Energy Conservation Building Code

(ECBC)
LECTURE-2
 ECBC: Key Features

• The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) was developed by the Govt. of
India for new commercial buildings on 27th May 2007.

• Sets minimum energy efficiency standards for design and construction

• Encourages energy efficient design or retrofit of buildings

• Ensures that the building design does not constrain the building function, comfort,
health, or the productivity of the occupants.

• Has appropriate regard for economic considerations.

 Application of ECBC

• ECBC sets minimum energy standards for new commercial buildings having a
connected load of 100kW or contract demand of 120 KVA and above.

• Buildings having 1000 sq.m. air conditioned floor area (recommended)

• New construction and major renovation.

• ECBC currently is optional

• ECBC to be made mandatory in future

• Already mandatory in few states.

• While the Central Government has powers under the EC Act 2001, the state
governments have the flexibility to modify the code to suit local or regional needs
and notify them.

• The ECBC defines norms of energy performance and takes into consideration the
climatic regions of the country where the building is located.
 ECBC: Types of Building Covered

ECBC apply to any building that is not in the residential, agricultural and industrial
sector.
 Applicable to Buildings

• Building components included:

o Building envelope (walls, roofs, windows)
o Interior and exterior lighting
o HVAC system
o Service water heating and pumping
o Electrical systems (power factor, transformer)
 Impact of ECBC – Energy Savings

• Average energy use: For light and HVAC a typical class A office building consumes
200kWh/sq.m./Yr.
• Mandatory enforcement of ECBC is likely to reduce the energy use by 30-40% to
120-160 200kWh/sq.m./Yr.
• Energy saving as per BEE estimate – Saving of 1.7 billion kWh, with national
mandatory enforcement, in the first year itself.
• Example:
o Area of existing office = 900sq.m. AC area
o Additional area of office = 450 sq.m. proposed to b AC
o Code applies to 450 sq.m. area that is being converted to AC
 Impact of ECBC Compliance

• Market development for energy efficient products

o Building insulation
o Energy efficient windows
o High efficiency HVAC systems
• Improved design practices
o Lighting and day lighting
o Natural ventilation/ free cooling system
• Improved building performance
• Lower HVAC load
• Lesser addition of power generation capacity
 ECBC Exemptions

Following building types are exempted from following the process to be an ECBC:
Alterations covered under ECBC
 ECBC: Alterations Included

ECBC is applicable to these alterations:

 ECBC: Alterations Excluded

ECBC is not applicable to these alterations:

 ECBC: Climate Zone Specific Application

ECBC suggests different compliance standards for these climate zones:

 ECBC: Provisions

ECBC provisions apply to:

ECBC: Routes of Compliance
ECBC: Modes of Compliance
 ECBC: Perspective Methods

All building components need to comply the code individually. This is likely to increase
the initial cost of buildings. However, in the long run energy consumption would reduce
and result in net saving. For envelope, trade off is permitted.
ECBC: Trade off Method
 ECBC: Simulation Method

Simulation method:
ECBC: Major Implications
ECBC: Major Implications
ECBC: Macro Level Benefits