BEE Star Rating
●BEE rating is an energy efficiency standard for appliances sold in India.●The higher the star rating, the less electricity an appliance consumes
●Each appliance gets between one and five stars, with five stars meaning that it’s extremely efficient and is likely to keep your electricity bills in check.
●These star labels are issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), which is an Indian government agency that falls under the Ministry of Power.
Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020
●These rules serve to “empower” consumers with rights that would allow them to access continuous supply of quality, reliable electricity. ●This is because the provisions make distribution companies (DISCOMS) more accountable to consumers.●Discoms will be held more accountable for issues like delays in providing and renewing connections of electricity.
●They are also obligated to provide round-the-clock electricity to consumers, as per the Ministry of Power.
●To ensure compliance, the government will apply penalties that will be credited to the consumer’s account.
UJALA Scheme
●Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All was launched by Prime Minister of India on 1 May 2015.●Objective : To promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness on using efficient equipment which reduce electricity bills and help preserve environment.
●The project is spearheaded by the Energy Efficiency Services Limited.
●In non-subsidized LED lamp distribution projects, this program is considered the world’s largest.
●The Electricity Distribution Company and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) a public sector body of Government of India are implementing the programme.
Bird Flu
●The State of Kerala placed on high alert after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts.●The presence of the H5N8 subtype of the Influenza A virus was reported in ducks in Thalavadi, Thakazhy, Pallipad and Karuvatta in Alappuzha district.
●Culling of ducks in the infected regions will be undertaken as per Central government guidelines.
●While it can prove lethal for birds, the H5N8 strain of avian influenza has a lower likelihood of spreading to humans compared to H5N1, officials of the State Institute for Animal Diseases (SIAD).
Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD)
●FGD process utilizes a set of technologies to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the flue gas emissions of coal-fired power plants.●S02 can be removed from flue gases by a variety of methods.
●For a typical coal-fired power plant, FGD systems will remove close to 95% of the SO2 in the flue gases.
●Lime plays a key role in many air pollution control applications.
●Lime is used to remove acidic gases, particularly sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen chloride (HCl), from flue gases.