The Energy Conservation Building Code (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. It is estimated that the nationwide mandatory enforcement of the Code will yield considerable annual energy savings. This, coupled with the fast growing building sector, is likely to result in a big leap towards achieving nation’s energy efficiency goals. The ECO-III Project has played a significant role in providing continuous support to Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) towards developing and improving the Code, enhancing awareness and capacity building for its implementation in the country.
Objectives
- Provide technical support to BEE to implement the ECBC in a rigorous manner
- Develop reference material and documentation to support the Code
- Develop ECBC Training material for workshops and training programs
- Develop a road map for ECBC implementation
Accomplishments
- Developed a report on “Energy Conservation Building Code Implementation Strategy in India” in partnership with Bureau of Energy Efficiency and CEPT University.
- Developed ECOnirman Prescriptive tool, a web-based tool for checking conformance with the ECBC using the Prescriptive method. It enables building developers and designers to test their building design against the prescriptive requirements of the code. ECOnirman Prescriptive tool is a web-based conformance tool that can be made available to users over the Internet with minimal software requirements or building science expertise. It can be used with minimal learning involved. Being a web-based tool, it allows design teams to collaborate remotely. The tool requires inputs from the user to arrive at conformance results for different buildings components. A report that may be submitted to demonstrate conformance with the ECBC can be generated. Key features of the tool are:
- Facilitates the users in assessing if a building meets the conformance requirements, keeping in view the five climatic zones in India as specified in the ECBC
- Generates conformance reports that compile the data provided by the user; also indicates if the systems and sub-systems of the building are conforming or not conforming to code requirements
- Stores multiple building projects under a single user profile
- Stores the information in a central database for future reference, review, edit, and analysis purposes
- Keeps the information secured and confidential
- Is available in the public domain for easy access to the users
- Offers an additional option of checking the conformance of building envelope usingthe Trade-off option
- Developed ECOnirman Whole Building Performance tool, a web-based building energy simulation tool for checking conformance with the ECBC using the Whole Building Performance method. It enables building developers and designers to test their building design using the energy simulation protocol established in Appendix B of the code. ECOnirman Whole Building Performance tool also predicts the performance of the building in terms of its annual energy consumption normalized to the building area. Being a web-based energy simulation tool, it can be made available to users over the Internet with minimal software requirements and building science or simulation expertise. The tool runs the Standard Design (baseline parameters from the ECBC prescriptive requirements) and the Proposed Design (user specified inputs that allow the user to modify the ECBC prescriptive requirements) versions of the building and compares the Energy Performance Intensity (EPI) from the simulation results. A report that may be submitted to demonstrate conformance with the ECBC, can be generated. Key features of the tool are:
- Facilitates the users in assessing if a building meets the conformance requirements, keeping in view the five climatic zones in India as specified in the ECBC
- Generates a building’s conformance report that compiles the data provided by the user and also indicates if the systems and sub-systems of the building are conforming or not conforming with the code requirements
- Stores multiple building projects under a single user profile
- Stores the information in a central database for future reference, review, edit, and analysis purposes
- Keeps the information secured and confidential
- Is available in public domain for easy access to the users
- Prepared and launched a Standardized ECBC Training Package towards institutionalization of ECBC training and certification program. This package consists of eight modules and is designed as a two-day program, at the end of which a test may be administered. A sample question bank for the test has also been created.
- Organized a Roundtable in August 2011 with BEE and ECBC experts to discuss the framework for Institutionalization of the ECBC Training and Certification program. This has led to the convening of a high-level committee comprised of some of the leading educational institutes towards preparing a framework for the ECBC certification test, and recognition of the ECBC Training material prepared by the ECO-III Project as the recommended course material for the ECBC certification exam.
- Developed an ‘ECBC User Guide’ to provide technically rigorous and reliable information to building designers and developers to facilitate faster incorporation and implementation of ECBC in building designs. Printed 6,500 copies of the User Guide for distribution to stakeholders.
- Developed ‘ECBC Tip Sheets’ on Building Envelope, Building Lighting Design, HVAC Systems, and Energy Simulation. Nearly 20,000 copies of the Tip Sheets have been printed for distribution to stakeholders.
- Developed Glazing Design and Selection Guide, Lighting Design Guide, and Cool Roof Application Guide.
- Participated in the revision of ECBC 2007 (Revised version, May 2008), in consultation with BEE.
- Trained approximately 1,000 concerned professionals/officials on ECBC.
- Convened a national-level workshop on Network for Energy Efficiency in the Building Sector - Standards, Education and Information Technology – aimed at evaluating the multi-disciplinary facets of incorporating energy efficiency in buildings, exploring opportunities for incorporating advanced technology / information processes and systems during the building process (design, construction and operations) to enhance energy efficiency, and evaluating the status of capacity building by identifying the gaps and opportunities in various sectors for implementation of energy efficient buildings, in partnership with Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) and TUV.
- Organized several ECBC Awareness workshops (New Delhi, Chandigarh, Vadodara and Pune with BEE, PEDA, GEDA and MEDA), in association with BEE.
- Conducted one-day ECBC training for officials of UT Chandigarh in partnership with BEE.
- Conducted a simulation based parametric analysis to map the ECBC Prescriptive Requirements to performance metrics represented in terms of EPI (kWh/m2) as per the EC Act.
- Organized a series of five energy modeling awareness workshops and five energy modeling training workshops in association with Asia Pacific Partnership to directly address a capacity crunch in the area of energy modeling of buildings.
- Helped establish International Building Performance Simulation Association-India chapter, to raise the awareness and expertise of building simulation professionals.
- Highlighted Equipment Power Density (7 W/ft2 vs. an international average of 2 W/ft2) issue and its impact on infrastructure and the need for addressing it on a national level.
Download Items
Developing an Energy Conservation Building Code Implementation Strategy in India - Report No.1028 (2.07MB)
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Additional Links
- Bureau of Energy Efficiency - Building Energy Efficiency Program
- ECOnirman –ECBC check
- US Department of Energy - Building Technologies Program
- California’s Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory COMcheck Tool
- US Department of EnergyPlus Weather Data
- Online Code Environment and Advocacy Network
- Design Builder
Partners
- Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
- Center for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT)
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Indian Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE)
- US Department of Energy
- Team Catalyst
