In December of 2018, The Ministry of Power (MoP) had announced the ECO Niwas Samhita 2018, which is the Energy Conservation Building Code for residential buildings (ECBC-R). The implementation of this code was expected to boost energy efficiency in the residential sector, its occupants, and the larger environment by promoting energy efficiency in the design and construction of homes, apartments, and townships.
According to the Ministry of Power, the code had been prepared after due consultations with stakeholders, consisting of architects and experts including building material suppliers and developers. The parameters listed in the code have been developed based on a number of parameters such as climate and energy related data.
But for commercial buildings according to the officials of the Directorate of Energy, the last code had been formed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Union Ministry of Power under Energy Conservation Act 2001 and every state needs to amend and notify the code based on local climatic conditions for effective implementation on the ground.
Notification of Energy Conservation; A move for commercial buildings
Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country to achieve the milestone of notifying State Energy Conservation Building Code 2018 to reduce energy consumption demand in commercial buildings by 30%. This policy will be implemented in its true sense after the successful incorporation of its provisions in Town & Country Planning Rules by Town and Country Planning Department.
The HPECBC & Rules 2018 has been prepared after having vide consultation with all stakeholder departments such as Town and Country Planning Department, HPPWD, HIMUDA, Urban Development Department, HIMURJA, HPSEBL, Rural Development Department.
The insight on the details
With the mandatory implementation of the Himachal Pradesh Energy Conservation Building Code (HPEBC) & Rules, 2018, every commercial building such as educational institutes, shopping complex, hotels, hospitals, and multiplexes etc having built-up area of 750 sq meters or more shall be granted planning permission by approval or development authority only after the compliance of the provisions of this cod
Based on the provisions mentioned in the code, the climate zones in Himachal Pradesh have been divided into two categories that is areas above altitude of 1600 m from sea level shall follow requirement of cold climate conditions and areas below 1600 m from sea level shall follow requirement of composite climate conditions.
Directorate of Energy has also organized about 25 number of awareness workshops and training programs for capacity building of relevant stakeholders in every district of the state as well.