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Mr. H. Wadhwa, Head Product Testing & GM Technical

Voluntary Organization in Interest of Consumer Education (VOICE)

O-45, Lajpat Nagar – II New Delhi 110024 email: cvoice@vsnl.net,

Website: www.consumer-voice.org

Consumer Perspective on Energy Efficiency & Labeling of Appliances: VOICE Endeavors

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VOICE: Vision & Mission

Vision : Protecting consumer rights by creating synergy

between technological advances, traditional knowledge and right policies through its Testing & Research activities.

Mission : Promoting sustainable and ethical consumption.

Providing consumer education for all.

Projecting right choices for the safety & health of consumers and environment.

Mobilizing public opinion to change the laws/policies for the benefit of consumers

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VOICE :Major activities

Comparative Testing of Products & Services

Consumer education through 3 magazines

Standards Advocacy to protect consumer’s interests

Legal advise on consumer complaints/ grievances

Organizing workshops & seminars on various issues across the country

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VOICE Strengths

Full member of Consumers International,UKMember of International Consumer Research

& Testing, UK Partnership with International Consumer

Testing & Research OrganizationsWorking experience over 29 yrsInvolved since 1991 in Comparative Testing

of product & servicesPublishes 3 magazines in English, Hindi &

OnlineRegular Promotion & Outreach for Energy

Efficiency Standards & Labeling across IndiaOrganizing of workshops /seminars for pan-

India dissemination

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Development of Test Program

Comparative Product Testing Process

Test Programto Institutions

Test Programto Manufacturers

Ombudsman CommitteeMeeting

Samples to Laboratory

Lab Testing & MonitorLab Report

EvaluationClarification to Manufacturers

& Retest, if reqd.

Test Results Grading & Rating

Publish Test Report & Dissemination

Test Results to Manufacturers

Market survey

Masking & Coding

Lab finalize withTest Charges

Samples Purchase

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Product Standards Advocacy to safeguard consumer interests

through:

Member of various Standard formulation committees of BIS

Member of various Technical & Steering committees of BEE

Member of various committees of MoEF, DoCA , MoH , MoFPI, TRAI etc.

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Execution of 3 projects under SARI/E (USAID) Small Grant

Program:

Two with Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association (SLEMA), Sri Lanka and

one with Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP), Pakistan on improving the National Standards to address Energy Consumption & Efficiency issues.

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Promotion & Outreach of S&L products with NGO partnership (2008 & 2011) by

CLASP & CWF Support Dissemination and Outreach of S&L of

Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, TVs, Geysers, Ceiling Fans was carried out across the country through 20 NGO’s partnership by publishing informative articles in their periodicals as well as commercial magazines, Newspapers etc.

Distribution of 150 K prepaid flyers across the country: Received over 10% response

Holding of 12 S&L & Fuel efficiency promotional workshop across India with NGOs

.

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VOICE Endeavors in promoting Energy Efficiency Standards & Labelling

(EES&L)

Testing for benchmarking of various Washing Machines for BEE, assigned by M/S PWC Gurgaon (2008-09)

Testing of (74 models of CFL) for Quality and (96 CFLs) for Mercury on various National & International models under Eco-Asia CDCP of USAID. (2008-09).

Types of Energy labels10

1. Endorsement label is a seal of approval indicating that the product meets certain specified criteria

2. Comparison label shows the relative energy use of a product compared to other models available in the market

Objectives of Energy Labeling Program:

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Informed choices to the consumers on energy consumption & saving among the labeled products

To create impact on the energy savings in the medium and long run

To compete in international markets where norms for energy efficiency in many countries are mandatory

Products covered under S&L program

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Mandatory Stage1. Frost Free Refrigerators 2. Tubular Fluorescent Lamps 3. Room Air Conditioners4. Distribution TransformersVoluntary stage1. Electric Motors2. Pump Sets 3. LPG Stove4. Direct Cool Refrigerators5. Ceiling Fans6. Electric Geysers7. Color TVs8. Washing Machines9. Inverters & UPS

