d equipment, mandatory maximum energy efficiency norms per square feet for new buildings as well as existing building (through retrofits) to be ECBC compliant. Replacement of inefficient appliances and fiscal instruments.
Similarly, the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat has also recommended strategies for mitigation that include harmonising energy building code with the national building code, implementation strategies and incentives, building performance and rating systems, demonstration projects, consumer awareness programmes, enhance appliance standards and labelling, etc.
National Solar Mission is relevant from the perspective of the encouragement of the application of the rooftop solar PV and small power plats to replace diesel gen sets etc. There are also indirect benefits of utility based incentive programmes.
National Building Code: Building by-laws are under the state governments. The Bureau of Indian Standards has developed the National Building Code (NBC) in the 1980s that guides municipalities and development authorities on building by-laws. The voluntary code covers most aspects of building design and construction, with a small part dedicated to energy efficiency. NBC was revised in 2005. In the latest version, the code provides guidance on aspects of energy conservation (related to Day lighting and Natural Ventilation). NBC provides general guidance on potential energy-efficiency aspects of such factors as daylight integration, artificial lighting requirements, and HVAC design standards.
Energy conservation building code (ECBC): BEE has framed the ECBC to reduce India’s baseline energy consumption. It takes into account climatic zone variation and occupancy of the buildings and provides minimum standards for reducing energy demand through design and construction practices. ECBC is now voluntary and applies to large commercial building and is applicable to all buildings with a large air-conditioned floor area. ECBC has both prescriptive and performance-based compliance paths. The prescriptive aspect requires minimum requirements for the building envelope and energy systems (lighting, HVAC, service water heating and electrical). The performance-based compliance path requires the application of Whole Building Simulation Approach to prove efficiency over base building as defined by the code. This leaves the code inherently flexible and easy to adopt. There are several references to the NBC in the ECBC, especially for natural ventilation, day lighting, lighting, comfort, and other standards.
Environment Impact Assessment: Environment impact assessment requirement under the Environmental Protection Act (1986) cover large-scale developmental activities. This includes buildings with more than 20,000 sq meters. Builders and developers need environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests before beginning large construction projects. This is a composite requirement for green buildings that includes energy and other resource and waste management.
Appliance standards and labelling: BEE has started a scheme of labelling many consumer products and supports it with minimum energy efficiency standards. The products covered by the standards and labeling program include refrigerators, air conditioners, fluorescent tube lights, domestic water heaters, TVs, set top boxes, ceiling Fans, distribution transformers, induction motors and others and agricultural pump sets. The program aims to cover most of the end-use appliances under the mandatory standards and labelling program in the next few years. The energy performance of the highest star level can be significantly higher than the non-start and lower star products.
Building certification: Green Rating for Integrated Housing Assessment (GRIHA): The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and TERI has developed the nationally accredited Green Building rating system for buildings with conditioned and non-conditioned spaces under different climatic conditions. The energy efficiency buildings, based on the traditional vernacular building design with the inclu