The state government has made Andhra Pradesh Energy Conservation Building Code (APECBC) mandatory to get building approvals for all commercial buildings with a plot area of 1,000 square metres or built-up area of 2,000 square metres. Compliance of APECBC is now mandatory for all multiplexes, hospitals, hotels and convention centres irrespective of their built-up area.

The state government took the decision as part of implementation of energy efficiency methods to save power. A circular memo has been issued upgrading GO ECBC 2017 by municipal administration department, enabling the ECBC clause in online building permission application platform.

Speaking at the valedictory function of energy conservation week, energy secretary Nagulapalli Srikant said a study conducted by the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) found that nearly 30 per cent energy can be saved through adoption of ECBC.

The Andhra Pradesh State Energy Conservation Mission (APSECM) is coordinating with municipal administration department. APSECM has empanelled 34 third party assessors to check ECBC compliancein all upcoming commercial buildings.

Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) commissioner, P Lakshmi Narasimham, said that growing population and rapid urbanisation have resulted in constant increase in energy demand.