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EMPOWER CONSUMERS ON CHOICES AMONG THE STAR RATED & MOST EFFICIENT PRODUCTSENABLES SAVING OF ENERGY FOR OTHER DESERVING USERS ENHANCES THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCTSCREATS HEALTHY COMPLETION AMONG THE MAJOR MARKET PLAYERSINCREASE IN EXPORT POTENTIAL ON EFFICIENT & QUALITY PRODUCTS IN GLOBAL MARKET

Necessity of S&L in Indian context

 

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VOICE participation in BEE’s Steering & Technical

committees1. Washing M/cs2. Colour TVs3. Gas stoves4. Refrigerators5. Air conditioners6. Set top Box7. Compact Fluorescent lamps8. Ceiling Fans9. Tubular Fluorescent Lamps10.Inverters, UPS & Batteries

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Performance test findings/data shared with BEE for MEPS

1. Colour Televisions: 12 brands 2. CFLs : 16 Models 12 Indian & 58 international

models3. Ceiling Fans: 13 brands (48”) & 10 brands (56”)4. TFL Ballasts: 15 brands & 10 brands (2012)5. Domestic Pump sets: 11 brands6. Storage Water Heaters: 10 brands7. Inverters:9 brands8. Washing M/cs: 12 brands9. Set top Box: 14 brands10. Refrigerators: 8 brands each of Frost Free & Direct

Cools11. T-5 Tubular Fluorescent Lamps: 10 brands12. Steam Irons: 9 brands13. Microwave Ovens: 11 brands

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Role of VOICE to make S&L implementation effective:  

Sharing its test data on benchmarking of star ratings for various products

Act as catalyst to balance the decision making process to be consumer friendly

Counter-veiling force in the standards setting to safeguard consumer interests

Counter-checks by comparative testing about authenticity of label declaration

Dissemination & promotion of S&L program through integrating over 20 NGOs across the country to reach-out to remote & grass root level

Operating a resource centre to guide & empower consumers on purchase of labeled products

Grievances handling about product complaints and redresses

Acting as a market watchdog on check of fake labeled products

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Issues/Concerns & Recommendations

Only 12 products implemented so far: Requires accelerating growth and more products under S&L

Lower availability of labeled products: Fiscal benefits to mfrs especially to encourage S&ME

Higher cost factor of 5 star label products: Lowest taxes on 5 star & highest on 1 star labeled products

Low consumer awareness on potential benefits of labeled products: Wider & pan India promotion needed.

Reliability of star ratings: Third party testing necessary

S&L program is limited to premium products i.e. Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, Color TVs etc. : Should cover products of mass consumption

Lower effectiveness of SDAs to promote & monitor the S&L program: Needs effective monitoring across the country by SDAs/Nodal Agencies

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Way forward onHigher Impacts of S&L program: Stakeholder

perspectives BEE: Effective implementation & monitoring of labeled

products Enhance the basket of S&L products of mass

consumptionMassive awareness about S&L benefits across country Capacity building of the stake holders especially NGOs

Policy makers: Least taxes on higher star rated products Financial incentive to manufacturers & consumers to

encourage production & buying of labeled productsManufacturers: Know-how transfer of technology for making highly/super-efficient products NGOs: Setting of consumer resource centers and integrating a network of NGOs across the country for regular empowerment. Test Labs: Create & enhance lab test facility & capacity to cover all the products under S&L & upcoming products

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Way forward on Higher Impacts of S&L program: NGOs/CSOs

perspectives Setting up of a nodal EE resource center to be a hub for

networking & dissemination

Creating a network/coalition of like minded regional NGOs for promotion & out reach in their areas

Linkages of regional NGOs with the respective state SDAs for joint promotion and monitoring of S&L program

Knowledge & data/test findings sharing by the lead NGOs to update other grass root/local NGOs for further EE promotion

Capacity building & training of regional NGOs for sustained promotion of EE S&L program

Thank you for your attention

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H.WadhwaVOICE

Email: cvoice@vsnl.net