Energy rating for star hotels

NEW DELHI: Use of renewable sources of energy in hotels may soon be a criterion for the star classification. The ministry of non-conventional sources of energy (MNES) has asked tourism ministry to consider giving weightage to renewable technologies for awarding stars status to hotels.

To devise methodology in this area, the ministry has suggested tourism ministry to avail expertise of the bureau of energy efficiency.

It has also pointed out that existing use of solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies and bio-gas generation in hotels can be taken as model for implementing the proposal.

In an attempt to encourage use of renewable sources of energy in urban areas, the government has already offered fiscal incentives.

Hotels, being one of the largest consumers of energy, are now the focus of the ministry, a government source said.

Renewable technologies meet energy requirements for cooking, air heating, drying, water heating, steam and electricity production.