Talking about Energy Efficiency at ANGAN (Augmenting Nature by Green Affordable New-habitat) -International Conference 2019.

• 13 February, 2020
• International Blogs

Introduction:

With a rapidly growing urban population, India is in the midst of becoming the first political entity to be home to more than 1.5 billion people by 2030 (IDB, 2012). To provide infrastructural support and adequate housing for this growing population, India needs to build 700 to 900 million square meters of commercial and residential space every year (The Indian Economic Survey 2017-18). To ensure that this development is achieved sustainably, alternative low-carbon pathways need to be envisaged such that it does not stress our existing stock of resources and meets the requirements of healthy, liveable habitat.

As per international commitments, India plans to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030 from 2005 levels. Since the energy consumption of residential and commercial buildings represented about 33% of total delivered energy consumption in India in 2015 it will be integral to achieve this reduction by integrating energy efficiency in the buildings sector. The delivered energy consumption for residential and commercial buildings in India is expected to increase by an average of 2.7% per year between 2015 and 2040, more than twice the global average increase (EIA’s International Energy Outlook 2017).

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Government of India and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, under the Indo-German Technical Cooperation, have jointly agreed to promote the “Indo-German Energy Programme (IGEN)”. One of the goals of IGEN is to promote energy efficiency in the buildings sector. In this context, BEE and GIZ envisaged ANGAN (Augmenting Nature by Green Affordable New - habitat), an International Conference & Exhibition on Buildings Energy Efficiency, which was eventually organized at Hotel The LaLiT, New Delhi from 9th to 11th September, 2019.

The theme of the Conference “Augmenting Nature by Green Affordable New-habitat” (ANGAN) reflects the paradigm shift that is underway to meet India’s NDCs under the Paris Climate Agreement, 2015 and to facilitate successful implementation of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, 2008.

The Conference witnessed a record engagement of 110 speakers (21 international and 89 national) and 1000 participants in 99 sessions, including thematic tracks, keynotes, panel discussions and media sessions! Similarly, the Exhibition was endorsed by 71 representatives from 39 organizations (29 national and 10 international). The success of the event can be gauged from the fact that it brought stakeholders from more than eleven nationalities on a common platform to address critical issues in the domain of building energy efficiency.

ANGAN served as a platform to deliberate on interdependence between organizations, systemic sustainability management, and feedback loops for better resource efficiency. Eminent speakers and dignitaries around the world gathered to discuss and deliberate on the aspects of sustainability in the context of inclusiveness, international cooperation and education.

Mission

To foster strategic national and international partnerships, networks and information exchange to promote adoption of energy efficient habitat through collaborative actions

In order to streamline and provide assistance a Technical Advisory Committee has formed, headed by DG, BEE. Regular committee meetings and their inputs had helped in organizing the conference successfully within the limited time.The three-day conference consisting of 99 sessions, including 18 thematic tracks, 3 keynotes, panel discussions and media sessions, gathered participation from more than 11 countries, 110 speakers and 951 participants. Shri. Raj Pal, Economist Advisor, Ministry of Power and Shri. Abhay Bakre, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, inaugurated the conference in the presence of eminent experts of the field. Eminent speakers, delegates, experts and policy-makers like Dr Ajay Mathur (Director General, The Energy and Research Institute), Mr. Sonam Wangchuk (Founder Director, SECMOL), Ar. Prem Nath, Architect and Interior Designer and other national and international speakers deliberated on different themes and discussed on various aspects of sustainable means of achieving energy efficiency and lowering the environmental impacts in construction and operation of buildings.

Sonam Wangchuk, Engineer, innovator and education reformist deliberated about various human activities affecting the climate change. He shared his experiences on how he has started Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), to address the problems of the younger generation and their lack of focus and cultural confusion. He also shared the information about famous construction of Ice-Stupa, technique used for storing winter water and other energy efficiency measures.

The conference has served as platform for many eminent speakers and dignitaries who presented their research/work on current scenario of energy efficiency in buildings which affect occupants of the building. Various profound aspects like Climate Resilience in Buildings, Emerging Construction Materials & Technologies, Net zero buildings, Circular Economy, Renewables, Policy Enforcement & Implementation have been discussed and provided insightful knowledge of Building Energy Efficiency & its importance.

International delegate Dr. David Goldstein, Energy Co-Director, NRDC, USA addressed about the theme of the conference. With more than 140 representatives from the Government of India, ANGAN 2019 helped to build capacity among Indian policy makers at all levels of the government and to equip them with greater knowledge and skills to develop and implement energy efficiency initiatives in the buildings sector. The inaugural session was ended with Special address by Dr. Winfried Damm, Director, IGEN, Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Managing Director at Energy Efficiency Services Limited and Vote of Thanks by Mr. Saurabh Diddi, Director, Bureau of Energy Efficiency.

As part of this event, an exhibition on on Energy Efficient Building was organized inaugurated by Shri. Abhay Bakre, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency. The exhibition endorsed by 71 representatives from 40 organizations (30 national and 10 international) like Energy Efficient Building Material Suppliers, Technology suppliers, Research Institutions and Universities. The exhibitors showcased latest technologies, building materials etc in the Building Energy Efficiency Sector. The Delegates had opportunities to interact with building experts and policy makers and understand the economically viable options in the construction of Commercial Buildings as well as Residential Building Sector. Apart from energy savings, the emphasis is also given to other resources like water and other materials that can be saved in Building sector.

The success of the event can be gauged from the fact that it brought stakeholders from more than eleven nationalities on a common platform to address critical issues in the domain of building energy efficiency.