ECBC

• To institutionalize energy efficiency in the country, the Government of

India enacted the Energy Conservation Act in 2001.

• Under the EC Act 2001, the Government of Indian established Bureau of

Energy Efficiency (BEE) in March 2002, a statutory authority under the
Ministry of Power (MoP) to enact and enforce energy efficiency policies
through various regulatory and promotional measures.

• The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), was set up by Bureau of

Energy Efficiency (BEE) with the help of United States Agency for
International Development (USAID).

• ECBC was launched by Ministry of Power, Government of India in May

2007, as a first step towards promoting energy efficiency in the building
sector.

• Provides minimum energy performance standards for large commercial

buildings with a connected load of 100 kW and above.

• The ECBC is currently a voluntary programme, with a number of states

adopting it as a mandatory requirement.

• LEED and Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) rating
systems have adopted ECBC as a minimum compliance requirement.

• Aims at reducing building energy consumption and promote low-carbon

growth. It sets parameters for builders, designers and architects to
integrate renewable energy sources in building design with the inclusion
of passive design strategies.

• The code aims to optimise energy savings with the comfort levels for
occupants, and prefers life-cycle cost effectiveness to achieve energy
neutrality in commercial buildings.
• The ECBC provides design norms for:

1. Building envelope- It sets the thermal performance requirements for

 walls, roofs,skylights and fenestrations.

 Building envelope sealing and insulations

2. Lighting system,

 Requirement of day lighting, lamps and luminaire performance

 Equipment efficiency and lighting controls

3. HVAC system

 Importance of Natural ventilation, stack effect

 Building orientation and wind movement
 energy performance of air conditioners, chillers and air distribution
systems;

4. Electrical system: Sets standards for

 Transformers
 Energy efficient motors
 Power factor correction
 Electrical metering and monitoring
 Power distribution system

5. Water heating and pumping systems, including requirements for solar hot-
water systems.