New projects must adopt green code, says Govt

New infrastructure projects, as also government buildings in the State would have to adopt green building code henceforth, State Energy Department Additional Chief Secretary Shameem Banu, on Friday, said.

She said under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, the State has proposed to make it mandatory for all for all public buildings to be energy efficient.

Addressing the two-day Energy Symposium & Vendors Conclave – ESVC 2011, she said, the State government has undertaken to turn all state offices and buildings into energy efficient, adding the government was collating data on such buildings and appliances to be replaced with energy-efficient lights in consultation with Public Works Department.

The two-day ESVC 2001 conclave has been organized by the Centre for Sustainable Development and Integrated Green Ventures.

In his keynote address Bhoruka Power Managing Director Chandrasekhar S stressed the need for an integrated energy conservation policy in the State.

He also underscored the need for an inter-ministerial group to look into the issue of energy-water problems wherein it cost around Rs 16-20 to get one kilo litre of water to Bangalore.

Further, Bhanu also pointed out that the transmission and distribution losses in the State had come down to 21 per cent in 2011 from 29 per cent in 2005-06 thanks to the sustained initiatives of the regulatory authorities.

Pointing out that of the total installed capacity of 10,000 mw in Karnataka, 3,000 mw was renewable energy, she said, about 11 per cent of consumption in the State was from renewable sources.

She also claimed that the State government had been successful in popularizing domestic solar water heating, specially in Bangalore City and in a few other major cities of the State.

Teri Chairman Dr A Ramachandran noting that though there was many wind mill farms and solar installations in the country, however, observed that due to lack of storage facilities were being wasted. He wanted steps to be taken to address the issue of energy storage in the country, specially renewable energy.