Little did Chennai-based engineer Priyanka Sachdev realise that after spending a shade below 25,000 for a five-star rated refrigerator - the most energy efficient - last Diwali, it would turn out to be a not-so-energy efficient model this year. She was not told by the salesman that energy efficiency rating norms would be revised from 2014, turning a five-star refrigerator into a three-star one from January.
Sachdev is among millions of consumers who suffer a notional loss after paying a premium to buy an energy-efficient appliance, with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) upgrading the standards every two years. BEE is the nodal body under the Union power ministry that implements energy rating norms.
This increases the obsolescence rate and drives prices up by 10-15%, companies said. For instance, Sachdev's refrigerator became obsolete in three months. In effect, it has become an unending chase for consumers to save more on power consumption by purchasing energy-efficient models.
This may soon change with India's appliance and consumer electronic energy rating system set to become more consumer-friendly. BEE plans to replace the present system of biennial changes in rating standards with one that lasts longer to reduce the rate of obsolescence for an energy-efficient model.
The agency also plans to include televisions and geysers from this year under mandatory energy ratings, which now includes only frost-free refrigerators, air-conditioners and tube lights.
No comments:
Post a Comment