Sir: Buildings are responsible for 48 percent of the world’s energy consumption and are the single largest contributor to global warming. In Europe, buildings represent 40 percent of the European Union’s (EU) total energy consumption. Recognising the importance of energy efficiency in this sector, the EU introduced an Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in 2002 (revised in 2010) which required all EU countries to enhance their building regulations and to introduce energy certification schemes such as ‘display energy certificate’ (DEC) for their public buildings. The objective of this directive was to promote the energy performance of buildings within the European Community. A DEC rates the actual or operational energy performance of a building against established benchmarks and takes into consideration the ways in which occupants use the building. The operational rating on a DEC (A to G) illustrates how efficiently the building is using energy. Only the public buildings with an area 500 square metres or more are required to display a DEC. A similar scheme for the public sector buildings in Pakistan can result in a significant reduction in its energy demand and could promote the energy efficiency in the building sector. At present, the building sector in Pakistan represents 55 percent of its annual electricity consumption. In 2011-12, domestic buildings consumed 47 percent electricity whereas commercial buildings consumed eight per cent of the country’s total electricity. Unfortunately, there are no policies or schemes such as DEC in place that could regulate energy consumption and promote energy efficiency in the building sector of Pakistan. Dr Khuram Pervez Mirpur, Azad Kashmir