Andhra Pradesh prepares for the NEERMAN Awards, adopts ECBC guidelines

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Government of Andhra Pradesh announced development projects aligned with the aim of better energy efficiency on Monday, August 9. Through these projects, the state government is aiming to perform well in the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)’s National Energy Efficiency Road Map For Movement Towards Affordable And Natural Habitat Awards (NEERMAN), which encourage the construction of buildings with a layout that is aligned with the Energy Conservation Building Codes (ECBC). 

State officials claim that once the commercial buildings in Andhra Pradesh adopt the ECBC guidelines, they will save over 1,542 million units (MU) of electricity, saving them Rs 881 crore per annum. The energy consumption of the domestic sector will also decrease by at least 15-20 per cent, or 3,410 MU. 

Urban development bodies in the state are requested to participate in the NEERMAN Awards and to formulate plans in alignment with the Andhra Pradesh State Energy Conservation Mission and the Sustainable Development Agendas. 

Saurabh Diddi, Director, BEE, estimated that with the adoption of the ECBC 2017, commercial buildings will save over 300 billion units by 2030. He added that it would also help in the reduction of carbon dioxide by 250 million tonnes. Srikant Nagulapalli, Energy Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh, has requested the civic bodies and urban development ministers to issue directions to the Directorate of Town and Country Planning to participate in the NEERMAN awards and ensure participation.