KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 20

Minister of Urban Development Metmani Chaudhary and EU Ambassador to Nepal Nona Deprez jointly inaugurated the project 'Building Energy Efficiency in Nepal" at a function organised in Kathmandu today. The project is supported by EU under Switch-Asia Programme and will run for four years in 60 municipalities covering four bio-climatic zones across Bagmati, Lumbini, and Gandaki provinces.

The project aims to support building sector in achieving low-carbon and resource efficiency in Nepal by integrating energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in the design and construction of new buildings as well as retrofitting of old buildings. Austrian Ambassador to Nepal Katharina Wieser and Prof Wolfgang Streicher, University if Innsbruck also joined the launching workshop of the project virtually.

Speaking at the programme, Minister Chaudhary said the government would extend necessary support to make this project a success in greening the building sector.

EU Ambassador Deprez said, "Building sector in Nepal is the largest energy consuming sector, hence decarbonising the building sector will be a key for Nepal to achieve its net zero greenhouse gas emission target by 2045. EU, through this project, will contribute to achieve this target by making its building sector greener by integrating energy efficiency and renewable energy measures."

This project supports Sustainable Development Goals 12 (Responsible consumption and production), SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy), SDG 13 (Climate action), SDG 5 (Gender equality) as well as some of the important Nationally Determined Contribution.

Project Manager Daniel Neyer said this project would work respective associations and federations of architects, civil engineers, electrical and mechanical engineers, builders, building contractors, window fabricators, insulation providers, brick producers, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning designers.

In order to create an enabling environment for wider dissemination of energy efficiency and renewable energy, the project will work with the local and federal government agencies to devise and implement favourable policies, bylaws, regulations, guidelines and standards.

The project has four outputs related to capacity building, policy environment, financial instruments and market system. It intends to build capacities of micro, small and medium enterprises engaged in the building construction to adapt/transform their services and product offerings for energy efficient building design and construction.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 21, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.