The Hindu : New Delhi News : Consumers to be encouraged to claim carbon credits

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Thursday, Jul 26, 2007
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New Delhi

Consumers to be encouraged to claim carbon credits

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

Award may be instituted for those earning the maximum credits

NEW DELHI: To give impetus to its energy efficiency and conservation drive, the Delhi Government is working on a policy that will encourage power consumers to claim carbon credits.

According to Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, the Government is considering instituting an award for those earning the maximum carbon credits.

“We have asked the Power Department to appoint a nodal officer and institute an award for those consumers who claim the highest number of carbon credits,” said Ms. Dikshit.

FICCI has also approached the Delhi Government seeking permission to prepare a project for earning carbon credits and assisting the Government in its execution.

“The idea was mooted by the Union Government. We are looking at the incandescent lamps that are currently in use and can be replaced with the Compact Florescent Lamps. The difference that is arrived at by changing from the incandescent bulbs to CFLs will be calculated and used for determining the carbon credits that can be claimed by organisations and consumers,” said Principal Secretary (Power) Rakesh Mehta.

“The power discoms,” he added, “will be asked to collate and provide us the data on the shift from incandescent to CFLs that have been made. We will first target big consumers like malls, hotels, hospitals and wherever the consumption is high.”

Encouraging people to make the switch from incandescent bulbs to CFLs, which save energy and are also environment-friendly, Ms. Dikshit cited her own example and said: “I have noticed a change in my electricity bills after switching to CFLs. If the bill was Rs.1000, after using CFL’s it has come down by Rs. 140 per month.”

Promoting use of CFLs

The Power Department has been actively promoting use of CFLs, which consume 25 per cent less energy than the incandescent bulbs. The department has already issued directives to Government and quasi-government buildings to replace the incandescent bulbs with CFLs, energy-efficient lights, electronic chokes and solar water heating systems.

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