Energy Provision 2011 for buildings:
ENERCONS’s initiative to save energy
The National Energy Conservation Centre (ENERCON) has started the Energy Provisions-2011 to provide minimum requirements for energy-efficient design and construction of buildings.
According to a high official from ENERCON, these energy provisions shall apply to buildings and building clusters that have a total connected load of 100 kW or greater, or a contract demand of 125 kVA, or a conditioned area of 900 m ,or unconditioned buildings of covered area of 1200m or more.
The scope of the Energy Provisions is applicable to the following to provide minimum energy-efficient requirements for the design and construction of new buildings and their systems, new portions of existing buildings and their systems, if the conditioned area or connected load exceeds the prescribed above, new systems and new equipment in existing buildings, increase in the electricity load beyond the limit mentioned above.
The source told that Pakistan is facing a huge energy shortfall. On one hand, this has led to extended blackouts, and on the other it has made energy a very expensive commodity.
It is therefore imperative to design better systems that minimize energy consumption and improve efficiency. Energy provisions in Pakistan Building Code 1986 need to be comprehensively bolstered, so that safety and economic health of communities is protected. This has been encapsulated in these "Energy Provisions-2011" as an integral part of Pakistan Building Code 1986. The thrust of these Provisions is to provide energy efficiency benchmarks for buildings. Energy Provisions are compatible with relevant standards of ASHRAE, ANSI, ARI, ASTM etc. Revision to these Provisions will be done every three years i.e. if not required earlier, so that they are debated upon and kept continuously relevant.
He further told the energy provision shall apply to the building envelopes, building mechanical systems and equipment, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), service water heating, lighting, and electrical power and motors.
Source stressed that The Energy Provisions shall not apply to the buildings that do not use either electricity or fossil fuel, Government notified historically significant and heritage buildings and equipment and portions of building systems that use energy only for manufacturing processes. In case of any conflict, relevant Provisions of Safety, Health, or Environmental Codes shall prevail.