Energy Management Centre - Kerala (EMC) is an autonomous Centre under the Department of Power, Government of Kerala, established in 1996, with the prime objective of improving energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy. Recently EMC has been designated by the Government, as the agency in the State to enforce, coordinate and implement the provisions made in the Energy Conservation Act 2001. Kerala has many unique characteristics like 100% literacy rate, very low birth rate & infant mortality rates and a high human development index.htmlpared to other States in India. In the energy consumption front also Kerala differs from other States with more than 50% of grid power getting utilised in the domestic sector and literally no coal/charcoal used in the households. This biodiversity rich State still depends mainly on biomass as the cooking fuel. Considering the above aspects, EMC has designed and is implementing its 'Energy Clinic' program since 1997, in which trained women volunteers undertake training cum demonstration exercises for the housewives with the help of energy efficient equipment and literatures provided by EMC. Improved cooking stoves, thermal cookers, pressure cookers and improved cooking practices are familiarised to the women folk, highlighting their positive impacts on reducing indoor air pollution, reducing energy costs and protecting the environment.
Contact Information
Presently in Kerala State, India
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
More than 70% of Kerala households use traditional biomass fuels and stoves for their cooking needs. Our work is focused on popularising improved cooking stoves (already designed by certain R&D Centres in our State) and facilitating its penetration into the households.
EMC has been instrumental in designing and then locally fabricating and marketing (by women self help groups) the cost-effective thermal cooker (called 'Thaapabharani' in two different models) which has the capability to save 70% of cooking energy (for water based cooking; rice being the main food in Kerala) and reduce the time spent in the kitchen.
Long years of research and development of improved cooking stoves in Kerala and India have been successful to a very good extent in standardisation of cooking stoves using biomass fuels, particularly firewood.
IAP exposure studies have not been systematically carried out in this State. EMC would be glad to welcome any such collaborative initiatives from the international R&D community.
Relevant Publications or Studies
None noted
Our Contribution to the Partnership
EMC is keen to know about developments in this field in other parts of the world and would welcome collaborative initiatives (successful from elsewhere to be adapted accordingly) in Kerala from other partners. EMC would be glad to share our experience and skills in assessing the present cooking practices and then identifying the areas for improvement and accordingly designing and implementing programs to improve energy efficiency resulting in reduction of indoor air pollution in other parts of the world through collaborative financially-supported programs.
