Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) e-commerce portal

Context:

The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of public sector undertakings (PSU) under the Ministry of Power, will set up an e-commerce portal that will exclusively feature electric appliances with the highest efficiency ratings.

About the initiative:

Aim: The objective of the exercise would be to “create demand” and encourage consumers to opt for electric cookers, fans, refrigerators and other devices that were rated “five star and above”.
The portal would initially be for businesses to trade among themselves and later be expanded to wider, retail sales.
The EESL is affiliated to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) that has for years run a ‘star-rating’ system for electric appliances with the highest-rated appliances having ‘5 stars’.
The BEE has made this rating mandatory for 15 appliances and voluntary for 20 appliances for 2023.
Ratings are usually only valid for a fixed period.

The agency includes or excludes appliances from the list as it deems necessary from time to time.

Need of such an initiative: India has committed to double its energy efficiency by 2030 from 2% to 4%.
Significance:
As the BEE claims that its rating system, over the years, has prevented 300 million tonnes of CO2.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):

The Government of India has set up Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) on 1st March 2002 under the provision of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
The mission of Bureau of Energy Efficiency is to assist in developing policies and strategies with a thrust on self-regulation and market principles with the primary objective of reducing energy intensity of the Indian economy within the overall framework of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
This will be achieved with active participation of all stakeholders, resulting into accelerated and sustained adoption of energy efficiency in all sectors.