Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Parivartan Awards 2015 announces shortlist of Indian businesses undertaking efforts for sustainable production and creating sustainable facilities

PM Narendra Modi meets US President Barack Obama, discusses climate change

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Barack Obama and France and Britain's leaders on Monday, and called for a climate change agenda from upcoming global talks in Paris that helps developing countries with access to finance and technology.

Modi said after meeting Obama that he and the American president shared an "uncompromising" commitment to fighting climate change without hurting development. He thanked Obama for responding positively to his call for a global public partnership to develop sources of clean energy.

"We look forward to (a) comprehensive and concrete... Read more..

AP Govt directs power sector to gear up for 2nd phase LED bulbs distribution

Andhra Pradesh Government, which has been vigorously implementing energy efficiency activities for the benefit of the state and stake holders, have now decided to further take up public participation programmes in a big way to fully involve all sectors of the people to achieve the desired goals in energy savings and protect precious natural resources.

As a part of this programme, the State Energy Conservation Mission (SECM) , Government of AP, which is the state designated agency for EC activities, has contemplated to evolve special mechanism for involving the public representatives... Read more..

e-rickshaw hits roads in TS, AP

Cycle rickshaws have become a rare sight now. Those yearning for an “open-air ride” in a rickshaw can soon have their longing fulfilled. Lohia Auto Industries have launched electric rickshaws in Telangana State and Andhra Pradesh. Called Humrahi and priced at Rs 1.15 lakh (ex-showroom), the e-rickshaw can be used for both ferrying passengers and carrying cargo. It can accommodate four passengers. The e-rickshaw takes 10 hours for full recharge and has a driving range of around 70 km.

“These rickshaws are easy to operate, low in maintenance expenses and cost much less than the... Read more..

Six largest US banks call for strong COP21 deal and policy that recognizes cost of carbon

The six largest U.S. banking institutions on Monday called for a “strong global climate agreement” and policies that “recognize the cost of carbon.”

JP Morgan Chase Bank, Bank of America Corp., Wells Fargo, and Citibank — the four largest commercial banks with assets of $6.5 trillion according to Federal Reserve data — along with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, the largest and second largest investment banks with $1.1 trillion in managed mergers and acquisitions — also committed to provide “significant resources” to finance climate solutions.

At a press conference in New... Read more..

OPIC Lends $20 Million For Rooftop Solar Power Systems In India

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation has backed the development of rooftop solar PV systems in India.

SAM Consultant, a US-based finance firm and a facilitator of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) in India, has lent $20 million to Azure Sunlight, which will be used for the implementation of 19 MW of rooftop solar PV projects.

Azure Sunlight is a subsidiary of one of India’s leading solar power projects developer, Azure Power, will be the turnkey construction contractor, and will also handle the operation and maintenance of the projects. Azure Power has... Read more..

Tata Power participates in National DELP of LED Bulbs for its consumers in Mumbai

Tata Power has announced that the Company as a facilitator has participated inthe Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP) of LED Bulbs for its residential consumers in the Mumbai Distribution Area. In line with its ambitious target of saving 21.37 Million units of energy annually in the domestic sector, this MERC-approved programmewill encourage energy efficiency through the use of LED technology. LED lights can reduce energy consumption by as much as 88 per cent as compared to an ordinary bulb, and 50 per cent as compared to a CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp).

This DELP... Read more..

Swachh Bharat: govt to rank public places on sanitation

With an aim to re-energise the Swachh Bharat Mission, the government plans to take up a campaign at different levels from the ward to the State till March next year, a statement from the Ministry of Urban Development said.

As part of the campaign, public areas such as railway stations, airports, shipyards, hospitals, schools and colleges and tourist destinations will be ranked based on the degree of sanitation, the statement said.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said it will soon come out with final notifications in respect of management of solid waste... Read more..

Delhi spared an electricity tariff hike

Delhi has been spared an increase in electricity rates by the regulator. The tariff for the group housing societies has also been reduced by Rs.1 to Rs.6 per kWh. The new prices apply from 1 October.

The tariff levels for the year to March will remain unchanged primarily because the regulator said no to the revenue increase sought by the distribution firms—BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL), BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (BYPL) and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDPL). The revenue disallowed stand at Rs.913 crore, Rs.700 crore and Rs.912 crore, respectively.

According to Delhi... Read more..

Online store 'SolarHippo' Launched Exclusively for Solar Products

SolarHippo, an online store exclusively for Solar Energy products, has been launched by the company Hippo Innovations. The e-commerce store is a one-of-its-kind marketplace for buying and selling of solar products. Hippo Innovations, the parent company, has launched this platform with a vision to promote the usage of renewable and clean energy products in order to sustain our environment.

SolarHippo offers a wide array of top quality solar products which meet the requirements of consumers and deliver a high performance. The product range includes Solar Lights, Solar Panels, Rooftop... Read more..

VW’s emission rigging scandal puts spotlight on testing standards

While the impact of Volkswagen’s emissions test rigging scandal in the US continues to reverberate through the global auto industry, amid fears that it could spiral into its LIBOR moment, the scandal is putting the spotlight on emission testing standards.

Campaigners point to the problems with current testing regimes, which are often not rigorous enough and conducted in such artificial environments that the emissions released during them bear little resemblance to those when driving. “In environmental and specialist circles, the massive deviations between emissions data from tests... Read more..

Centre plans to make solar incentives WTO compliant

pIndia is looking at offering better subsidies to manufacturers ndash both local and foreign ndash of solar cells and modules so that the benefits cannot be challenged at the World Trade Organisation WTOp

pThis idea is gaining ground as itrsquos a winwin for most mdash Indian companies need funding which is available easily from the US and the Americans need market accessp

pldquoIncreasing capital and production subsidies available to manufacturers of PV cells and modules are a safe way to encourage local production ndash and goes with the lsquoMake in Indiarsquo programme... Read more..