New commercial buildings coming up in the city will have to mandatorily comply with provisions of the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC).
After city-specific amendments in the Energy Conservation Building Code 2017, the UT administration will make it mandatory for new commercial buildings to follow the Chandigarh Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code. Violations of provisions will be punishable as per rules and regulations.
The draft Chandigarh ECBC was approved on Thursday following suggestions from the UT administrator, public and stakeholders.
The purpose of the code is to provide minimum requirements for energy-efficient design and construction of buildings.
Under the proposed code, for the approval of building plans for a new commercial building, an undertaking will have to be given along with the building plan proposal that the ECBC conditions will be met.
A UT official said, “The ECBC code will be applicable wherein the connected load of a building is equal to or more than 100 KW; or the contract demand of building is equal to or more than 120 KVA; or the plot of building is equal to or more than 1000 sq m; or the built-up area of building is equal to or more than 2000 sq m (excluding non-conditioned spaces in basement).”
In case the code is found to be flouted, even after mandatory undertaking submitted along with the building plan, the UT estate office will be empowered to take stipulated action against the building owners.
The Energy Conservation Act was enacted in October 2001. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was set up in March 2002, a statutory body under the ministry of power. It promulgated the central Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC).
Section 15(A) and section 57(A) of EC Act, 2001 empowers the states and UTs to amend Central ECBC according to their respective climatic conditions. Accordingly, a high-level committee was constituted by the administration in order to suggest the amendments suitable for Chandigarh.
The BEE has engaged All India Institute of Local Self Governance (AIILSG) for assisting the SDA Chandigarh in drafting the Chandigarh ECBC Code and getting it approved from competent authority and getting it notified thereafter. The Chandigarh Electrical Department is performing the duties of the SDA.
