Building-occupied area to skyrocket to 41 bn sqm by '30: Study

Incorporating energy efficiency measures in these new buildings will help India meet energy needs and increase energy security

Backlogs across India in July 2012 revealed the severity of energy crisis. Looking ahead to 2017, India must increase its energy production by 5 per cent annually from the 2011 levels to maintain a 9 per cent growth rate, according to a study.

“This growth rate will result in rapid urbanisation — India’s building-occupied area is projected to skyrocket from 8 billion square metre (sqm) in 2005 to 41 billion sqm in 2030. Incorporating energy efficiency measures in these new buildings will help India meet its energy needs and increase its energy security,” the report said.

Prepared by the Administrative Staff College of India and Natural Resources Defense Council, the report titled ‘Constructing change: Accelerating energy efficiency in India's buildings market’ was released at the two-day international conference on green buildings here on Tuesday.

“Energy efficiency is the fastest, cleanest and cheapest way to meet energy needs. India could save $42 billion each year by improving energy efficiency in buildings.”

According to the study, if developers across India implemented standard energy efficiency measures in new construction and major retrofits, the country could avoid the need of 2,988 Mw of generation capacity.

“State and local governments, real estate developers and financial institutions are particularly critical to the successful development and implementation of energy efficient buildings,” the report said, adding by announcing plans to make the Energy Conservation Building Code operational by 2012 for new commercial construction, many states had set an important precedent to promote energy efficiency leadership.