Residential apartments may soon get rated for energy efficiency
Residential flats may soon be rated for energy efficiency, much like refrigerators and air conditioners. The BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency), a statutory body under the power ministry that looks at energy conservation measures, is planning to ex- tend its so-called star labelling system--currently used to grade consumer appliances--to apartments. Currently, the labelling system rates appliances on a scale of one to five--one star indicating the least energy conservation. Participation was initially voluntary for appliance manufacturers, but it has been made mandatory since 1 January in a bid to curtail India's gross energy consumption. India, the world's second fastest growing major economy, is among the highest consumers of energy and contributes significantly to the emission of gases that cause global warming and large-scale climate change. As ecological awareness grows, experts and builders say an energy efficiency rating for houses can help market them too.