Andhra Pradesh tops national list in ECBC-compliant buildings
Andhra Pradesh now leads the country in energy-efficient construction, having approved the highest number of buildings under the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC). The state has cleared 786 ECBC-compliant commercial buildings, surpassing those of Telangana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, and Uttarakhand. Together, these states account for 2,446 compliant buildings, reflecting a steady national shift toward sustainable urban development.
The ECBC, introduced by the Union government, sets minimum energy performance standards for new commercial buildings. Projects that meet these standards use less electricity through better design, improved materials, and efficient systems. With India’s energy demand rising due to rapid urbanization, the code is seen as a crucial tool for achieving long-term savings and climate-resilient growth.
In Andhra Pradesh, the municipal administration and urban development department, with support from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), has led the push for wider adoption of the standards. The State Energy Conservation Mission has helped bring energy-efficient practices into urban planning and local governance.
MA&UD Minister P. Narayana said the progress reflects Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s focus on modern and resource-efficient public services. He noted that Andhra Pradesh was an early adopter of LED street lighting in Visakhapatnam in 2014, a model that later spread across the country.
Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar said the government is preparing a roadmap that draws on global best practices in transport and sustainable infrastructure to keep the state ahead in energy-efficient development. Commissioner P. Sampath Kumar added that local bodies are already seeing economic and environmental benefits, including lower emissions and better service delivery.
BEE Director General Dhiraj Srivastav has encouraged other states to speed up ECBC adoption, saying the code is central to building sustainable infrastructure under the Smart Cities Mission.