Chandigarh tops country in energy conservation, efficiency

The city has achieved a significant milestone by securing first position in the National Energy Conservation Award (NECA) 2025 under the Group–5 category, comprising Union Territories and states, for an exemplary performance in the field of energy conservation and efficiency.

The awards are conferred annually by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, on the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day, observed on December 14 every year, to recognise outstanding achievements in energy efficiency.

The UT Administration has undertaken several landmark initiatives, including notification for procurement of minimum prescribed star-rating appliances in government buildings, preparation and implementation of the State Energy Efficiency Action Plan (SEEAP), notification of the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), promotion of electric cooking (e-cooking) and other demand-side management and sustainability measures. These concerted efforts have significantly enhanced energy efficiency outcomes across sectors and positioned Chandigarh as a leading performer at the national level.

The award has been conferred based on the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI), a comprehensive national assessment framework developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in collaboration with the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE). The index evaluates the annual energy efficiency performance of states and Union Territories across key sectors such as buildings, industry, transport and municipal services, taking into account policy implementation, institutional mechanisms, renewable energy adoption, infrastructure development and overall energy efficiency outcomes.

The award ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, where President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to UT Chief Secretary H Rajesh Prasad and Chief Engineer CB Ojha.

The energy efficiency and conservation initiatives are being steered by the Energy Management Cell (EMC), established under the Engineering Department, which functions as the nodal department of the Chandigarh Administration. The EMC played a decisive role in this achievement through planning, implementation and monitoring of energy efficiency initiatives across sectors, along with systematic data collection, compilation and submission for the State Energy Efficiency Index-2025 (SEEI) assessment.

This national recognition reflects the Chandigarh Administration’s continued commitment to strengthening energy efficiency and conservation initiatives in alignment with the sustainable development goals, with the objective of achieving Net Zero by 2047, well ahead of the national target of 2070.