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| Sunday, 28 November 2004 |
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ECF, CEB for conserving energy by Hiran H.Senewiratne To popularise energy saving products and to control high energy consuming units entering the market, the Energy Conservation Fund (ECF) with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), will jointly take steps to popularise star rating label concept in the country. At present,the star-rating label system is practised by a few vendors in the country and it is found in Compact Florescent Light (CFL) bulbs and ballast (tubelight chokes). Sri Lanka took the initiative in this matter based on the recommendation of the recently concluded South Asian Regional Initial for Energy (SARIE) conference in India, on energy conservation methods, organised under the patronage of US AID. At present, Sri Lanka and India are the countries in the region that are in the process of implementing the program . "This program will enable consumers to purchase energy conservation units for households," ECF- Project Director Harsha Wickremasinghe said. He said that lack of consumer awareness on this matter is the looming problem in promoting energy conservation devices in the country.This program is being implemented by the Sri Lanka Standard Institute (SLSI). Wickremasinghe said that they are in the process of introducing star rating for fridges and ceiling fans by next year. Testing laboratories are under construction with World Bank assistance. According to the star-rating labelling system, any electrical item which has the highest energy saving capability will be awarded a five star rating while the lowest will be awarded one star. To obtain star rate the vendor has to get registered with the SLSI and testing will be done in their laboratory to award ratings, Wickremasinghe said.At present 13 CFL bulb vendors and four ballast vendors are practising the rating system. The main objective of this program is to encourage consumers to use energy saving items for day-to- day work, he said Manager, CEB- Demand side Management division, Ronald Comester said that the star-rating system should be popularised in the country in a big way to save energy and increase awareness levels among consumers in the country. He said that the CEB recommends consumers to purchase three to five-star labelled items to conserve energy in the country. President of the Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association (SLEMA) Dr.Tilak Siyambalapitiya said that this is an excellent project to implement as relief for the country's prevailing energy crisis. Acting Director Engineering Division - SLSI, Jayampathy Devasurendra said that the SLSI being the main implementor of the program stressed the importance of more and more vendors joining the scheme. |
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