The Himachal Pradesh Energy Conservation Building Code 2018 has been notified in the State to reduce energy consumption demand in commercial buildings. Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country to achieve this milestone. 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.

A spokesman of the Directorate of Energy said here today that this code has been formed by Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, GoI under Energy Conservation Act 2001 and every state needs to amend and notify the code based on local climatic conditions for effective implementation on ground.

With the mandatory implementation of the HPECBC & Rules, 2018, every commercial building such as educational institutes, shopping complex, hotels, hospitals, and multiplexes etc having built-up area of 750 m2 or more shall be granted planning permission by approval/development authority only after the compliance of the provisions of this Code. The HPECBC-2018 is expected to reduce the energy consumption demand of commercial buildings by 30%.

Based on the provisions mentioned in the code, the climate zones in Himachal Pradesh have been divided into two categories i.e., areas above altitude of 1600m from sea level shall follow requirement of cold climate conditions and areas below 1600m from sea level shall follow requirement of composite climate conditions.

He said that the Directorate of Energy under the department of MPP & Power GoHP and Bureau of Energy Efficiency, GoI has been working diligently on this code for last two years with support of M/s Global Evolutionary Energy Design, New Delhi functioning as ECBC cell HP.

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.

Directorate of Energy has also organized about 25 number of ECBC Awareness Workshops and training programs for capacity building of relevant stakeholders in every district of the State as well.