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What is the news?
Minister for Power launches the “Energy Efficiency Enterprise(E3) Certifications Programme” for the Brick manufacturing Sector.
About Energy Efficiency Enterprise(E3) Certification Programme:
- Energy Efficiency Enterprise(E3) is a certification scheme. It aims to recognise burnt clay brick manufacturers for adopting energy-efficient manufacturing. Furthermore, it encourages customers to source bricks from such E3 certified manufacturing units.
- Nodal Agency: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) will provide certification.
How will the E3 certification be awarded?
- Brick Manufacturing Enterprises need to meet the minimum Specific Energy Consumption performance criteria.
- The criteria can be met by Brick Manufacturing Enterprises by adopting a combination of measures, such as:
- improving energy efficiency in manufacturing
- producing bricks having lower (bulk) densities e.g. porous, perforated and hollow bricks.
Significance of this programme:
- The programme will help the brick industry shift towards more efficient technologies. Such energy-efficient bricks will be useful in complying with the requirements of the Energy Conservation Buildings Code (ECBC).
- ECBC: launched in 2007 by the Ministry of Power, it sets minimum energy standards for new commercial buildings.
- The adoption of the E3 certification programme may save energy of about 7 Million Tonnes of oil equivalent(MTOE) per year. The savings will be about 25 Million Tonnes by 2030.
Contribution of Bricks Sector in India:
- India is the world’s second-largest producer of bricks. This demand is expected to multiply three to four times over the next 20 years.
- Bricks Sector Contributes nearly 0.7% to the country’s GDP. Furthermore, it offers seasonal employment generation to over 1 crore workers and is important for sectors such as transportation and construction.
- Brick manufacturing industry consumes about 45-50 million tonnes of coal equivalent annually. It amounts to 5-15% of the total energy consumption in the country.
- However, the brick sector has the second-largest potential for energy efficiency amongst the Indian industrial sector after steel and more than cement.
Source: PIB
