The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has set an ambitious target for Andhra Pradesh to save 6.7 million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE) energy by 2030.
This target, announced as part of the national energy efficiency roadmap, underscores the strategic shift towards sustainability, and places Andhra Pradesh among the frontrunners in transitioning to a greener economy. The roadmap identifies key sectors—industry, buildings, transport, and household appliances—as focal points for reform, marking a critical step in reducing the state’s carbon footprint.A significant pillar of this strategy is the state’s urgent push towards sustainable cooling, a growing concern as urban heat intensifies. With temperatures rising steadily across cities like Visakhapatnam, energy consumption from cooling solutions has soared.
To counter this trend, the BEE has mandated the adoption of two specialised building codes: the Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC) for commercial infrastructure and the Eco Niwas Samhita (ENS) for residential projects. These codes are expected to guide state governments and municipal bodies towards climate-resilient construction, pushing energy-smart infrastructure from exception to norm.Andhra Pradesh’s evolving urban landscape presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The state’s increasing demand for residential housing and rapid commercialisation are being recalibrated to ensure compliance with the new efficiency codes.
The ENS, in particular, addresses thermal comfort in homes without heavy reliance on artificial cooling. When implemented at scale, these interventions could significantly curb emissions while also lowering electricity bills for households—placing economic and environmental benefits hand in hand. Moreover, ceiling fans, air conditioners, and refrigerators—common sources of household energy drain—have been brought under a strict standards and labelling regime to ensure only energy-efficient appliances enter the market.The Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme has emerged as a transformative tool within this ecosystem. Initially designed for large industries to improve their energy performance, PAT has now evolved into a market-based mechanism encouraging cleaner technologies.
Andhra Pradesh’s industrial corridors, especially in steel, cement, and textiles, are already seeing ripple effects as units work towards meeting efficiency targets while monetising surplus savings. If well-executed, such programmes could provide a replicable blueprint for other Indian states navigating the clean energy transition.
While the challenges remain steep—ranging from regulatory enforcement to public adoption of newer technologies—the BEE’s strategy lays the foundation for a more energy-conscious Andhra Pradesh. What stands out is the integration of policy, innovation, and citizen participation. By linking national goals to local implementation, the roadmap offers a vision that is not only technically feasible but socially inclusive. Andhra Pradesh’s success will not just be measured in energy saved, but in how it manages to balance growth with green responsibility.
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