Government to drive energy efficiency initiatives

Flagging off the launch of its India Chapter, Climate Savers Computing
Initiative (CSCI) held a small gathering in New Delhi to inform the media about
its plans. At the event were government officials, officials representing IT
bodies and senior members of IT companies.

(L-R) Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency; R Ravichandran and Praveen Vishakantaiah of Intel, Dr Pat Gelsinger, CSCI global special invitee; Seema Arora, Head CII-ITC centre for Sustainable Development; Annapurna Vancheswaran, Director, TERI; Faisal Paul, Head-ESS, HP; Maheh Bhalla, Director Consumer Business, Dell, Rahul Bedi, first Chairman of CSCI India and Vinnie Mehta, ED MAIT pledge to promote smart technologies and best practices and sensitize organizations and individuals towards adopting power management techniques

What was notable was that the CSCI had a measurable and accountable goal for
India. Speaking about the goal, Ravi Singh, Co-Chairman of CSCI India and CEO
and Secretary General of WWF India said, “In India, our target is to reduce 40
lakh tons of carbon emission over the next three years. We are partnering with
companies to educate users and consumers organizations. We hope that with the
involvement of the government we can take on initiatives that India will
follow.”

The government's role in mooting green IT cannot be underestimated, and that
was why government officials had been roped into the event. One of the important
initiatives that are being undertaken by the government is that of energy
efficiency labelling.

“Beginning January 7, 2010 four energy intensive appliances/products will
come under the mandatory labelling. The list includes ACs, fluorescent lamps
distribution transforms and refrigerators. By July 2010 three more important
energy guzzlers-color TVs, LPG stoves and electric motors will also come under
this labelling,” shared Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and
Forests, who was also the Chief Guest of the event. Ramesh added that this was
the first time something of this sort was being made mandatory for energy
efficiency, but that it was an important step.

Earlier this year in May, during a meeting that was organized by Bureau of
Energy Efficiency (BEE), under Ministry of Power, Government of India, BEE
proposed implementing energy efficiency standards on PCs and laptops. The labels
would indicate the consumption of energy by each unit.

Shedding light on the progress of that initiative, Vinnie Mehta, Executive
Director, Manufacturers' Association of IT (MAIT), said, “We need to have a
system in place for labelling. It entails a number of activities like coming out
with ratings, setting standards and creating various committees. The BEE has
appointed an apex committee. We are looking at the areas we can work on to
increase power efficiency such as power supply and processors.” Asked when this
rating would come into effect and be made mandatory, Mehta said that so far only
one meeting had been held and they had not progressed further.

Dr Ajay Mathur, Deputy General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency spoke about the
need to mould the initiative for local languages. “This is an important step in
reaching out to not only users but also channels and retail sales. If there is a
need for us to come in and provide training in various languages we will do so,”
said Mathur.

The panel discussing how everyone can contribute to the green cause

During the last meeting in May, 2009 BEE was said to be forming two
committees to take care of the implementation process-the steering committee and
the technical committee. The steering committee would comprise MAIT, Nasscom,
Delhi-based Progressive Channel Association of IT (PCAIT), Mumbai-based Trade
Association of IT (TAIT) as well as the PC manufacturers. The technical
committee would comprise laboratories across the country, who will set the
technical standards.