Check for star on your home appliances

A star rating system for home appliances and equipment will be launched on December 14, the National Energy Conservation Day.

Initially, the rating system, an indication of energy efficiency, will be for refrigerators, tubelights and transformers, followed by a similar system for air conditioners, televisions, microwave ovens and DVD players at a later date.

The system, developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in consultation with the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC), is one of self-certification by the company and rates products on a scale of one to five, five being the rating for the most energy efficient product. It will be made mandatory next year.

While the rating system for refrigerators is ready, that for ACs will be ready next year. BEE, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Consumer Electronics and TV Manufacturers' Association (CETMA) and consumer organisation Voice will soon start work on a similar system for TVs, microwave ovens and DVD players.

While multi-nationals like Samsung contend that they will have to just replicate the standards they follow in other countries, Godrej has been working on increasing its product efficiency for about five years and says it is ready for the rating system. Industry sources feel small players like the assembled AC makers will be able to compete better once they prove their products are as energy efficient as the big brands.

The rating system will be updated and the standards raised after a period of three years. This means companies will have to continuously develop more energy efficient products.

"With the implementation of this system, we expect energy efficiency of refrigerators to go up 60-70 per cent as companies will have to develop more and more efficient products to maintain and improve their ratings," Tanmay Tathagat, senior program manager, energy efficiency, IIEC, said.

The government will act as a watchdog, randomly testing products to check if they have been labelled correctly. An incorrect label will invite the penalty of the name of the defaulting company and the product model being published. An awareness campaign will soon be launched to help the consumer opt for a more efficient product.

Starry eye

Rating to be an indication of energy efficiency

Initially to look into refrigerators, tubelights and transformers

Later to rate ACs, TV, microwave ovens, DVD players

System to be mandatory from next year