Audit manual to help industries save energy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Union Government making energy audit mandatory for all industries, the Energy Management Centre - Kerala (EMC), has prepared an energy audit manual which will be implemented in 2000-odd industries in three years. The audit, to be conducted once in three years, aims at reducing power consumption of industries. EMC has prepared an energy audit manual, which is now being used by the industries to produce best results in saving energy. “The energy audit has been completed in 50 industrial units in the state. The audit, when completed in all the industrial units, is expected to save 20 per cent of the total power consumed by industries,’’ EMC director Dharesan Unnithan told Express. There are several ways by which the energy could be saved which, in turn, would add to the profit of the company. The energy manual will provide technical references that are copmmonly needed during an energy audit. According to Unnithan, all industries together can save up to five per cent energy without any investment, seven per cent energy with medium investment and total energy with a cost which can be recovered in two years through reduction in power consumption.  EMC provides 20 recommendations for the audit which will be implemented by the auditors and managers of the firm. There is a unified format for the audit which can be updated every year depending on the electrical equipment used by   each industry. “As the technology used by each industry is not disclosed, it is difficult to present the energy savings after the audit before a group of industrialists.Only the association of cement industries are discussing the methods adopted for energy audit which is being implemented among them,’’ Unnithan said. There are plans for energy audit in all government offices in the state and, as a primary step, audit has been completed in Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam Collectorates and at the Secretariat. The measures taken at these offices will be considered as a model and implemented in other offices also.