KOCHI: Automatic power control devices and occupancy censors are among the gadgets to become mandatory for new office buildings by 2009. These are part of the measures to be adopted by the Government to curb the wastage of power, according to sources in the energy management sector.

The new norms are to be implemented as part of the energy conservation project of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Action Plan in coordination with the United States Agency for International Development.

The Bureau of Indian Standards, Confederation of Indian Industry, Central Public Works Department, The Energy Resource Institute and the Indian Institute of Architects are among the entities associated with the project.

A new code for energy conservation for commercial buildings will be in force by 2009.

The code will be mandatory for commercial buildings with a minimum conditioned floor area of 1000 square metre and for those buildings with a connected load of 500 kW.

The provisions of the code will be applicable for mechanical systems and equipment for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, according to the sources.

As part of the energy conservation programme, the Energy Management Centre (EMC), an autonomous body under the Department of Power, Government of Kerala, has decided to introduce efficiency ratings for electrical appliances.

Accordingly, appliances will have EMC labels that indicate energy efficiency. Though the labels are being introduced on a voluntary basis, it will be made mandatory later.

The programme is based on the principle that `energy saved is energy generated'. Power is wasted when electrical appliances of lesser efficiency are switched on.

Many of the low-cost appliances consume more power. Hence, the consumer incurs higher expenditure.

The EMC will test the appliances and mark the efficiency level accordingly. The EMC label is expected to be a valuable guide to the consumer.

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