The draft Tamil Nadu Energy Conservation Building Code that seeks to promote energy conservation steps in buildings, is already in circulation and will be notified after being considered by the government, said S. Appavoo, Chief Electrical Inspector, here on Thursday.
“The draft is in circulation and will be placed before an empowered committee headed by the Chief Secretary,” Mr. Appavoo said on the sidelines of an energy conservation awareness meet organised by the Tamil Nadu Electrical Inspectorate.
Mr. Appavoo indicated that the building code could be made mandatory for commercial and other major buildings by incorporating appropriate changes in municipal laws. A waste heat recovery policy would be evolved soon, he added.
Mr. Appavoo said that the State government had taken steps to promote energy conservation in public buildings. Incandescent bulbs had been banned and three-star energy efficiency rating had been mandatory for electrical appliances procured by government departments.
Forty-one energy intensive industrial consumers have been asked to reduce their consumption, with specific targets, by March 2015. While consumers achieving the targets will get energy savings certificates, those failing to do so could attract penalties. The Tamil Nadu Electrical Inspectorate, which has been coordinating the energy conservation measures of various agencies, had been engaged in promoting awareness of the best practices towards achieving energy efficiency. Reducing energy consumption and consumption of fossil fuels was essential to ensure sustainable development, he said. Collector Jayashree Murlidharan, who released pamphlets and other publicity material on energy conservation, urged government officials to prevent wasteful use of energy in public buildings. Besides, energy conservation should be promoted among people by publicising tips on proper use of electrical appliances.
