ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy (Energy Department), Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari, has written to all regional chief ministers, the chief minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the federal ministers for planning, science and technology, urging them to implement the law. Energy Conservation Building Code 2023 (ECBC-2023) within their respective building regulations areas.
In his messages, the Minister stressed the importance of implementing these rules to enhance energy efficiency and reduce waste. He pointed out that inefficient use of electricity in buildings leads to unnecessarily high electricity bills.
In addition, he noted that during the peak summer months, the energy sector is forced to maintain many expensive power plants to manage 60 to 80 hours of peak load demand, even though these plants remain underutilized for most of the year. , resulting in “capacity payments” and other costs added to the overall electricity tariff.
The minister also stated that energy-efficient buildings can reduce heating demand during the winter, thus reducing the country’s dependence on natural gas.
Addressing the issue of peak load management, the Federal Minister explained that the need to maintain costly power plants is primarily due to the inability to meet demand at peak times.
The implementation of ECBC-2023 aims to reduce operational costs in the energy sector and reduce peak demand through efficient energy use.
In his letter, the Federal Minister proposed a two-pronged strategy to ensure sustainable development in the energy sector and promote economic growth through energy-efficient building practices: (1) review of existing regulations by relevant development authorities, building control authorities, municipalities, and local governments; (2) Integrate these symbols into annual development programs.
The Minister expressed confidence that implementing these regulations would significantly reduce operating costs and promote sustainable development.
He also noted the approval of ECBC-2023 by the Federal Cabinet and the National Economic Council (NEC) in his message.
This initiative is expected to promote energy conservation in the building sector, reduce electricity costs, and pave the way for a more sustainable energy infrastructure in Pakistan.
For public awareness and benefit, the complete ECBC-2023 guidelines are available on the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) website at https://neeca.gov.pk/Download.