The prizes include Top rank Award, 34 first prizes, and 34 second prizes to the National Energy Conservation Award winners who are the best energy performers in various sectors i.e. Industries, Thermal Power Stations, Office Buildings, BPO buildings, Hotels, Hospitals, Shopping Malls, Zonal Railways, Railway Workshops, Municipalities, State Designated Agencies and manufacturers of BEE Star Labelled appliances/equipment. The awards are recognition of their demonstrated commitment to Energy Conservation and Efficiency.
These Awards are given for the strong and innovative efforts of the award winners in enhancing their energy performance and also raises awareness about energy conservation opportunities that can enhance productivity, bring down energy bills, reduce energy import dependence and mitigate global warming.
Policies to promote energy efficiency, along with high energy prices and structural shift in the Indian economy towards services sector, have resulted in a sharp decline in energy intensity of the Indian economy. Various Energy Efficiency Policies of Government of India have resulted in an Avoided Generation Capacity to the tune of 10,836 MW during 11th plan period.
The Awards Scheme has been in operation since 1991 and now includes 53 sectors of Industry and other establishments. The responses among the industrial and commercial units have become very encouraging as is evident from the increasing participation level (from 123 in 1999 to 829 in 2013). An inter-ministerial Energy Conservation Awards Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Power) finalized the award winners for the current year, based on the recommendations of a Technical Sub-Committee set up for this purpose.
The participating units of 2013 Awards programme have collectively invested Rs. 4537 Crores in energy conservation measures and achieved an annual monetary savings of Rs. 4141 Crores, implying a very short payback period of 13 Months only; once again proving the fact that Energy Conservation is a least cost option when compared to all energy supply options. The participating units have also saved 4354 Million kWh of electrical energy, which is equivalent to the energy generated from a 711 MW Thermal Power Station.
The National Energy Conservation Painting Competition was also organized on December 14, 2013 which is the National Energy Conservation Day. This National Competition was the culmination of a Nation-wide wave of Energy Conservation Painting Competitions at the school and state levels. About 45 lakhs students from 98,000 schools from all over the country participated in the school painting competition, a significant increase in the number of 30 lakhs last year.
Union Power Secretary, Shri P. K. Sinha viewed the paintings of the 105 children (3 from each State and UT) who participated in the National Level Painting Competition and interacted with them. He advised the students to turn off lights and fans when not in use. The Union Power Secretary appealed to the students for formation of a student energy patrol to ensure lights and fans are off when rooms are empty.
The paintings drawn by children reflected their interest in the energy conservation activities and their concern about energy crises. It is also now an instrumental activity in creating a mass awareness on the use of energy, particularly in the domestic sector.
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for the National Painting Competition will be awarded to the successful children by the President of India on the occasion of the National Energy Conservation Function tomorrow.
