Cement, Energy and Environment

The second tier w ill comprise a Cer tifica tion Agen cy, w hi ch wi ll be the apex tr a ining infrastructure for developing trained energy professionals. This agen cy will be selected through a competitive bidding process among qualified contenders and wi ll perfo rm i ts dcsigna ted func tion of training for a period of up to four year s. Thi s agency may operate throu gh training franchisees (who have been carefully selec ted and trained) to monitor quality, conduct examination s, arrange for interviews, award certificates and manage the information da tabase. Th e third tier will be accredited energy audit firms chosen on the basis of a simple four-point critera: • • • • At least three certified energy auditors employed by the firm At least three energy audits compl eted with proof of documentation in the past year Aminimum inventory of instrumentation Firm's income tax return . Courtesy : The Bulletin on Energy Efficiency, Apr.2002, Pp 8-9, Fax:91 -11 -4682204/6146004 E-mail: efficiency@Tcdiffmail. com Web: www. win rock@vsnl.com ENVIRONMENT GLOBAL WARMING HITS AFRICA MOST The PioneeT, 4 April 02 Scientist s tudying the impact of globa lwarming are forecasting that the phenomenon would fur ther increase d isease, famine, and poverty in Africa. In a rep ort, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says heavy monsoon - Jjke rain and higher temperatures - will favour the breed ing of di sease-ca rryi n g mosqui toes, allowing them to thrive a t hi gher altitudes. The repor t cites the example of Rw<mda, which is mainl y highl and, but whe re mala ria cases h<1Ve increased by 337'X, in recent years, witb 80% of tl1e climb linked w ith changes in tempera ture and rainfall. This improves breeding conditions for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can also transmit over 100 viruses including malaria, denguC' fever, ye ll ow feve r, encepbali tis, and h emorrhagic fever. The report w arn s that while heavy rains would become more frequ ent, there would also be rising levels of drought and the spread of deserts such as the Sah ara. In Africa's large ca tchment basin s of N iga r, Lake Chad, and Senegal, total ava ilable wa ter has decreased by 40% to 60'1o says the report. Cow'tcsy: TERI Newsw/re, 1-15 Apr 02, P 34. Fax:4682144 Email: outreach@tcri.rcs.in Web: www. teriin .org ELECTRIC AUTOS TO BE LAUNCHED IN BANGALORE The Hindu Business Line, 11 Apr. 02 Bangalore could soon have noise-free vehicles in the place of tbe polluting menaces that go by the name of autorickshaws. Mahindra Eco Mobiles Ltd is planning launch 'Bijl ee', its battery-operated , 10-seater electric auto in Bangalore as soon as it gets permission . Tbe eco-friendly vehicles, which are operating in New Delhi and Agra, have happy customers, says Mr Soami Saran, Chairman. The vehicle, to cost about Rs 0.28 million, would seat 10 passengers and was cos t-effecti ve, no-noise alternative, Mr Sa ran sa id.