Punjab Advances Green Energy Initiatives on State Energy Conservation Day

In a bid to achieve a sustainable future, Punjab has been working on a strategy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and transition to green energy, said Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Mr. Aman Arora, while citing the wise words of First Sikh Guru Nanak Dev Ji, “Pavan Guru Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat” (The air is the teacher, the water is the father, and the earth is the great mother).

He was addressing an event organised by Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) to celebrate State Energy Conservation Day in association with Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, here at a hotel.

He said that hundreds of years back our Guru has given the status of Guru to the Air. “I am happy that the world is finally waking up to the harsh reality of climate change and it is imperative that we acknowledge the gravity of this crisis and work collectively to protect the planet earth.”

He said that Punjab Government has successfully shifted 6800 MW to renewable energy by making over 1000 government buildings including schools an energy efficient. Another project is underway to shift 6200 MW more to renewable energy. Apart from this, 2.16 Lakhs energy efficient BEE 4 star rated agriculture pump-sets installed in the State. More than 750 buildings are ECBC compliant in the State.

He also urged the people of the state that the government needs their support to transform Punjab into the energy efficient state. He said that the Government can only set the ecosystem but the main responsibility comes to the private players as they have to adopt and equip their organisations with the energy efficient technologies.

He drove a new term from old saying ‘Money saved is money earned’ to ‘Energy saved is Energy Generated’ depicting the importance of energy in future. He also inaugurated the exhibition on energy efficiency technologies and energy conservation day function.

Principal Secretary New and Renewable Energy Sources Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sinha emphasised upon the need of energy conservation and energy efficiency in the State to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of power, besides urging to adopt renewable energy sources and use power judiciously adopting energy conservation & energy efficiency measures.

Director PEDA Mr. M.P. Singh highlighted the initiatives taken under energy conservation programmes in the State, while informing the audience about the importance of energy conservation and clean energy in various areas. He also mentioned that Punjab is pioneering in implementing ECBC, more than 85 capacity building programs conducted, leading State in incentivising ECBC & Green Buildings, Punjab is amongst the top performing States in Energy Efficiency sector.

GRIHA Council Deputy CEO Ms. Shabnam Bassi, VP Business Development Global Network for Zero Mr. Gaurav Mukhija and senior officers from the stakeholder departments including PSPCL, Water Supply and Sanitation, PWD, Local Government, Health, Medical Education and Research, GMADA were also present during the celebration of State Energy Conservation Day.