What is the problem you are trying to solve?
Energy consumption is on the rise in Bhutan as lifestyles change and the construction industry booms. Despite the awareness of the benefits of energy saving, people have not been able to take action as monthly energy bills do not provide an insight into what can be improved. There is a need to change consumer behaviour, including encouraging the purchase of more energy efficient appliances. Additionally, there are no minimum energy consumption standards for buildings as there are no energy benchmarks yet.
How does your idea help solve the problem?
Energy smart meters provide real-time data on energy consumption, giving consumers the ability to monitor their usage and change their behaviour. It will hopefully foster discussion on how to change patterns of consumption and what household appliances can be purchased to reduce energy use. The data generated can also be useful for policymakers to frame rules that support the greening of the building and energy sector, including green procurement and resource efficiency.
What inspired you to do this?
The government of Bhutan has committed to remain carbon negative, and generally there is a good awareness on the benefits on energy saving. However, to garner support for change, we need to build confidence and faith. As an entrepreneur and responsible citizen, it is my responsibility to contribute my knowledge and experience to support the country’s vision and help create a happy built environment.
Bio
Deependra Pourel is an environmental architect with specialization in environment and energy modeling. He has worked in the building sector for the last decade and has experience in energy auditing and sustainable consumption and production practices and approaches. Deependra has audited 40 industries for resource efficiency and energy consumption as the technical expert for Sustainable and Efficient Development, an EU-funded project. He is also an active researcher, and has presented his works in numerous conferences and journals.
