Context: Recently, the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) MAITREE program, launched this initiative that will pioneer ways to make workplaces healthier and greener.
About the Initiative

• It is a joint effort of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID).
• It is launched as a part of USAID's Market Integration and Transformation Program for Energy Efficiency (MAITREE) programme.
• It aims to pioneer ways to make workplaces healthier and greener.
• It is addressing the challenges of retrofitting existing buildings and air conditioning systems  so that they are both healthy and energy efficient.

About MAITREE program

• Market Integration and Transformation Program for Energy Efficiency (MAITREE) is a part of the US-India bilateral Partnership between the Ministry of Power and USAID.
• It is aimed at accelerating the adoption of cost-effective energy efficiency as a standard practice within buildings and specifically focuses on cooling.

Significance of the initiative

• Poor air quality has been a concern in India for quite some time and has become more important in light of the COVID pandemic.
• As people return to their offices and public spaces, maintaining good indoor air quality is essential for occupant comfort, well-being, productivity and the overall public health.
• Most buildings in India are not equipped to establish and maintain healthy indoor air quality and need to be upgraded.
• The EESL office pilot will address this problem by developing specifications for future use in other buildings throughout the country.
• It will aid in evaluating the effectiveness and cost benefits of various technologies and their short and long-term impacts on air quality, comfort, and energy use.

About EESL: Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the administration of the Ministry of Power, Government of India, is working towards mainstreaming energy efficiency and is implementing the world’s largest energy efficiency portfolio in the country. 

• Driven by the mission of Enabling More - more transparency, more transformation, and more innovation, EESL aims to create market access for efficient and future-ready transformative solutions that create a win-win situation for every stakeholder.

About USAID: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance.