Poor response to energy workshop

Inaugurating the workshop A Ravindra, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Urban Affairs, said the Government has already initiated a series of programmes to reduce the gap between the supply and demand of power. “At the recent Global Investors Meet, the Government signed several MoUs in the power sector to increase the capacity of power generation in the State,” he said.

He said at present the State is producing only 7,000 MW of power along with another 1,000 MW from renewable energy. “The State is still facing a shortage of 15 percent”, he said.

Ravindra said civic agencies should make concerted efforts to increase energy efficiency and  the building regulations and guidelines become important here.

He reminded people that even Vastu, a science of construction had its emphasis on energy efficiency and that the State is trying to ensure that a scientific approach is taken with the help of technology for the same.

“The guidelines prepared by TERI for the development of building regulations and guidelines to achieve energy efficiency in Bangalore have been made after a series of consultations with experts and public,” he said.

P R Dasgupta, senior advisor and co-ordinator for TERI South Regional Centre, hoped the incorporation of the guidelines formulated at the workshop would be followed not just in Bangalore, but across the State. The guidelines had to be incorporated in the building by-laws.

The 10 guidelines for energy efficiency by TERI include Solar passive design for new buildings; roof treatment to cut heat gains; window designs for air-conditioned spaces/ naturally ventilated occupied spaces; energy-efficient lighting scheme for all new and existing buildings; renewable energy-based external lighting in all new and existing commercial and multi-storeyed residential buildings; energy-efficient space conditioning in buildings; use appliances rated by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency; solar water heating systems; energy efficient electrical systems and energy audit on all commercial/institutional buildings that has a connected load of more than 500 or 600 KVA.