Telangana first state to comply with ECBC guidelines: Arvind Kumar

Principal Secretary Municipal Administration Arvind Kumar today said that Telangana is the first state in the country to comply with Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) guidelines.

Addressing the second regional workshop to implement energy conservation building code in India, Arvind Kumar said that 13 states have so far notified the ECBC-2017 guidelines but no state has so far come with implementation protocol. Similarly GHMC is the first ULB in the country to be ECBC compliant. All the 21 new integrated collectorate complexes coming up in the state are ECBC compliant. The ECBC compliance has been incorporated in the online building approval system (DPMS) of urban local bodies which is first time in India. As many as 38 ECBC third party assessors are empanelled with the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation and GHMC. This system is also established for the first time in the country in any urban local body for energy efficiency compliance in building construction.

Arvind Kumar said that GHMC has also issued licences to empanelled third party assessors which is also a first time in the country. "The government will also engage with the builders to discuss the cost economics and also to spread awareness among the building community that technology is available for cool roof concept. The heat action plan 2018 which has been formulated will be taken to the logical conclusion. The government will also come out with electric vehicle policy shortly," he said.

He urged the Bureau of Energy Efficiency should incentivise the urban local bodies for their contribution towards encouraging ECBC compliance. He also assured the state government's unstinted support in ensuring more and more buildings switch to energy saving technologies.

Saurabh Diddi, Director Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Rajeev Ralhan, Director Clean Energy, PWC India, Dr Usha Ramachandra, area chairperson, ASCI and GSV Prasad GM TSREDCO spoke on the occasion.