Punjab Government is making concerted efforts to make the state a “Carbon Neutral state”, and energy conservation is the focus area to abate greenhouse gas emission to save the environment. The assertions were made by the state’s New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora on Thursday while addressing the State Level Energy Conservation Day and Award function organized by Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA).

During the event, the Minister felicitated the government and private sector entities with State Energy Conservation Awards at Confederation of Indian Industrialists (CII) Northern Region Headquarters.

“Dependency on fossil fuels for power generation is high, which lead to pollution and environment hazards,” said the Minister while emphasizing that with the expansion of industry and need of more infrastructure, the demand of power is increasing day-by-day so shifting from conventional power generation to renewable energy sources such as Solar, Hydel, Biomass is the need of the hour.

Arora said: “In the state of Punjab, around 2150 MW capacity renewable energy projects have been installed which is about 16 percent of the total installed capacity. Out of which, 1200 MW capacity of solar plants installed in the State.”

Apart from this, Punjab has taken the lead to develop and notify Punjab Energy Conservation Building Code by amending National Energy Conservation Building Code for the composite climate zone applicable in the state. The implementation has started by incorporating in the building bye-laws.

Considering eight per cent growth in upcoming new commercial buildings, 18 Million Units of electricity consumption will be reduced by using Punjab ECBC leads to 15,000 ton carbon dioxide emission abatements which is equivalent to planting six lakhs trees per annum, he added.

Urging the people to use the energy judiciously, Arora stated that energy efficiency in the buildings is one of the key areas to save energy in commercial sector by adopting energy efficient design, building material and using Energy Conservation Building Code.

PEDA chairman HS Hanspal stressed to adopt renewable energy sources and use power judiciously adopting energy conservation and energy efficiency measures.