Improving thermal energy efficiency in the design, manufacture and operation of industrial boilers for low-carbon micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises in India To scale up and mainstream thermal energy optimization in manufacturing MSMEs through creation of ecosystem for the design, manufacture and operation of efficient industrial boilers Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency. The project is expected to provide several socio economic, national and local level and Global environmental benefits. The technical interventions, good practices as part of Environment and Social Management Plan and Gender Action plan are expected to provide a number of benefits.The project has several trendsetting features for the MSME clusters. In addition to the committed CO2emission reduction there are several other environmental benefits. The air quality in the MSME units and greater cleanliness, especially the boiler unit would have positive impacts on the people and the environment. Reduced pollution, reduced heat (due to project interventions that would focus on energy efficiency) would create a feeling of safety and well being for the labour. MSME owners and workers would thus get sensitized to acceptance of eco friendly interventions and better waste management practices. This would in turn have spin off effects in management employee relations. The management would benefit from lower operational cost and so lower cost of utilities. The interventions would also free up shop floor space. This would translate into higher profits. Gender sensitization programmes would make MSME leaders more gender sensitive and considerate of women’s issues. Other gender mainstreaming processes would result in higher participation of women as a skilled work force. The greatest impact could perhaps be through behaviour change where employees and management accept sustainable interventions and realize the benefits of the same. This would also create an appetite for more sustainable interventions. Acceptance of change and innovations would also be mainstreamed into MSME processes. Replication of the success stories of this project across more MSME cluster would result in acceptance of sustainability in geographically dispersed and varied MSME clusters. The project would thus contribute to early ecosystem building for sustainability in MSME clusters.The social, economic, local, national, and global benefits can be listed as below;Social benefits·Reduced pollution·Better work environment·Better worker safety due to enhanced safety regime·Better worker facilities·Better labour relations because of improved air quality and general feeling of well being·Mindset change of msme enterprises and greater acceptability of sustainable interventions·Gender mainstreaming would result in acceptance of women as skilled work force.Economic benefits·Lesser operational costs due to higher efficiency·Savings on fuel bills through fuel·Savings due to water savingsLocal level·Reduced air pollution (sulphur dioxide, suspended particulate matter, etc.)·Reduced land and water body pollution due to better waste management·Further acceptance of innovations would be easierNational level·Potential for replication to other clusters and industry segments and creating a new eco system for sustainable intervention·Better productivity·Contributing to National Action Plan on Enhanced Energy Efficiency·Contributing to Global commitments through Nationally Determined ContributionsGlobal Environmental benefits·Contributing to reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions·GHG emissions reductions, continue for life cycle of equipment life