The Brick Manufacturing Sector has taken a step towards greener manufacturing with the recent launch of the “Energy Efficiency Enterprise (E3) Certifications Programme” by the Ministry of Power. The E3 Certification Scheme is primarily focused on tapping into the energy efficiency potential of this sector.
Exploring the E3 Certifications Programme
The E3 certification scheme is an accreditation process aimed at the brick industry. It is designed to recognize burnt clay brick manufacturers who adopt energy-efficient manufacturing, thereby encouraging customers to purchase bricks from certified manufacturing units. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) will be responsible for providing these certifications. The E3 Certification will be awarded to those brick manufacturing enterprises that meet or exceed the minimum Specific Energy Consumption (SECVol) performance criteria specified in the scheme. This signifies a shift from conventional to efficient technologies and product shift towards low density bricks with superior thermal insulation properties. The adoption of the E3 Certification is currently voluntary for the brick sector.
The Brick Manufacturing Sector
The brick sector contributes about 0.7% to India’s GDP, offering seasonal employment to over one crore workers. It also heavily influences other economic sectors, including transportation and construction. India is the world’s second largest brick producer, and the demand here is estimated to triple or quadruple over the next two decades through the E3 Certification program. The brick manufacturing industry uses around 45-50 million tonnes of coal equivalent annually, which accounts for 5-15% of India’s total energy consumption. The brick sector holds the second largest potential for energy efficiency amongst the Indian industrial sector after steel and more than cement.
Advantages of E3 Certification
The implementation of the E3 Certification could lead to a multitude of benefits, which include energy savings in the brick manufacturing process, improved quality of bricks, cost savings to builders, and energy savings to the occupants of buildings due to better thermal comfort and enhanced insulation properties. By 2030, an estimated energy saving of 7 Million Tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE) per year and CO2 savings of about 25 Million Tonnes are expected by the adoption of E3 Certification by 7500 brick manufacturing units.
Modernizing the Brick Manufacturing Sector
The scheme seeks to accelerate the modernization of the brick sector using market incentives to generate customer demand, thus fulfilling the vision for Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Additionally, energy-efficient bricks will be useful in complying with the requirements of the Energy Conservation Buildings Code (ECBC).
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
The BEE is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power established in 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. It is mandated to implement policy and programs in the area of energy efficiency and conservation. The BEE assists in developing policies and strategies aimed at reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy. Its major programs include the State Energy Efficiency Index, Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, The Standards & Labeling Programme, Energy Conservation Building Code, etc.
The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC)
In 2007, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency introduced the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), which set the minimum energy performance standards for buildings in India. Buildings consume a significant portion of energy resources, and the ECBC is a crucial regulatory tool to curb their energy footprint. ECBC sets the minimum energy standards for new commercial buildings having a connected load of 100kW (kilowatt) or contract demand of 120 KVA (kilovolt-ampere) and above. Moreover, BEE also developed a voluntary Star Rating Programme for buildings based on their actual energy use over a certain area, expressed in kilowatt-hours per square meter per year.
Last Modified: February 11, 2024