The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body under the Union Power Ministry, is targeting to train 5,000 A/C showroom salesmen across the country on energy efficient choice this year as part of a national education programme on star labelling for air-conditioners. Of this, around 850 salesmen will be trained from Kerala. Emerson Climate Technologies and International Copper Promotion Council of India are supporting BEE's endeavour to educate consumers to use higher energy efficient products. This is being done through a comprehensive education programme, targeting A/C showroom salesmen so that they can explain the tangible benefits of using energy efficient air-conditioners to the end users. These trained salesmen will help consumers make an energy efficient choice while buying their home air conditioners. BEE will provide touch screen Energy-Calculating kiosks at the designated showrooms. These easy-to-use kiosks will enable salesmen calculate the savings users can get on their electricity bill if they buy higher star air-conditioners, a press release said. Dr Ajay Mathur, Director-General, BEE, said the unprecedented heat this summer has led to a huge surge in sales of air-conditioners. With the already gap in supply and demand of energy in the country, these newly acquired appliances will have to bemore energy efficient. BEE has taken the mantle to make the labelling standard mandatory and also educate end users as to how the usage of more energy efficient products (higher star A/Cs) will reduce their monthly electricity bills, he said. Star labelling The star labelling programme for air-conditioners, frost-free refrigerators Tubular Florescent Lights and Distribution Transformers had commenced in May 2006 in a voluntary phase. In the air-conditioner segment, 70 per cent of the organised players adapted it in the voluntary stage itself, which prompted BEE to make it mandatory from January 7. Mr Srikant Bapat, Managing Director, Emerson Climate Technologies India Ltd, said that students from various engineering colleges have been pressed into service to train salesmen and educate consumers.