Focus on energy efficient houses to poor: Special CS

TIRUPATI/VIJAYAWADA: The government is preparing to implement Eco-Niwas Samhitha ECBC code in 28.3 lakh houses with support from Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP), said Ajay Jain, special chief secretary for housing department.

Addressing a seminar on Eco-Niwas Samhitha through a video conference, under the aegis of BEEP and AP State Energy Conservation Mission (APSECM) here on Friday, he said that the state government wanted to provide quality housing facilities to the beneficiaries, which could be ensured by the use of world-class energy efficiency technology.

“This technology is cost-effective and makes for a healthy ambience apart from helping to save on electricity. AP is strongly committed to providing the best housing facilities to poor”, he said while mentioning that the Eco-Niwas Samhitha is only an option but not mandatory.

Head of project management and technical unit, Indo-Swiss BEEP, Dr Sameer Maithel said that the their training on Eco-Niwas Samhitha to around 13,000 engineers and employees from the housing department and village and ward secretariats in a phased manner, would be the biggest training program in the building sector.

Municipal commissioner, P.S. Girisha said that they will be implementing various kinds of energy efficiency activities in true spirit. “We will adopt a special action plan for the implementation of EE measures in view of the future requirements”, he added.

Chairman and managing director of APSPDCL, H. Haranatha Rao, said that the power discoms have been extending full co-operation in implementing energy conservation and energy efficiency programs in the State.

“Some years back we were investing more than Rs 10 crore for every MW of solar plant. Presently, we are able to construct a solar plant for less than Rs two crore and within 3- 4 months, while a thermal plant will take more than 3-4 years”, he said.