BEE
Bureau Of Energy Efficiency (BEE) – Get More with Less, Smart Saving with Safe, Sustainable Electronic
Two households, sharing commonalities of same number of members, similar lifestyles, similar income levels, yet facing a marked difference in their electricity bills! Overconsumption by the heavy payer? The reason is much simpler – use of old appliances vs. Star-labeled appliances, the latter being more energy efficient. All the key household appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, geysers, and air conditioners, amongst others, are known to be major contributors to one’s electricity bill. The ripple effect of higher consumption of energy is a greater burden on the non-renewable sources of energy to generate more electricity, ultimately having a gigantic impact on the environment as a whole.
In today’s digital era, new-age technologies have made our lives hassle-free and comfortable by bringing smart, futuristic appliances that offer ease and convenience in carrying out daily tasks faster and in less laborious fashion. With these products so deeply integrated into our lives, we cannot simply stop using them as a solution to reduce the adverse impact on the environment..
To help consumers make a more informed decision on not only the costs of buying a product but also of running it over a period of time, the Government of India (Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power) introduced the Standards and Labelling Program in May 2006. Under this, the BEE Star labelling provides consumers necessary information and knowledge about a product’s energy saving aspects and, thus, its cost-saving potential.
Determining the BEE Rating of an Appliance.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has set various norms, standards, and prerequisites that manufacturers need to adhere to get a BEE rating certificate. These parameters differ across appliances and across sub-categories. The labeling program gets updated every year due to constant technology upgrades as well as energy usage patterns.
The manufacturing brands are required to send their appliance for testing in a lab accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), where the appliance is extensively tested for its power consumption and energy efficiency. The BEE issues the rating based on the test results.
Making the Right Choice for a Safer, Sustainable Environment
In a price sensitive market such as India, the purchase price of an appliance is topmost consideration. But one must also see the long-term costs that one incurs or the overall cost based on the product’s entire life cycle before buying. These BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) Star labels are, thus, crucial to know how much electricity the appliance consumes in a year.
Each appliance gets between one and five stars, with the most energy efficient appliances rated five stars. The label also provides other vital details about the appliance, including brand and model, type of appliance, year of manufacturing, technical parameters, etc.
Evaluating the BEE Star label can help the consumers to cut down on their electricity bills and also help reduce the fast-expanding carbon footprint.