Energy audit for big consumers on cards

Sreda to formulate regulations for auditing

A move is underway to formulate regulations to enforce ‘energy audit‘ for large energy consumers in industrial, services and commercial sectors as part of the existing ‘Energy Efficiency and Conservation‘ provision for better energy management, reports UNB.
According to official sources, the newly-created Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda) has been engaged to formulate the regulations under ‘Sreda Act 2012’ passed by parliament.
The Sreda Act has a provision where it was mandated to the organisation to formulate such regulation as part of responsibility to ensure energy efficiency and conservation in the energy demand side, said Siddique Zobair, member of Sreda and joint secretary of the Power Division.
“Formulation of the regulations is in progress. Hope, it will be completed within two months,” he told the news agency.
On completion of formulation of the regulations, Zobair said, this will be put forward through Power Division to the Law Ministry for its vetting.  The Sreda member said the idea of energy auditing is that there will be certain certified independent energy audit firms who will be appointed by large consumers to audit their energy management like the existing financial audit firms.
They will calculate the efficiency of both men and machines in large consumers as misuse of energy can happen in both ways—by inefficient machine and also by inefficient manpower.
After the audit, the auditors will find out the reasons of inefficiency and will prepare a report along with their recommendations for measures to bring efficiency in energy use, Zobair added.
The audit firm will submit the report to both the concerned consumer and Sreda. On the basis of the report, the Sreda will ask the concerned consumer to improve efficiency within a certain timeframe. If necessary, the Sreda will provide supports for arranging finance for the task.
He said there will be provision for reward and punishment for the consumers who will come under the auditing system.
Industry insiders and energy experts welcomed the move saying it is essential for an energy-starved country like Bangladesh where a large number of people do not have access to energy.
Dr M Tamim, a professor at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) and also an energy expert, said energy auditing is essential for two reasons - reducing the energy consumption by better management and increasing the efficiency by using better equipment.
“Once energy auditing system is introduced, the government can measure consumer’s actual use and misuse of both energy and power. If the consumer is found to be inefficient in its consumption, then the government can set a timeline for rectification and improvement,” he said.
Under the new provision, the government can ask inefficient consumers to surely improve  their energy management and bring down their energy use to a certain level.
If failed, then the government will take proper measure against the consumer.

Energy audit for big consumers on cards

Sreda to formulate regulations for auditing

A move is underway to formulate regulations to enforce energy audit for large energy consumers in industrial, services and commercial sectors as part of the existing Energy Efficiency and Conservation provision for better energy management, reports UNB. According to official sources, the newly-created Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda) has been engaged to formulate the regulations under Sreda Act 2012 passed by parliament. The Sreda Act has a provision where it was mandated to the organisation to formulate such regulation as part of responsibility to ensure energy efficiency and conservation in the energy demand side, said Siddique Zobair, member of Sreda and joint secretary of the Power Division. Formulation of the regulations is in progress. Hope, it will be completed within two months, he told the news agency. On completion of formulation of the regulations, Zobair said, this will be put forward through Power Division to the Law Ministry for its vetting. The Sreda member said the idea of energy auditing is that there will be certain certified independent energy audit firms who will be appointed by large consumers to audit their energy management like the existing financial audit firms. They will calculate the efficiency of both men and machines in large consumers as misuse of energy can happen in both waysby inefficient machine and also by inefficient manpower. After the audit, the auditors will find out the reasons of inefficiency and will prepare a report along with their recommendations for measures to bring efficiency in energy use, Zobair added. The audit firm will submit the report to both the concerned consumer and Sreda. On the basis of the report, the Sreda will ask the concerned consumer to improve efficiency within a certain timeframe. If necessary, the Sreda will provide supports for arranging finance for the task. He said there will be provision for reward and punishment for the consumers who will come under the auditing system. Industry insiders and energy experts welcomed the move saying it is essential for an energy-starved country like Bangladesh where a large number of people do not have access to energy. Dr M Tamim, a professor at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) and also an energy expert, said energy auditing is essential for two reasons - reducing the energy consumption by better management and increasing the efficiency by using better equipment. Once energy auditing system is introduced, the government can measure consumers actual use and misuse of both energy and power. If the consumer is found to be inefficient in its consumption, then the government can set a timeline for rectification and improvement, he said. Under the new provision, the government can ask inefficient consumers to surely improve their energy management and bring down their energy use to a certain level. If failed, then the government will take proper measure against the consumer.