Technical Guidelines to support building efficiency in Samarinda

Samarinda City is on its way to become environmentally friendly and give its residents a high quality of life. As part of these efforts Samarinda city government  launched the Technical Guidelines for implementing Mayoral Decree No 55/2021 relating to the efficiency of electricity and water usage in buildings in March 2023. Once implemented successfully, the technical guidelines will help achieve energy savings of up to 20% and water savings of up to 10%. 

Yeni Indra, GBPN Indonesia Sub-National Strategic Projects Lead, said that the Guidelines translate the requirements in the Mayor  Decree into technical requirements for effective implementation. 

“The regulations usually have a general idea of the building energy and water efficiency requirements. The Technical Guidelines give clear guidance on what needs to be done to achieve the expected energy and water savings,” Ms Indra explained. 

“The Mayoral Decree No 55/2021  and its Guidelines are complementary to the national regulations and cover smaller buildings to promote greater outcomes of  energy efficiency as well as emission reduction.”

Opportunity to develop environmentally friendly buildings 

Andy wachyudi, via Wikimedia Commons

The Technical Guidelines have been prepared as a design guide in building planning, including the use of Rooftop Solar Panel (PV) as an alternative of cleaner energy source. This initiative is also in line with the implementation of green building policies at the national level.

Mayor of Samarinda, Dr. H. Andi Harun said that the Technical Guideline is among the efforts of the Samarinda City Government to support the national agenda of net zero emission by 2060. 

“As one of the cities supporting growth in Central Indonesia, Samarinda needs to ensure that the development takes into account the carrying capacity of the environmental resources as well as sustainability in all sectors, including the building sector,” Dr Andi Harun said.

“The implementation of Mayoral Decree  No. 55 of 2021 and its Technical Guideline will encourage the building sector to play a more significant role in energy conservation and carbon emission reduction”. This action  will not only improve energy efficiency in buildings, but will also enable the private sector to develop more environmentally friendly buildings.”

A Use Case for Other Cities in the Region 

Samarinda is the first city in Kalimantan Islands to adopt initiatives for energy efficiency in the building sector. In terms of growth, building distribution, energy usage and behaviour, and energy demand characteristics, Samarinda represents the majority of the Indonesian built environment. This city initiative can serve as a model for other cities in terms of city-level energy conservation policy framework and implementation.. 

Dr Andi Harun said, “The Guidelines will help the City of Samarinda in achieving energy  savings of up to 20% and water savings of up to 10%, as well as serving a model  for other regions with similar characteristics in implementing measurable energy and water conservation efforts in buildings.”

Ms Indra said GBPN had worked closely with the Samarinda City government and key  stakeholders in the city’s building sector to develop the well-tailored and implementable  Technical Guidelines. 

“The work was a combination of rigorous data collection and analysis in the building industry that took into account the city’s specific circumstances and conditions, as well as a bottom-up approach to stakeholder involvement involving a series of consultations with policymakers and non-government key stakeholders. Working with associations, universities, professionals, and building owners allows us to gain essential insights into what will work to support better energy and water efficiency in Samarinda buildings.” Ms Indra said. 

According to Dr Peter Graham, GBPN Executive Director, GBPN’s bottom-up approach is key in integrating national and sub-national initiatives. 

“Local governments play a key role in supporting the national climate mitigation and adaptation agenda initiatives,” Dr Graham said.  “The Technical Guidelines initiated by the City Government of Samarinda can be replicated by other local governments to accelerate the decarbonisation of the building sector in Indonesia.”

GBPN is working with local as well as the national government agencies to support the sustainable building development agenda in Samarinda City and other areas.