Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), in its World Energy Outlook 2023, report has highlighted that India’s Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), 2017 for commercial buildings sets it apart from other developing economies where “energy efficiency in buildings stands out as a laggard”.
About ECBC
- The ECBC was first released by the Ministry of Power’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in 2007, followed by an update in 2017.
- Currently, 23 states have notified rules to enforce ECBC compliance, while large states like Maharashtra and Gujarat are still in the process of drafting rules.
- ECBC sets minimum energy standards for commercial buildings, with the objective of enabling energy savings of between 25 and 50 per cent in compliant buildings.
- In order for a building to be considered ECBC-compliant, it would need to demonstrate minimum energy savings of 25%.
- The code is applicable to commercial buildings like hospitals, hotels, schools, shopping complexes, and multiplexes which have a connected load of 100 kW or more, or contract demand of 120 kVA or more.
- ECBC is for both new buildings and retrofitting existing buildings.
- While ECBC acts as a national standard, states across India have the flexibility to modify the code depending on unique regional needs.
- To enforce the code, states have to draft rules and notify them as state laws.
- Buildings in India account for 30 per cent of total electricity consumption, a figure that is expected to touch 50 per cent by 2042. Hence implementation of energy efficiency building codes like ECBC is important.
