spect 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 inclusion of passive cooling techniques, solar integrated photovoltaic design for roof, originally viewed towards energy savings at individual dwelling unit. In addition, the building is designed according to the modern specifications for energy saving, star rated household appliances, possible use of renewable energy, recycled building materials etc. as mentioned in its green rating system. The actually saving percentage and environmental benefits differ at building scale level, however, 30% saving from baseline building energy consumption is expected from GRIHA rating compliance.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED): The LEED rating system is completely a voluntary system and has established very interesting green building projects across in India. The Indian Green Building Council formed under the guideline of US based Green Building Council (USGBC) with support from World Green Building Council, CII and Government of Andhra Pradesh. The LEED certified green building foot print has grown since from first green building project of 20,000 Sq.ft. constructed in 2002 to the total registered project accounting 466.22 million sq.ft as per mentioned in IGBC website. Approximately the 40-50% rise from 2002 to 2010 in green building footprint annually for IGBC shows the awareness amongst corporate and individual consumers for energy saving, green building and their business alike.
State Level action: Many states have active designated state agencies under the Energy Conservation Act that work with BEE to develop and implement state level energy efficiency policies and programs. Some state governments have taken initiatives to legislate select measures (e.g., use of solar water heating in residential/commercial buildings, or the use of cfl etc). But scale of these programmes is still very small.
National Water Policy, 2002- The NWP 2002, clearly states the need for conservation of water through promotion of conservation consciousness, maximizing retention and minimising losses. .
This implies that the nationa