Pakistan’s Sustainable Energy Future: Building Code to Slash Fossil Fuel Reliance and Fight Climate Change
Pakistan is striving to reduce its high reliance on imported fossil fuels for power generation with a concerted effort targeting residential buildings. The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC 2023), developed by the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) with the support of the German Development Cooperation, was approved last year by the Cabinet Committee on Energy. This was the first step in the decarbonisation process of the building sector. The Government of Pakistan through the Ministry of Energy (MoE) has now officially notified the ECBC 2023 as a mandatory code for the construction of new buildings in Pakistan. The ECBC 2023 sets clear standards promoting energy-efficient designs and practices. By following these guidelines, new buildings will consume significantly less energy, reducing our national energy footprint and paving the way for a more sustainable future.
Building Energy Efficiency as a Response to Economic Challenges
Pakistan’s high import bill on fossil fuels for power generation is contributing to the ever-expanding trade deficit and high inflation in the country. Residential buildings are consuming more than 50% of the country's electricity while the rapid urbanisation has spurred a substantial demand for new housing. This will eventually increase the demand for energy. Therefore, improving energy efficiency and conservation in the building sector is high on the political agenda as this will help reduce Pakistan’s dependence on imported energy sources, thereby relieving the pressure on the limited foreign exchange reserves.
Fostering Collaboration to Support Implementation
The Building Transition project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is supporting NEECA to roll out implementation of the ECBC 2023. As part of this support, our partner the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar has established a Building Energy Research Center (BERC). BERC is a new institute dedicated to advancing knowledge in the field of energy efficiency in the building sector. It will be offering Master's and PhD research programmes for tackling various building energy topics. The aim is to foster expertise within Pakistan and encourage collaboration and knowledge exchange with international institutes to create a global network for sustainable building practices.
Beyond academic initiatives, GIZ Pakistan is supporting the development of practical tools to facilitate the implementation of ECBC 2023. UET Peshawar has developed a comprehensive ECBC Implementation Manual, a user-friendly checklist to ensure compliance with energy conservation building codes. Additionally, a set of publicly accessible online tools have been developed to enable individuals to assess buildings, determine material quantities and consumption levels, and ensure compliance to ECBC regulations. This will help stakeholders at all levels to make informed decisions for building a more energy-efficient future. Moreover, the federal and provincial building regulatory authorities will receive capacity building support to understand and enforce the new building regulations outlined in ECBC 2023. This collaborative approach aims at ensuring a smooth transition and widespread adoption of these crucial energy-saving measures.
The implementation of the ECBC 2023 presents a significant opportunity for Pakistan to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and become a leader in sustainable building practices. This collaborative effort between Pakistan and Germany paves the way for a greener future, fostering energy independence, economic stability, and a significant step towards national decarbonisation goals.
Driven by the vision to promote energy efficiency, environmentally friendly solutions, and efficient use of resources in the construction sector, Germany is supporting Pakistan to make the construction industry eco-friendly by using sustainable building materials, reducing energy use on construction sites, and extending the lifespan of existing buildings.