Punjab to enact green building code

Code to promote energy efficient buildings in the state

To promote energy-efficient buildings, Punjab would soon enact the Energy Conservation Building Code.

According to estimates, Energy Conservation Building Code-2013-compliant buildings are expected to consume 30-40 per cent less energy than conventional ones.

The Energy Conservation Building Code sets minimum energy performance standards for commercial buildings and covers building envelope, heating ventilation and air-conditioning, service hot water systems, interior and exterior lighting, electrical power and motors, including thermal comfort in non-centrally air-conditioned or heated buildings.

Speaking to Business Standard, sources in Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) said the code provides multiple options for compliance viz. Prescriptive compliance for each subsystem and overall system or compliance using trade -off between sub systems or whole building level performance based compliance as per the prescribed procedure. 

 

The Act has been approved by technical committee and also the steering committee constituted for the purpose, said an official. Now, it would be put before Cabinet for approval. After getting approval, the Act would be promoted across the state.

He added the act will ensure construction of energy efficient buildings with reduced electrical energy demand. Further, wide spread awareness & support is essential for effective implementation and enforcement of the Punjab ECBC-2013. The act compliant buildings are expected to consume about 30-40 lesser energy than the conventional building.

 

It is pertinent to mention here that Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has taken the initiative to amend the ECBC as per composite climate zone applicable to the State of Punjab. The work of amendment of ECBC was assigned to Indian institute of Architects (Chd-Pb Chapter) and a technical committee of the following departments was constituted to review and approve the recommendations of amendments of ECBC.

 

Various meetings of technical committee were held under the Chairmanship of Chief Architect, Punjab for amendment of ECBC. Tand the technical committee has approved the draft of the Punjab Energy conservation Building Code-2013 (The Punjab ECBC-2013). The final approved draft was also uploaded on the website of PEDA and IIA (Chd-Pb Chapter) for seeking comments from the stake-holder. After incorporating all the comments of the committee members, stake holders etc., IIA (Chd-Pb Chapter) submitted the final draft of The Punjab ECBC-2013 and was approved by the technical and steering committee constituted for the purpose.