said. The efficiency of water pumps installed in these two buildings is around 50 per cent,which is needed to be improved to 65 per cent.

“The UPPCL has sent the report to Estate Department with recommendation to follow the report. Estate Department and Public Works Department and has started work on it,” said Saurabh,Superintendent Engineer,UPPCL.

“The energy audit of Bapu Bhawan and Annexe was done on a pilot basis to motivate other departments to take measures for energy conservation,” said Saurabh.

He said that UPPCL has now initiated the energy audit of the 18 other government buildings.