The Kerala State Planning Board and Energy Management Centre (EMC) have joined hands to develop an energy-efficient panchayat as a model for the State.
EMC sources said that a detailed project report had to be prepared for the project, which would involve, among other things, replacing inefficient electrical equipment.
Hunt is now on for the ideal panchayat for the project, sources said. They said that creation of awareness among people was the first step in achieving the goal of an energy-efficient panchayat.
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At the core of the exercise is the interest in discovering the quantum of reduction in power consumption through energy-efficiency measures, sources added. The EMC will be involved in holding a survey of the households to determine the exact number of electrical equipment in the panchayat and their levels of efficiency. A scheme will then be evolved to replace inefficient equipment through a package that is financially viable and affordable for people involved.
Induction of LED lighting systems, replacing old refrigerators, washing machines, and other household equipment are expected to achieve the desired results.
Enegy-efficient village project will take a cue from the ongoing work in the Paravoor Assembly constituency where V.D. Satheesan, the local MLA, Rotary Club, and the EMC are working together to turn the entire constituency into an energy-efficiency model.
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Sources in the EMC, which is providing technical assistance to the project, said survey work was in progress in the constituency where there was an estimated 75,000 households. Survey of equipment and their efficiency levels and possible replacement of inefficient equipment would be carried out as part of the drive.
Programmes for creation of awareness about the importance of using energy-efficient household equipment was of utmost importance, sources said. A slew of training programmes were also on in the constituency for the success of the project.