DOHA: Thermal insulators for walls and electronic timers to control lighting have been made mandatory for all new buildings in the country to make them more energy-efficient.
Buildings that fail to fulfil these requirements in their designs will not be issued a licence, the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) said yesterday.
The new requirements come as part of efforts to rationalise consumption of water and electricity in the country.
Electronic timers automatically turn lights on and off, saving money and energy.
Thermal insulators prevent transmission of heat and cold to the interior of the building, reducing the use of electricity for heaters and air conditioners.
Such insulators have already been made mandatory for building roofs.
All the new buildings are required to have them on the walls as well.
Air-tight windows and ventilators are another new requirement to save electricity.
Through such measures Kahramaa expects to reduce consumption of power by 30 per cent.
The corporation is also planning to replace the CFL and halogen bulbs in buildings with a more energy-efficient lighting system.
This will be implemented in the next five years, said a statement yesterday.
It will also initiate steps to strictly implement Law No 26 of 2008 on rationalisation of water and electricity consumption.
The corporation recently issued leaflets in English and Arabic to raise awareness on the issue.
Common violations mentioned in the leaflet include leaving outdoor lights on from 7am to 4.30pm and using tap water for washing cars or cleaning building yards by a hose or other flushing tools.
The Peninsula
