IMPHAL, May 25 � Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body under Union Ministry of Power will be introducing an Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) in the eight Northeastern States to set minimum energy standards for new commercial buildings having a connected load of 100 KW or contract demand of 120 KVA.
�We are monitoring a couple of buildings having connected load of 100 KW including one each in Assam and Tripura�, said BEE senior energy economist Sanjay Seth. �We are primarily focusing on daytime and commercial sector particularly malls and hotels�.
Seth was speaking at the recently concluded two-day Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) media fellowship briefing on �Urbanscapes: how sustainable are our buildings and cities?� Besides seven other States, so far, notification has been issued in the States of Rajasthan, Odisha and Puducherry, he said. The ECBC is in various stages of implementation in 22 other States of the country.
ECBC which was launched in May 2007 was amended to suit the local and regional climatic conditions of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttarkhand, he added. On the other hand, the process of amendment is on for the States of Punjab and Gujarat.
�We need a set of issues to be addressed,� said the Executive Director (Research and Advocacy) Anumita RoyChoudhury of CSE. �The country needs a system approach as there are no comprehensive data on buildings unlike vehicle registration.�
Cities consume 75 per cent of the world�s natural resources, generates 50 per cent waste and 70 per cent greenhouse gas. By 2030, these cities will be consuming 73 per cent of world energy. There are around 5,000 cities and towns in India.
The glass houses emit more greenhouse gas, so it is not advisable to construct day offices, etc., with such materials. One should construct their houses or office building according to the climatic condition of the particular region, she added. India has as many as five climatic types.
