Buildings in Chandigarh will also become environmentally responsible. Work has started in the city towards adopting Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC), due to which future big buildings will not only save electricity and water, but will also play an important role in proper disposal of waste and soil conservation.
The recently notified ECSB code by the Energy Efficiency Bureau (BEE) is set to be notified in Chandigarh in the next 6 to 8 months. At present, Chandigarh Energy Conservation Building Code-2024 (CECBC) is applicable in the city. Due to this, about 20 to 30 percent electricity is being saved every year, but now the BEE of the Central Government has amended it and added “Sustainability” to it.
Under this, buildings will not only save electricity but also water, but will also play an important role in proper disposal of waste and soil conservation. New dimensions like carbon embedded, net-zero emission, resource efficiency, clean energy have been added to it. Its purpose is also that the waste of future big buildings can be disposed of at the source level itself. BEE has asked all the states and UTs including Chandigarh to adopt it. Chandigarh has taken the initiative and started working on it.
A committee will be formed by including the corporation and the environment department
An official said that these new codes will have to be notified in place of the codes currently notified in Chandigarh. The process for this will be a little longer, because it will have to include the Municipal Corporation, the Environment Department and some other departments. A joint committee of all will also be formed, which will discuss various rules. A meeting of all the stakeholders will be called within the next one month and the department is trying to get it notified in 6 to 8 months. After being notified, it will be sent to the estate office. They will include it by amending the building bylaws, after which all the big buildings to be built in future will be built according to this code.
There will be a change in design and construction style
To comply with the rules, buildings will be designed in such a way that natural light and ventilation are maximized, reducing dependence on artificial light and air conditioning. The use of thermal insulation will increase in the roof, walls and windows, which will reduce the heat or cold coming from outside to inside and save energy. Technologies like green roof and vertical garden will be adopted. Heating, ventilation, air conditioning will be made more automated, which will reduce energy consumption. The use of building management system will increase so that energy use data can be obtained in real time.
The codes will be applicable to these buildings
Any new building to be built in the city whose connected load is 50 kW or more or the contract demand of the building is 60 KVA or more or the plot area of the building is 1000 square meters or more or the built-up area of the building is 2000 square meters or more excluding the basement. This code will be applicable to all the buildings falling under this scope.
