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The cities of Bhubaneswar and Nagpur have become the first in India to adopt city level policies on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Their policies include interventions in the sectors that are under local government’s jurisdiction like street lighting, water pumping, buildings, waste management, lighting in public areas, public transport, citizen’s awareness, etc. The policy documents for both cities are supported with detailed action plans to be implemented for achieving the targets set in the policy.
Bhubaneswar and Nagpur (India) have recently adopted city level policies on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
This is the first time in India that cities have taken the initiative to adopt a comprehensive policy for reducing their conventional energy consumption.
The policy includes interventions in the sectors that are under local government’s jurisdiction like street lighting, water pumping, buildings, waste management, lighting in public areas, public transport, citizen’s awareness, etc. The policy documents for both cities are supported with detailed action plans to be implemented for achieving the targets set in the policy.
Some of the measures included in the policies include:
- incorporating energy efficiency in all its present and future planning;
- integrating energy efficiency measures in all its applications such as street lighting, parks/campus lighting, traffic signals, buildings, etc.;
- developing energy conservation and management guidelines for all corporation activities;
- promoting renewable energy sources such as solar water heating systems in all commercial/domestic activities;
- encouraging non-motorized transportation systems in the city;
- partnering with relevant government agencies, institutions and businesses in bringing in new technologies; and
- organizing awareness programs for citizens, staff, etc. on energy conservation
These cities have set a model for other cities in the region and around the globe, by committing to continuously improve their energy conservation drive and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Both Bhubaneswar and Nagpur are participating in the Local Renewable Model Communities Network project, an initiative of ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability. supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and receiving technical support from GTZ. The overall goal of this project is to develop and demonstrate a leading role for local governments in promoting, generating and using renewable energy sources. The formulation of City Level Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies is a major component of the Local Renewables project. For more information, please visit www.iclei.org/index.php?id=4991.
