NEW DELHI: With baby steps Delhi has started moving towards better energy efficiency to cope with the rising demand for power amid an atmosphere of uncertainty about adequate supply. To this end measures have been initiated to promote development of bio-fuel, replace bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and create greener buildings that conserve energy and make optimum use of the power they consume.

Without much ado, the ball has been set rolling and Delhi Transco Limited would soon be convening the first meeting to discuss all these issues threadbare with the stakeholders -- discoms, civic agencies, water department chambers of industry, et all, the big idea being to formulate a policy on the issue and then chart the course of action to be followed. According to Delhi Transco Chairman and Managing Director Rakesh Mehta, the agenda covers a broad spectrum of issues.

For one, Transco's pet issue of going for bio-diesel production with a jatropha plant on an experimental basis at Bawana in North West Delhi would be taken up. The site for the project had earlier been earmarked for a 1,000 MW thermal power station that could not take off due to environmental concerns.

The promotion of CFLs is a key area that would be discussed as they save up to 70 per cent on power needs. As per the Energy Efficiency and Renewal Energy Management Centre, replacement of one bulb with CFL results in an annual saving of Rs.283 to the consumer on an average usage of just 4.9 hours per day.

There are also plans to make solar energy use in certain kinds of buildings compulsory.

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