Eco-housing Program Wins Award at Asia Clean Energy Forum
The Eco-housing program won the Top Innovation Prize in the ‘Energy Efficiency Category’ at the Asia Clean Energy Forum held in Manila, Philippines on June 5th, 2008. This IIEC and USAID program in India showcased the unique policy and market development approach used to encourage the wider adoption of energy efficiency practices in the residential sector.
The Eco-housing assessment criteria, a voluntary five star rating and certification mechanism, is central to all the policy interventions. The criteria includes a checklist of performance based and prescriptive measures that ensure resource conservation and energy efficiency during the life cycle of the project.
The program has seen the policy adoption at different levels – State, urban local body and financial institutions. The program is presently operational in three urban local bodies in the State of Maharashtra. Moreover, the Housing Policy of the Government of Maharashtra specifies the voluntary adoption of Eco-housing practices. Version 2 of the Eco-housing assessment criteria designed for the five climatic zones is being rolled out to facilitate program expansion across the country. Based on the policy interventions housing finance institutions like Bank of Maharshtra, ING Vyasa are offering mortgage interest buy downs and vendor financing to encourage the scale up of specific efficient technologies. At the same time, urban local bodies are incentivising both developers and consumers. The incentive (10 to 50% rebate) is linked to Eco-housing rating achieved.
To create permanency in program implementation and policy advocacy, the Sustainable Building Technology Center (SBTC) is being established with the support of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). This Center of Excellence will function as a hub to display, educate and test alternative construction techniques, eco-friendly products and technologies.
For more details on this initiative, please visit www.ecohousingindia.org or contact Veena Dharmaraj at
or
.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by and between International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials - India (IAPMO-India) and the International Institute for Energy Conservation – India (IIEC-India) at Pune, India on the 16th day of August 2010.
Preparing Electric Cooperatives and Distribution Utilities in Mindanao for the CFL Distribution
6 July 2010 - The Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP), through its Project Consultants from the International Institute for Energy Conservation, will conduct a series of briefings to prepare the 33 Electric Cooperatives (ECs) and three (3) private Distribution Utilities (DUs) in the Mindanao area for the CFL Distribution in mid-July 2010. The activity will be held in batches on July 7 and 8 at the Grand Men Seng, Davao City, and on July 9 at the Dynasty Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
17 May 2010 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appointed Christiana Figueres of Costa Rica (a former IIEC Board Member) to lead United Nations efforts to combat climate change.
Christiana Figueres for Top U.N. Climate Change Position
Christiana Figueres, a former IIEC Board Member, was one of the original promoters of the concept of a programmatic approach to climate change. In recognition of her long-standing leadership in the climate change arena, she has been nominated by President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica for the position of Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Convention. The Secretary General of the UN will personally select the new Secretary of the UNCCC through a merit-based selection process, and governments will undoubtedly have an opinion as well. She has broad support from many countries already. However, a group of impressed friends has decided that this is an excellent opportunity to make the voice of civil society heard in the midst of UN and government decisions.
IIEC Wins Financial Innovation Grant Competition March 5th, 2010
The Agence Française de Développement, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The World Bank co-hosted a Marketplace on Innovative Financial Solutions for Development (http://en.fininnov.org/main.php?page=call-end2) in Paris on March 4-5, 2010. The Marketplace brought together a number of international development practitioners, financiers, donors, social entrepreneurs, academics, civil society, and policy makers.
EMPOWER INDIA 2009, August 20-22, 2009, Mumbai, India
Energy Efficiency - Key to Sustainability and Security
IIEC is proud to be an endorser of EMPOWER INDIA 2009, which is organised by Urjavaran Foundation jointly with BUREAU OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India. The Exhibition, first of its kind is specially to promote Energy Efficient products and systems, Renewable Energy along with Efficient Building materials as specified under ECBC. It will also highlight Star rated products as approved by BEE.
Opportunities For Energy Professionals in Thailand and the Philippines
International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC), a leading international not-for profit non-governmental organization, with a mandate to promote energy efficiency and environmental solutions, with headquarters in USA and regional offices in Asia, Africa and the Americas, is seeking highly qualified individuals to work on energy efficiency initiatives primarily throughout Asia, Pacific and Africa.
IIEC Holds a Project Close-out Workshop on the USAID Methane to Markets Grant
The close out workshop of the USAID funded Methane to Markets program on “Productive Use of Methane in the Indian Diary Industry” was held in September 12, 2008, in Mumbai, to disseminate program results and identify the way forward to encourage other dairies to effectively capture methane from the wastewater stream and use it to generate electricity for in-house use.
Urban Development Forum, 6th - 7th November 2008, Mumbai, India
Urban Development forum 2008 is complete with excellent case studies and panel discussion from leading industry players that will showcase their experience and expertise on dealing with some of the challenges of urban development in India. Delegates will gain first-hand information on holistic approach towards urban development challenges and future direction of sustaining development. The highly interactive 2-day conference will offer excellent networking opportunities to delegates.
Promoting Energy Efficiency in SME Sector in Vietnam
With the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) assistance, IIEC has completed a comprehensive capacity building program in Vietnam focusing on the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector under the “Promotion of Energy Conservation in Small to Medium Scale Enterprises (PECSME)” project. The project was targeted in five industries - Brick, Textile, Pulp & Paper, Ceramics and Food Processing. The project goals include reduction of production costs of 10-15% in addition to GHG emission reduction resulting from energy savings.
The Eco-housing program won the Top Innovation Prize in the ‘Energy Efficiency Category’ at the Asia Clean Energy Forum held in Manila, Philippines on June 5th, 2008. This IIEC and USAID program in India showcased the unique policy and market development approach used to encourage the wider adoption of energy efficiency practices in the residential sector.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by and between International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials - India (IAPMO-India) and the International Institute for Energy Conservation – India (IIEC-India) at Pune, India on the 16th day of August 2010.
6 July 2010 - The Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP), through its Project Consultants from the International Institute for Energy Conservation, will conduct a series of briefings to prepare the 33 Electric Cooperatives (ECs) and three (3) private Distribution Utilities (DUs) in the Mindanao area for the CFL Distribution in mid-July 2010. The activity will be held in batches on July 7 and 8 at the Grand Men Seng, Davao City, and on July 9 at the Dynasty Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
Christiana Figueres, a former IIEC Board Member, was one of the original promoters of the concept of a programmatic approach to climate change. In recognition of her long-standing leadership in the climate change arena, she has been nominated by President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica for the position of Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Convention. The Secretary General of the UN will personally select the new Secretary of the UNCCC through a merit-based selection process, and governments will undoubtedly have an opinion as well. She has broad support from many countries already. However, a group of impressed friends has decided that this is an excellent opportunity to make the voice of civil society heard in the midst of UN and government decisions. 
With the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) assistance, IIEC has completed a comprehensive capacity building program in Vietnam focusing on the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector under the “Promotion of Energy Conservation in Small to Medium Scale Enterprises (PECSME)” project. The project was targeted in five industries - Brick, Textile, Pulp & Paper, Ceramics and Food Processing. The project goals include reduction of production costs of 10-15% in addition to GHG emission reduction resulting from energy savings.