By IANS
New Delhi : Commercial buildings having a load of 500 KW or more will have to implement a new Energy Conservation Code announced by the government Sunday.
Launching the code, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said the government would soon put in place an appropriate institutional structure to oversee its implementation throughout the country with involvement of the states and other stakeholders.
He said it was imperative for efficient use of energy and check leakages in energy consumption, as the country would save about Rs.20,000 crore (Rs.200 billion) by conserving only 20 percent of energy.
The code will yield annual saving of about 1.7 billion units.
It sets minimum efficiency standards or external wall, roof, glass structure, lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning of the commercial buildings in all the five climatic zones in the country. The state governments will have the flexibility to amend these codes to suit local or regional needs, Shinde said.
The states would be asked to integrate the energy codes in city bye-laws through municipalities, he said.