Promoting Energy Efficient Lighting Education in Nepal and Bhutan

Lighting is the major consumer of electricity in developing countries consuming up to 86% of total electricity production. In the un-electrified rural villages, traditional biomass and commercial petroleum fuel is used to provide minimal lighting in the homes. Nepal and Bhutan are perfect examples of such developing countries where on one hand large population have to rely on fuel based lighting and on the other hand major portion of electricity is consumed for lighting. Most of the current lighting design, lamps and lighting technologies used in these areas are inefficient. Nepal and Bhutan has large potential of energy saving by applying energy efficient techniques in lighting. There is growing need of technical expertise and experience to convert that potential into reality.The aim of the project was to support Nepali and Bhutani Higher Education Institutions to provide education that promotes sustainable socio-economic development. The specific objectives of the project were: 1. To raise awareness in efficient lighting management and to identify important factors of needs and opportunities in efficient lighting in Nepal and Bhutan2. To develop energy efficient lighting courses and lighting laboratory3. To enhance and upgrade the skills of teaching staffs for improved academic environmentThe direct target groups of the project are 1) undergraduate, graduate and post graduate students at Universities in Nepal and Bhutan 2) Trainers, educators, and teachers in professional academies; 3) Academics in the advanced lighting field. Final beneficiaries of the project are professionals in the building industry chain, lighting industry equipment producers and lighting efficiency service providers, and government officials, energy regulators, NGOs. The project was able to improve the situation and enhance the opportunities of all target groups by providing them with detailed new higher education tools in the field of energy efficient lighting.