Star labelling for fuel efficient cars

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is planning to extend its popular “star labelling” program indicating energy saving to passenger cars soon. Sandeep Garg, an energy economist with BEE, told The Hindu that a scheme is being formulated to evaluate the fuel efficiency of the cars of similar capacity and weight and accordingly assign stars. He was here in connection with “Information seminar on the European Union, Energy and Climate Change for the Indian media,” organised by the European Commission to India. As the BEE’s voluntary standards and labelling programme for energy efficiency or popularly known as star labelling covering 11 products now including refrigerators and room air conditioners have proved to be successful, it is proposed to take the next step of making it mandatory. By January 2010, four of these 11 products would come under mandatory fold, Mr. Garg said. These are refrigerators, room air conditioners, tubular fluorescent lamps and distribution transformers. Gradually by the end of 11th five-year plan, seeking labelling would be made mandatory for manufacturers in respect of 21 products, by which time, it is expected to save 3000 MW. (June 25, 2009)