ENERGY AUDIT OF 24 INDUSTRIES, GOVT BUILDINGS SHOWS POTENTIAL ANNUAL SAVING OF 11,542 MW.

The Punjab Mini Secretariat in Chandigarh would be developed as the state's first energy efficient building for which national competitive bids have already been floated, a senior official here stated.

Punjab Science and Technology Secretary Vishwajeet Khanna said that tenders for the ambitious project would be opened on August 10 and would prove a tremendous energy saver for the government. The project includes installation of a solar energy system.

He said the UT Administration has been approached to make the Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat, Vidhan Sabha and the Punjab and Haryana High Court buildings energy efficient.

Similarly, all Deputy Commissioners, local government department have been requested to convert district complexes as energy efficient structures at the earliest.

Meanwhile, all future government buildings in the state would be designed in such a way as to ensure that energy consumption is minimal as in the case of Punjab Energy Development Agency's (PEDA) own Solar Passive Complex.

Khanna said that energy consumption in such energy compliant buildings could be brought down to the tune of 40 to 50 per cent.

Energy Audit of 24 industries and important government buildings has indicated a potential annual saving of 11,542 MW, he said.

Source: Hindustan Times : July 20, 2009