Bhubaneswar, Jan. 11: The Petroleum Conservation Research Association, a government of India agency, today announced that it would conduct an energy audit for the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation free of cost.
“It will help find out electrical energy wastage, so that corrective measures can be taken to reduce the power bill,” said Gyanindra Kumar Pradhan, additional director and chief regional coordinator, Petroleum Conservation Research Association, eastern region. He was speaking at a seminar organised by the association and the state department of science and technology.
As a part of this proposal, the free audit will be confined to the corporation’s sprawling building at Kalpana Square. At present, the civic body spends nearly Rs 4.8 crore towards power bills. “If an organisation goes for an energy audit, it will certainly be able to check excessive consumption and save up to 10 per cent of its energy consumption,” Pradhan said.
The corporation has the potential to save nearly Rs 48 lakh per annum, if it goes for an energy audit. The association will offer suggestions such as replacement of incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient CFL bulbs, T-5 tubelights and other measures, including energy efficient transformers.
“There is a proposal to change the present streetlights system to have them use light emitting diodes or compact fluorescent lamp,” said a corporation official. The streetlights network in the city consists of 25,000 streetlights and 23 high-mast lights.
Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said: “We will provide all necessary support to the Petroleum Conservation Research Association’s effort to conduct the energy audit. It will certainly help us curb our payment towards electricity bills.”
The association has already carried out an energy audit for Orissa High Court in Cuttack, the governor’s house, the Assembly, 15 collectorates and 15 district hospitals, Rourkela Steel Plant, Iffco plant at Paradip, Idcol Ferrochrome plant in Jajpur, Nalco Mines, Mines of Tata Steel and ACC Bargarh Mines.
“We have conducted about 80 energy efficiency studies and over 1,000 awareness programmes for schoolchildren, students of engineering colleges, home-makers, engineers and supervisors of various public sector and private sector enterprises in Odisha.”
