InfoPoint conference: Shaping Nepal’s building sector towards low-carbon and resource efficiency

Building landscape in Nepal

Contemporary buildings in Nepal are poorly designed to account for local climate variations. Buildings are designed in similar manner, regardless of their location at an elevation of 150 meters, where summer temperatures can soar to a scorching 45 degrees Celsius, or at an altitude of 3500 meters, where winter temperatures can plummet to minus 15 degrees Celsius. This has resulted in an uncomfortable thermal environment within the building leading to an escalating reliance on energy-intensive heating and cooling solutions, with some buildings using up to 60% of their energy for heating and cooling. Furthermore, the widespread use of energy-intensive materials like bricks, cement, and iron bars contributes to a significant carbon footprint, hindering Nepal's goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

Challenges for people in building landscape

As climate change accelerates and occurrence of more extreme weather events such as heat and cold waves, the intense impacts on buildings are becoming increasingly evident. A study by the BEEN Project found a 2.5°C difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, indicating poor building design. Vulnerable populations, particularly children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, are disproportionately impacted by extreme temperatures. 

Research shows rising mortality rates from heatwaves among the elderly and children, and increasing cold-related deaths in Nepal. Women, especially during pregnancy, are more vulnerable to heat-related health risks. The growing use of air conditioning is contributing to urban heat island making more vulnerable for poorer people who cannot afford cooling solutions, further deepening social inequalities. The economic impact is also significant, with many women in Nepal’s home-based workforce losing productivity due to extreme heat or cold within buildings. Many buildings in Nepal fail to address the thermal needs of vulnerable groups due to poor design, inadequate insulation, and lack of affordable cooling and heating options.

Efforts of BUILDING Energy Efficiency in Nepal (BEEN) Project 

The BEEN project engaged with multiple stakeholders to promote low-carbon and resource-efficient practices in Nepal's building landscape aiming at achieving thermal safety for inhabitants. The BEEN project adopted four-pillar approach to foster systemic change in the building sector: 

1. capacity building of the private service providers along the building construction value chain (micro, small and medium enterprises-MSMEs) through their business associations to ensure sustainable supply; 
2. market enlargement for private service providers and awareness of homeowners or end users through digital and conventional match-making services
3. engaging with financial institutions to introduce preferential financial instruments that attract end users to invest on design and construction of energy-efficiency (EE) and renewable-energy (RE) integrated buildings as well as producers of resource efficient building materials; 
4. engaging with local government and federal government agencies to create policy provisions that enable adoption of EE and RE practices in buildings.

Progress of BUILDING Energy Efficiency in Nepal (BEEN) Project

So far, the BEEN project has made significant progress in setting the stage for promotion and scaling up to make a lasting impact at a larger scale:

• Evidence Generation: Generated field-based evidence for each of the four bioclimatic zones through various studies including the simulations of buildings to inform development of policies as well as the technical guidelines.
• Energy Savings: Demonstrated the possibility of gaining 28 to 36% energy savings in various bio-climatic zones.
• CO2 reduction: Able to reduce 165.5 tons of CO2 with promotion of resource-efficient building materials.
• By-laws and SOPs: 24 out of 40 municipalities have approved Building By-Laws or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), a first in Nepal. 439 technical staff of 59 municipalities have been trained in operationalizing the policy provisions.
• Government Support: The Government of Nepal (GON) has committed to promoting EE buildings in its 2024/2025 budget and its 16th 5-year periodic plan.
• Collaboration with DUDBC: Collaboration with Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC), the technical department of GON, has supported in institutionalizing the policy framework and the technical guidelines at the national level, which possibly could go beyond the partner 60 municipalities.
• Capacity Building: 535 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have been trained.
• Financial Instruments: Two subsidized loan products were created and rolled out.
• Awareness of End Users: Around 196,165 people were made aware of EE building benefits through various media channels.

Speakers

• Francesca Cuccia, Environment, Green Economy, Sustainable Consumption and Production, INTPA C3- East Asia and the Pacific
• Daniel Neyer, Project Leader, BUILDING Energy Efficiency in Nepal (BEEN) Project
• Suyesh Prajapati, Team Leader, BEEN Project
• Usha Maskey, Adviser, BEEN Project
• Ranjan Prakash Shrestha, Senior Programme Manager, EUD

Language: English

Q&A session languages: English 

Registration

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