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POLICY MEMORANDUM

To: Secretary, Ministry of Power

Cc: Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency

Subject: Integrating SEEM (Save Energy, Earn Money) Framework with Shunya &

 Shunya Plus Building Programs

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1. Executive Summary

India’s Shunya and Shunya Plus labeling programs have established a robust

 framework for promoting Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) and Net Positive

 Energy Buildings (NPEB). These programs successfully address supply-side

 energy efficiency and renewable integration at the building level.

This memorandum proposes the integration of a complementary framework —

SEEM (Save Energy, Earn Money) — designed to address the demand-side

 behavioral and economic dimension of energy conservation, particularly at

 the household and appliance level.

While Shunya certifies infrastructure performance, SEEM incentivizes citizen-level

 participation in carbon reduction through measurable, monetizable energy

 savings.

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2. Overview of Existing Framework: Shunya & Shunya Plus

Under the Shunya initiative:

• Shunya (Net Zero Energy Buildings – NZEB)

• 
  Energy produced annually equals energy consumed.

• 
  

• Shunya Plus (Net Positive Energy Buildings – NPEB)

• 
  Energy generated exceeds consumption, allowing export to grid.

Key Features:

• Based on Annual Energy Performance Index (EPI)

• 3-year certification validity

• Promotes rooftop solar and efficiency retrofits

• Focused primarily on institutional and commercial buildings

This initiative supports India’s Net Zero 2070 commitment by advancing structural

 decarbonization.

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3. Proposed Complementary Framework: SEEM

SEEM (Save Energy, Earn Money) introduces a demand-side incentive model

 that:

• Targets individual households (initially >300 units/month consumption)

• Monitors appliance-level energy usage via smart plugs and smart meters

• Defines upper and lower consumption thresholds

• Rewards lower-than-threshold consumption via Carbon Credits

• Penalizes excess usage via Carbon Debits

• Allows DISCOMs to trade aggregated credits in carbon markets

Core Principle:

Convert energy conservation into a direct economic incentive for citizens.

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4. Comparative Framework Analysis

Dimension	Shunya / Shunya Plus	SEEM Framework
Governance	BEE Certification	Policy-enabled, DISCOM-operated
Focus	Building Energy Balance	Household Behavioral Optimization
Scale	Institutional / Commercial	Residential / Citizen Level
Metric	EPI (kWh/m²/year)	Appliance-level consumption thresholds
Renewable Role	On-site generation mandatory	Encouraged but not mandatory
Incentive Structure	Certification Recognition	Direct monetary reward mechanism
Carbon Market Linkage	Indirect	Direct (via DISCOM aggregation)
Monitoring Frequency	Annual	Daily / Monthly
Citizen Engagement	Limited	High

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5. Why SEEM Strengthens Shunya

A. Expands Scope from Infrastructure to Behavior

Shunya addresses structural efficiency; SEEM addresses consumption patterns.

B. Enables Mass Participation

While Shunya primarily benefits large facilities, SEEM empowers urban households to contribute to climate goals.

C. Supports DISCOM Financial Stability

By aggregating verified carbon credits, DISCOMs can:

• Trade credits

• Reduce peak load demand

• Improve grid stability

D. Encourages Appliance-Level Innovation

Manufacturers may design “SEEM-Compatible” smart appliances optimized for threshold compliance.

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6. Policy Opportunity: Shunya-Residential-SEEM Pilot

It is proposed that the Ministry consider a pilot integration model:

1. Select 3–5 urban residential clusters.

2. Deploy smart metering and appliance-level monitoring.

3. Define consumption benchmarks aligned with BEE appliance standards.

4. Allow DISCOM-managed credit accounting.

5. Monitor carbon reduction impact over 12 months.

This could evolve into:

• “Shunya Residential – SEEM Certified”

• A citizen-level carbon participation program

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7. Alignment with National Priorities

The SEEM framework supports:

• National Smart Grid Mission

• Rooftop Solar Mission

• Digital India (smart monitoring infrastructure)

• Carbon Market Framework (Energy Conservation Amendment Act)

• Net Zero 2070 roadmap

It complements Shunya rather than competing with it.

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8. Conclusion

Shunya certifies buildings.
SEEM incentivizes behavior.

Together, they create a dual-engine decarbonization model:

• Supply-side structural efficiency

• Demand-side economic motivation

India has successfully pioneered large-scale digital public infrastructure. A citizen-level energy incentive model integrated with Shunya could position India as a global leader in participatory climate governance.

I respectfully submit this concept for consideration and would welcome the opportunity to provide a technical pilot simulation or policy draft upon request.

Respectfully,

Hemen Parekh

www.HemenParekh.ai / www.IndiaAGI.ai / www.YourContentCreator.in / 18 feb 2026