Energy conservation building code to be introduced soon

Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsThe Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), which aims at trimming down electricity bills through energy-efficient building designs, will be introduced in the state soon.In phase-I, it will be made mandatory for new commercial building projects having a load factor of 100 kilo watts.Modifications or additions to existing commercial buildings too will have to be ECBC-compliant under the new regime, K M Dhareshan Unnithan, director, Energy Management Centre (EMC), said.The EMC, which is under the Union Power Ministry’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), is the nodal agency for energy conservation initiatives in Kerala.The EMC is currently incorporating Kerala-specific conditions - the code should suit the state’s climatic conditions, for one - to the general code applicable to the country as a whole, he said.The EMC recommendations will be placed before BEE and, subsequently, the State Government, for approval.The ECBC stipulates design norms for building envelopes (walls, roofs and windows), electrical systems and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning  (HVAC), among others. For example, once the ECBC becomes mandatory, only electrical appliances of a prescribed energy efficiency level - denoted by star labels - may be used.The ECBC is projected to aid power-starved Kerala which is witnessing a state-wide construction boom.But there are also quite a few hurdles to be cleared before it can be introduced. The first being poor awareness among architects, engineers and contractors. Availability of conservation-friendly building materials and trained personnel in government departments for enforcing the code also pose problems.The EMC is addressing these issues, Dhareshan Unnithan said. “We are launching training programmes for personnel of government agencies such as PWD, Town Planning Department and local bodies in September. We also plan to establish a testing lab in Thiruvananthapuram,” he said. The EMC is also preparing a user guide on the code for Kerala.first published:January 01, 1970, 05:30 ISTlast updated:January 01, 1970, 05:30 IST 
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