National Energy Conservation Day - Powering Energy Efficiency in Indian Households

By Lodha

As the world grapples with escalating environmental challenges driven by increased emissions and fossil energy use, National Energy Conservation Day observed on December 14th serves as a vital reminder of the importance of sustainable energy practices. This year, to mark the occasion, we are excited to release the first in a series of publications under the UrjaAnk Programme: Catalysing Change in Residential Consumption. Developed under the RMI-Lodha Net Zero Urban Accelerator, this whitepaper outlines systematic interventions and actionable strategies to enhance energy efficiency in India’s residential sector.

Energy Conservation Matters – Urgent and Important

India's residential sector, currently accounting for approximately 24% of the nation’s electricity use, is poised for exponential growth. With urban housing expected to double in floor space by 2040, energy-intensive appliances are projected to witness an 11-fold increase in demand by 2050. Without robust interventions, this growth could significantly hinder India’s climate goals, including the 2070 net-zero target.

UrjaAnk offers a proactive solution by bridging the critical data gaps in household energy consumption and promoting actionable strategies for energy efficiency. Using Palava City as a “living lab,” the initiative presents scalable models for fostering sustainable residential energy practices.

UrjaAnk: A Blueprint for Smarter Energy Use

UrjaAnk is more than a research programme—it is a framework initiative for understanding residential energy consumption and unravelling patterns and data that can improve India’s residential energy landscape. By combining localized data collection with innovative metrics and community-driven insights, UrjaAnk provides a holistic view of how energy is consumed in residential settings and what can be done to make it more efficient. Its relevance lies in its ability to:

• Set New Standards: UrjaAnk can establish context-specific energy performance metrics tailored to India’s diverse climates and lifestyles, filling a critical gap in the current policy framework.

• Empower Decision-Making: UrjaAnk can help policymakers and designers align their goals with sustainability targets by offering actionable benchmarks and data-backed strategies.

• Promote Behavioural Change: The initiative aims to actively engage residents, through awareness and innovative market mechanisms, encouraging long-term adoption of energy-efficient practices.

By showcasing practical and scalable interventions, UrjaAnk paves the way for a future where energy efficiency becomes a cornerstone of urban living.

Key Highlights from the UrjaAnk Whitepaper

The whitepaper reflects insights gathered from surveys across 9568 operational households in Palava City, focusing on demographics, appliance ownership, energy behaviours, and efficiency benchmarks. Here are some key findings:

1. Energy Use Intensity (EUI): The median EUI in Palava stands at 41kWh/m²/year, a promising figure compared to national benchmarks. However, 43% of households exhibit high EUI, largely driven by cooling demands.

2. Dominance of Cooling Loads: Air conditioners and fans contribute to over 50% of daily household energy consumption, emphasizing the need for efficient cooling solutions.

3. Efficiency Awareness: Palava households show a strong preference for energy-efficient appliances, with 90% of devices rated at least 3-star in energy performance.

4. Behavioural Trends: Residents favour natural ventilation during the day and use air conditioning during peak heat periods, indicating opportunities for optimizing thermal comfort strategies.

Recommendations for Transforming Residential Energy Use

UrjaAnk proposes a roadmap for energy conservation through a blend of data-driven insights, community engagement, and policy integration. The recommendations include:

• Standardizing Energy Metrics: Introduce Energy Use Intensity (EUI) as a key metric in utility bills to enhance consumer awareness.

• Data-backed insights to Enhance Building Design: Incorporate passive design strategies for energy efficiency, like natural ventilation, envelope efficiency and urban heat island mitigation to minimize cooling loads.

• Promoting Super-Efficient Appliances: Facilitate bulk procurement and also incentivize the adoption of high-efficiency appliances through innovative market mechanisms to reduce energy demand.

• Consumer Engagement: Periodical and relevant behavioural nudges, awareness campaigns, and use of mobile apps to empower residents with actionable insights into their energy consumption patterns.

National Implications and Call to Action: Enabling Energy-Efficient India

The release of this whitepaper on National Energy Conservation Day signifies a step forward in achieving sustainable urban living. By providing a replicable framework for enhancing energy efficiency, UrjaAnk aligns with India’s sustainability objectives and sets the stage for transformative changes in the residential sector.

As we commemorate this day, we invite policymakers, developers, designers, and consumers to reflect on their role in driving energy conservation. Let the insights and strategies from UrjaAnk inspire collective action toward a future where sustainable energy practices are the norm.

Together, let’s make every day an Energy Conservation Day.

Join us in this journey towards a sustainable and energy-efficient India. Download the whitepaper here.