Bangladesh is experiencing an energy disaster, forcing the building sector to rethink the create and repairs of structures. The country’s energy generating and distribution networks are suffering under the rising energy wants of residential, commercial, and industrial amenities.
On this case, building energy retrofitting is wanted and no longer merely a query of innovation.
Energy retrofitting is the approach of making present constructions more energy-efficient. The installation of energy-efficient windows, HVAC systems, better insulation, and renewable energy sources treasure solar panels will not be contemporary steps on this direction of. Given the rising tension on Bangladesh’s energy infrastructure, retrofitting is a viable technique for lowering the operational energy query of constructions.
Most contemporary records emphasises how urgent the scenario is. Almost 40% of the nation’s total energy consumption is attributed to the building sector, in step with the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Affirm Authority (SREDA).
A huge amount of right here is utilised, especially within the commercial and residential sectors, for lighting fixtures and cooling. Bangladesh’s sizzling and humid weather makes this worse, which drives up query for cooling devices treasure fans and air conditioners.
Furthermore, as a results of increasing urbanisation, more constructions are being built, which is able to worsen the energy disaster within the occasion that they are built and tear inefficiently. Energy outages and energy rationing, which own a adverse quit on homes, and industries, own been imposed by the government because the energy disaster deepens.
The nation seen protracted load-shedding within the summertime of 2023 as a results of a shortfall of gas affords for energy period, which turned into once made worse by an amplify within the label of energy globally. The federal government’s emphasis on the consume of fossil fuels—essentially gas—to generate electrical energy has proven unsustainable given the notify of the enviornment financial system on the present time.
It’s more valuable than ever for constructions to adopt sustainable energy practices and amplify their energy effectivity. No longer totally does retrofitting constructions to amplify their energy effectivity address the unique energy disaster, nonetheless it absolutely moreover supports Bangladesh’s purpose to lowering greenhouse gas emissions in step with the Paris Agreement.
The building substitute relies carefully on fossil fuels to generate energy, it contributes very a lot to CO2 emissions. Constructing retrofitting with energy-saving applied sciences is a truly valuable allotment of Bangladesh’s native weather alternate view because it will fair tremendously decrease emissions.
Energy retrofitting moreover has important financial advantages. Energy-efficient retrofitted constructions lead to diminished electrical energy costs for corporations and families. That is terribly wanted for urban heart-class and decrease-class households, as energy bills in most cases memoir for a gigantic amount of household costs. Energy retrofitting can boost substitute profitability by cutting costs connected to operations. Initiatives for retrofitting can moreover stimulate the financial system by generating jobs within the building and renewable energy sectors. However, Bangladesh’s adoption of energy retrofitting is aloof downhearted despite its definite advantages.
The lack of information of making developers and owners relating to the long-time length advantages of energy-efficient constructions is view of as one of the vital important barriers. Retrofitting just isn’t viewed by many as an investment that will pay for itself within the long tear, nonetheless somewhat as an pointless expense. Any other barrier to retrofitting is its excessive upfront label, critically for residential constructions where owners attain not own the funds on hand for vital energy-effectivity improvements.
The consume of presidency incentives could even be very invaluable in eliminating these barriers. There are not many fiscal incentives or subsidies available in Bangladesh correct now to promote energy-efficient retrofitting. More building owners would focus on to undertake energy retrofitting if tax credits, subsidies, or low-passion loans had been made available.
It’s moreover wanted to alternate building criminal guidelines and laws to require energy effectivity in both newly constructed and present constructions. The Bangladesh National Constructing Code has sure energy-saving measures, nonetheless enforcement is aloof inadequate. Retrofitting tactics could per chance fair change into widely dilapidated if incentives and a stronger regulatory framework are in region. Besides, engineers’ and architects’ contributions to the motive leisurely energy retrofitting are wanted.
Essentially the most recent retrofitting systems and energy-efficient technology must always be taught to building professionals. In Bangladesh, a huge collection of architectural and engineering establishments proceed to region a proper emphasis on feeble building create and construction tactics, giving sustainability and energy effectivity less consideration. Future professionals will likely be better ready to address the energy danger by in conjunction with classes on renewable energy systems, building simulation, and energy retrofitting to the curriculum.
Already, the non-public sector is initiating to switch on this route. The consume of solar panels, LED lighting fixtures, and energy-efficient windows, a couple of progressive developers in Chittagong and Dhaka own begun integrating energy retrofitting into their construction initiatives. Retrofitting has not yet been widely adopted by the synthetic as a total, and these examples are aloof few and a ways between.
Energy retrofitting must always be prioritised by all parties fervent—government, substitute, and the not contemporary public—given the significance of the energy danger. The plenty of is a construction substitute that just isn’t long-time length sustainable, ongoing energy outages, and extending energy costs. Retrofitting is wanted to Bangladesh’s transition to a more important and energy-efficient future; it is not a luxury.
Constructing energy retrofitting affords a workable technique to reduce the reveal energy say and opens the door for Bangladesh’s construction sector to change into more environmentally friendly. Retrofitting is wanted for the long tear of the nation because it lowers costs, reduces emissions, and improves energy effectivity.
Adopting energy-efficient practices must always turn correct into a high precedence because the building substitute expands in repeat to construct sure that Bangladesh can meet its energy wants without sacrificing its environmental targets. Acting now could well be wanted to forestall the energy disaster from getting worse and the probability for sustainable direct from disappearing.
Dr Sajal Chowdhury is an architect, educator on the Department of Architecture, CUET and researcher focusing on Environmental Ride Execute, Architectural Science and Effectively-being.
