1. What is BEE?
  2. Why was it setup?
  3. Functions taken by BEE?
  4. What is BEE Labelling?
  5. BEE labeling for cars

What is BEE?

  • Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
  • statutory body under Ministry of Power
  • It was set up under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.

Why was it setup?

  • To reduce energy intensity of the Indian economy.
  • Research shows that to provide the final consumer 1 watt of energy, the power station has to produce 4 watts of electricity (4-1=3 watts are lost in transmission and distribution).
  • Hence, if the final consumers (you and I) used energy efficient products then power stations would have to produce less energy = less pollution, less input costs etc.

Functions taken by BEE?

  • Create Energy Conservation Building Codes
  • minimum energy performance standards and labelling design for equipment and appliances
  • Certify Energy Managers and Energy Auditors
  • Create awareness and disseminate information on energy efficiency and conservation. For example BEE has launched a mobile application ‘AC Power Saver’ that will help consumers calculate their expected annual bills and the potential saving with a five-star AC as against those with the lower stars.
  • Strengthen consultancy services in the field of energy conservation
  • Promote research and development in energy conservation.

What is BEE Labelling?

  • BEE labeling is mandatory for air-conditioners, frost-free refrigerators, distribution transformers and tubular fluorescent lights etc. (more products are added in the list every now and then)
  • BEE labeling has 1 to 5 stars.
  • If Product A has 5 stars and B has 3 stars that means, product A consumes less energy than product B yet delivers same (or better) output. Hence Product A is more energy efficient.
  • (and consumers are more likely to buy Product A, thus indirectly helping in energy conservation)

BEE labeling for cars

  • It’ll be mandatory for all passenger car makers to display special ‘star labelling’ indicating fuel efficiency for their product cars, from April 1, 2013,
  • This star-rating (based on a five-star scale, with five being the most efficient and one the least) will help compare the fuel efficiency of different car models within the same weight class.
  • BEE defines cars in five-star category are those which roughly consume up to 7 litres of fuel for 100 kms