Energy-saving appliances on the cards

PM tells parliament

30 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The government is going to introduce Energy Star certified electric fans, refrigerators, televisions, ovens, motors and air-coolers to save power, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament yesterday. The premier, however, did not elaborate on the matter. These appliances will have Energy Star sticker on them as they would meet an approved standard of energy efficiency. In response to lawmakers' queries, Hasina said her government has also decided to replace, in phases, conventional light bulbs used in city corporation and municipality roads with LED (light emitting diode) bulbs to save power. Hasina, also in charge of power ministry, said step was also taken to stop, in phases, production of incandescent bulbs and electric stoves. The government has also decided to update the building code to incorporate power-saving measures, Hasina said. The premier also mentioned the government measures for introducing 20 lakh pre-paid electricity meters across the country and the distribution of 2.80 crore compact fluorescent bulbs in different areas to stop wastage of power. Meanwhile, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Enamul Haq in response to lawmakers' queries informed the House of the government's short-, medium- and long-term measures to generate more power and explore gas to meet the growing energy demands. On import of power, he said it is expected that import of power from India will begin from 2012 and necessary measures were taken to construct power transmission line between Bheramara in Bangladesh and Berhampur in India. In an effort to stop wastage of gas, the state minister said the government would soon begin introducing gas connections with pre-paid meters for domestic use under Titas' network.