Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE): 25th Foundation Day

Why in News- Recently, the 25th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was celebrated in New Delhi.

About Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

• It is a statutory body constituted in 2002 in accordance with the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• It operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power.
• Objective- To lower the energy intensity of India's economy by promoting efficient energy use across sectors.

Mandate and Responsibilities

Under the Energy Conservation Act, BEE performs both regulatory and promotional functions. It works in coordination with designated consumers, state-designated agencies, and various other institutions. The Bureau also leverages existing infrastructure and institutional capacities to discharge its statutory responsibilities effectively.

Regulatory Role

• Formulating minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for appliances and equipment under the Standards & Labelling programme.
• Prescribing energy performance norms for commercial buildings.
• Notifying energy consumption norms for designated consumers.

Major Initiatives and Schemes

BEE implements several flagship programmes aimed at improving energy efficiency nationwide, including:

• National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE)
• Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC)
• Standards and Labelling (S&L) Programme
• Municipal Demand Side Management (MuDSM) Scheme
• Agricultural Demand Side Management (AgDSM) Scheme

Source- PIB