Digital Innovation to Promote Energy Efficient Construction in Pakistan
Cutting-edge digital tools and targeted capacity building are enabling energy-efficient and climate-smart construction across Pakistan.
Energy demand in Pakistan has increased significantly due to rapid urbanisation. Building sector alone accounts for over 60% of the country’s electricity consumption during the summer. This growing demand has significant economic, environmental, and climatic implications. To address this challenge, GIZ Pakistan, on behalf of the German development cooperation, is supporting Pakistan’s National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) for a systemic transformation in the building sector.
Establishing a Research Hub for Innovation
To promote energy efficiency through digital innovation, applied research, capacity building, and policy support, GIZ supported the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar in establishing the Buildings Energy Research Centre (BERC). With energy efficiency at its core, this research hub brings together researchers, practitioners, and students to reimagine how buildings are designed, constructed, evaluated, and managed.
Digital Tools: Bridging ECBC 2023 Implementation
BERC has developed a suite of user-friendly, free-to-use digital tools to support the implementation of the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) 2023, enabling architects, engineers, developers, and even non-experts to evaluate and improve the energy performance of buildings. These include:
- ECBC Compliance Tool: To facilitate assessment and ensure that building designs meet ECBC-2023 requirements.
- Life Cycle Analysis Tool: To calculate the embedded carbon content of construction materials and building configurations, along with cost estimates, to support sustainable design and procurement decisions.
- Building Load Calculation Tool: To assess and compare building energy loads and operational carbon emissions to support designing of energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.
“When we were designing these tools, we wanted them to be accessible to anyone even without specialised knowledge,” shared Dr Naveed Ahmad, Director BERC. “It’s about enabling everyone to take informed, energy-wise decisions using simple digital platforms.”
Capacity Development and Knowledge Sharing
Beyond tools and technology, BERC actively conducts training sessions, workshops, and pilot initiatives to build local capacity. These outreach activities have engaged professionals and students across the region, creating a growing network of energy efficiency advocates within the construction sector.
By raising awareness and building skills, the initiative contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 13 (Climate Action), while also supporting Pakistan’s National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy.
Impacting Lives and the Environment
Energy-efficient buildings deliver tangible benefits. They reduce utility costs, improve indoor air quality, and enhance resilience against extreme temperatures, including heatwaves. More broadly, they lessen Pakistan’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing climate mitigation goals.
The digitalisation of energy code compliance through BERC’s tools, together with the nationwide rollout of ECBC 2023, is already transforming how buildings are designed and regulated in Pakistan. Architects, engineers, and urban planners now have user-friendly, data-driven tools to design energy-efficient buildings that lower energy costs and strengthen climate resilience. With ECBC 2023 now legally mandatory, this initiative is driving systemic change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating Pakistan’s shift towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.