In a milestone event, the LUMS Energy Institute (LEI), a research
and capacity building centre with a focus on Pakistan’s energy sector, has
unveiled a report titled Sustainable
Architecture: Advancing Energy Efficient Buildings. The report addresses the acute energy challenge and how adopting
energy-efficient practices in residential construction can drastically reduce
loads.
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While addressing policymakers, regulatory
bodies, and key stakeholder, Dr. Fiaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director, LUMS Energy
Institute, said, “Pakistan's expenditure of nearly USD 100 billion on power
plants, predominantly for summer cooling loads, is unsustainable. By adopting
the energy-efficient practices we can reduce cooling loads by at least 50%,
saving billions of dollars.”
The seasonal variation in electricity
usage, pronounced by cooling loads during hot summer months, necessitates an
additional 18,000 MW of power plant capacity. This extra capacity, largely
underutilized for the rest of the year, imposes a staggering cost of nearly
$100 billion on the national economy. This operational inefficiency has led to
capacity payment obligations surpassing PKR 2 trillion, a financial weight
bearing down on a sector that contributes minimally to the country's GDP
growth.
The report demonstrates how adopting
energy-efficient practices in residential construction can drastically reduce
these loads. Through a comprehensive exploration of locally available
materials, Building Information Modelling (BIM) results, and cost-benefit
analysis, the report provides a roadmap for stakeholders, homeowners, the construction
industry, and regulatory bodies to embrace sustainable practices. The publication
provides an exhaustive analysis across 5 Marla row houses, 10 Marla
semi-detached houses, and 1 Kanal fully detached homes. The study evaluated the
cooling loads, revealing that energy-efficient building insulation is
fundamental to keeping electricity usage in the hot summer months at reasonable
levels. For instance, energy efficient fans can reduce load by 60%, and
energy-efficient appliances can cut energy consumption by 27%. The integration
of air conditioning systems with geothermal solutions offers a further 19%
reduction in load. The study emphasizes the substantial benefits of powering
houses with solar panels, particularly in energy-efficient homes, where installation
costs could be 50% lower than standard homes.
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A large gathering of policymakers,
regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders related to energy and construction
sectors witnessed the momentous ceremony and commended the efforts of the LUMS
Energy Institute. Concluding his observations at the event, Dr. Chaudhry
highlighted, "This report is not just an academic exercise; it is a
blueprint for the future of sustainable architecture in Pakistan. We aim to
inspire change in how buildings are designed and constructed, focusing on
environmental sustainability and energy efficiency."