Islamabad, The LUMS Energy Institute (LEI) has recently launched a pivotal report titled “Sustainable Architecture: Advancing Energy Efficient Buildings,” which addresses the pressing issue of energy efficiency in Pakistan’s residential construction sector. The report emphasizes the significant role energy-efficient practices can play in reducing the country’s energy burden, particularly in the context of cooling loads during summer.
According to Lahore University of Management Sciences, Dr. Fiaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director of the LUMS Energy Institute, presented the report to an audience of policymakers, regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders. He pointed out that Pakistan spends approximately USD 100 billion on power plants, primarily to meet the summer cooling demands. Dr. Chaudhry stressed that by implementing energy-efficient practices, the country could reduce these cooling loads by at least 50%, thus saving billions of dollars.
The report delves into the challenges posed by seasonal variations in electricity usage, particularly the increased cooling loads during hot summer months, which necessitate an additional 18,000 MW of power plant capacity. This surplus capacity, largely underused for most of the year, incurs a significant cost to the national economy and has resulted in capacity payment obligations exceeding PKR 2 trillion. This financial strain is disproportionate to the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP growth.
In addressing these challenges, the report presents a comprehensive analysis of energy-efficient practices in residential construction. It explores the use of locally available materials, Building Information Modelling (BIM) results, and cost-benefit analyses, providing a roadmap for various stakeholders. The report covers an array of house types, including 5 Marla row houses, 10 Marla semi-detached houses, and 1 Kanal fully detached homes. Its findings highlight that energy-efficient building insulation is crucial for maintaining reasonable electricity usage during summer. For example, the use of energy-efficient fans can reduce load by 60%, while energy-efficient appliances can decrease energy consumption by 27%. Additionally, integrating air conditioning systems with geothermal solutions can offer a further 19% reduction in load.
The report underscores the advantages of solar panels in energy-efficient homes, where installation costs could be significantly lower than in standard homes. This study is a testament to the potential benefits of sustainable and energy-efficient practices in residential construction.
The launch event, attended by a significant number of stakeholders from the energy and construction sectors, was a momentous occasion. Dr. Chaudhry concluded by emphasizing that the report is more than an academic endeavor; it is a blueprint for the future of sustainable architecture in Pakistan, aiming to inspire a shift towards environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient building designs.