Take measures for energy efficiency

BHUBANESWAR: Measures to enhance energy efficiency through LED street lighting, regulatory policies, adoption and feasibility of LED technology as an option for street lighting were some of the issues  discussed at the workshop on ‘LED Street Lighting: Policy Adoption for Technology Promotion’, held here on Tuesday. Organised by the British High Commission, New Delhi, and the Climate Group, a non-for-profit organisation, the workshop saw deliberations on feasibility of the LED technology, possible barriers for mainstreaming it and technological specifications of LED streetlights. Reforming the electricity market is one of the key areas for focus to address climate concerns and the communities and governments need to go for measures enhancing energy efficiency, said Tom George, Second Secretary of Climate and Energy Security, Climate Change and Energy Unit, British High Commission.  Showing keenness to change the street lighting scenario in Cuttack city over the next few years, Rabinarayan Nanda, Commissioner, Cuttack Municipal Corporation, spoke about identification of sections of many main roads in the city wherein he would introduce LED streetlights. ‘’There should be incentives in terms of electricity billing by CESU to encourage adoption of LEDs,’’ Nanda said. He suggested preparation of a master plan to improvise the illumination system for Cuttack city. “The Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) can demonstrate a pilot project and based on savings and gains out of the project, they should approach the regulatory commission asking for rebates,” said  BC Jena, Chairman and CEO, CESU. He suggested that ULBs can approach the commission for tariff rebate for LEDs after showcasing benefits from a pilot installation. “Almost all the municipalities in Odisha are defaulters when it comes to paying electricity bills, so LED deployment which can actually cut down electricity consumption by almost 40 per cent can actually be an effective solution for them to decrease their expenditure,” stressed B K Mishra, Commissioner, Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission. The meeting was attended by officials from different municipal corporations including Cuttack, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar, DISTCOS, manufacturers and Electricity Regulatory Commission officials.