Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has decided to sanction additional 0.25 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) as an incentive to those who are willing to implement Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC).
The issue of energy consumption was discussed at the regional dialogue on sustainable buildings, organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in collaboration with Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA).
CSE Executive Director Anumita Roychowdhury said Odisha was the first State to notify ECBC in 2011. BDA has incorporated a few of the important provisions from ECBC in its building regulations and will begin implementation in a month’s time.
BDA Town and Planning member Pitobasa Sahoo said use of solar powered water heating system and roof top heating mechanism has been mandated for smaller and commercial buildings respectively. The Orissa Energy Conservation Building Code (OECBC), however, is not binding on residential buildings.
Roychowdhury said even the home appliances used in the buildings have to be energy efficient. Only then they can truly reduce energy consumption. About 40 per cent of the total electricity is consumed by buildings only.
Executive Engineer of Energy Department Pyari Mohan Mishra said energy audits will be conducted in the commercial spaces from time to time.
The environmental performance index (EPI) will be computed based on the local climatic conditions of the State. Based on the EPI of the buildings, they will have to reduce their energy consumption.
BMC Commissioner Sanjib Mishra said the public information about technology and raw material required for green buildings should be easily available.
The durability of the materials and their certification by an authorised body should also be available in public domain, he added.