Energy-efficient electrical appliances can save over Rs 1.2 lakh crore annually,according to Assocham. Energy-efficient electrical appliances used in household and commercial establishments can save about 20,000 MW of power per year,resulting in savings of Rs 1.2 lakh crore in capital investment on new power plants besides transmission and distribution infrastructure,according to power sector experts. At the same time,consequent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be to the tune of five crore tonnes annually by 2020,a cross-section of industry experts said today at a conference organised by industry body Assocham. "The government and the industry must collaborate to induct new technologies as widespread use of energy-efficient devices can lead to enormous economic gains," Ashok Lavasa,Additional Secretary,Ministry of Power said. India spent Rs 23,000 crore in clean energy programmes last year. "While dependence on fossil fuels will continue in coming years,businesses and attitudes should be focused on energy conservation," he said. In June 1988,the National Action Plan on Climate Change outlined focal components of a strategy in the form of eight missions representing a multi-pronged,long-term and integrated strategy to achieve twin needs of sustainable development and mitigation of carbon emissions. A total of 1.15 crore labelled air conditioners have been sold across the country during the past five years,said BEE Director General Ajay Mathur. He said,"The latest innovations in air conditioning sector of using inverter or variable refrigerant volume or variable refrigerant flow technology or using the same machine to both cool and heat the rooms can be a game-changer." Assocham senior advisor for policy Arun Kumar said there is no getting away from more energy-efficient and environmentally-superior products in the long-term interests of India and rest of the world.
