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CASE STUDIES
Importance and potential emissions corresponding budgets towards providing
of energy efficiency in are 15.56 million tonnes of water and street lighting
cities CO2 equivalent per annum services. In India, these two
(Madhusoodhan 2011). basic services often represent
As cities are the places of Water pumping and street over 80 per cent of the total
concentration of people, lighting take away bulk of the energy expenditure of the
business firms and their energy budget of municipal municipal corporations
interaction, cities also support governments of cities, as (of large cities), offering
high energy consuming much as 50-60% of the energy enormous opportunities for
activities. Much of this budget. Yet, energy efficiency savings (Deshpande and
energy in the developing is not given due priority in
countries comes from fossil the functioning, planning and Kulkarni 2011). A study of
21 Indian cities (spread over
fuel e.g., coal fired thermal management of urban local the states of Andhra Pradesh,
power and gasoline powered governments (ULGs) in India.
automobiles, which generate Karnataka, Maharashtra and
th
a large amount of gaseous India ranks as 7 most affected Delhi) by TERI found that
emissions. Cities, therefore, country from climate related the potential energy savings
are known to be one of the extreme weather events i.e., could be between 15 to 40%
largest contributors of carbon storms, floods and heatwaves, and the cost savings could be
emissions that account for a according to Global Climate Rs 1,050 lakh, which translate
majority of the green house Risk Index 2021. Cities have into savings of Rs 19 per
gas emissions (GHGs) causing to be at the forefront of person per annum; this is
global climate change. But, addressing urbanisation and apart from GHG reduction
cities are also the victims of climate change challenges potential of about 50,000 MT
global climate change impacts and strengthen climate- (Madusoodhan 2011).
in the form of increased surface sensitive urban development The Confederation of Indian
temperatures and intense under the new urban Industries (CII) estimated that
rainfall that lead to damages agenda. Climate Smart Cities the typical Indian municipal
to their infrastructure and Assessment Framework water utility has the potential
economy. (CSCAF), launched by the to improving water pumping
Government of India, aims
India has 4,378 towns and to benchmark Indian cities system efficiency by 25 per
cities (statutory towns) as per on five major thematic areas cent. Street lighting occupies
Census 2011, their growth so that the cities understand 15 per cent of the energy
thereafter has resulted in gaps and prepare action consumption by municipal
a spurt in the demand for plans. Promoting energy governments, thereby
urban infrastructure services, efficiency of cities through reflecting the opportunity for
including the demand for energy conservation in city reducing the share through
public as well as private infrastructure services – water efficiency improvement.
energy consumption. Much supply, sewerage, waste Municipal governments
of the public energy demand management, transport, roads are often unaware of the
is for providing various and streetlights – is a step in opportunities to make their
urban infrastructure services. that direction. water and light systems
The total connected load of more efficient and they
street lighting in these cities Municipal Corporations may simply lack the means
and towns was estimated worldwide dedicate a to take advantage of these
at 4,400 W and the GHG significant amount of their opportunities. Some of
April, 2024, Volume 25. No.1 - SHELTER 45
