Bhubaneswar, Sept. 27: The development authority has selected 15 service providers to assist the buildings here in implementing the district energy system and energy efficient building codes in houses and commercial establishments.

The district energy system, an initiative of the United Nation Environment Programme, aims to help city buildings know their heating and cooling potential and restrict the use of conventional energy to save the environment. It is a process, which produces steam, hot water or chilled water at a central plant. The water was then piped underground to individual buildings for space heating, domestic hot water heating and air-conditioning in an environment-friendly manner.

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority had in June started the process of its implementation and assessed a few commercial establishments at Chandrasekharpur. The authority had then decided to implement the system on a pilot basis. The move came after the programme had selected the city for implementation of the initiative.

'We have already empanelled expert agencies, which will assist the buildings in implementing the district energy system. Now, the building owners of any kind can approach us and avail themselves of the service. They will be charged accordingly,' said an authority official.

Environmentalist Sailabala Padhi said the district energy system was a unique initiative that ensured the use of natural elements for heating and cooling of the buildings. 'It is more like sharing energy between buildings. Instead of a number of air-conditioners or other such equipment, the buildings will get the same through a central plant in a environment-friendly manner,' said Padhi.

She said the system was an approach to apply technologies to co-ordinate the production and supply heat, cool, domestic hot water and power to optimise energy efficiency. 'Climate change is a major phenomena we are facing now and such initiatives will curb its major effect,' said the environmentalist.

Besides, the selected agencies will also help the authority implement various components of the energy efficient building code such as encouraging the use of green energy - rooftop solar energy, rainwater harvesting and so on. The move aims at sustainable development of the city.

'The city is going through a transition period. More infrastructure projects are in the offing, and the environment is degrading in the name of development here. At such a moment, the administration should think of development while leaving nature unharmed. I hope such unique initiative will help the city largely,' said another environmentalist, Alok Kar.