The Government of India has recently launched the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) for the residential sector in a bid to boost energy-efficiency. The new rules, titled Eco Niwas Samhita 2018, aim to promote the design and construction of homes (including apartments and townships) that provide the benefits of energy-efficiency to occupants. The code has been prepared after extensive consultations with all stakeholders, comprising architects and other experts, including building material suppliers and developers. The parameters listed in the code have been developed using climate and energy-related data. Initially, Part 1 of the code, prescribing minimum standards for building envelope design, has been launched with the purpose of designing energy-efficient residential buildings. The code is expected to assist a large number of architects and builders involved in the design and construction of new residential complexes in different parts of the country. Elaborating further, Dr Chandrashekar Hariharan, Co-Chair, Indian Green Building Council Bengaluru (IGBC), and Chairperson, Biodiversity Conservation India (BCIL), says, “Any building that complies with the ECBC guidelines will drop fresh water demand and energy demand each by 30 per cent. The residential sector accounts for over 30 per cent of India’s total energy demand. So this is the single advantage you get with compliance to the ECBC.” Implementation of this code will have the potential to save energy to the tune of 125 billion units of electricity by 2030, which is equivalent to about 100 million tonne of Co2 emission. It is estimated that the energy demand in the building sector will rise from around 350 billion units in 2018 to approximately 1,000 billion units by 2030. “A dialogue has to happen between the Government and industry to see how the ECBC can also be promoted by associations like IGBC and other rating systems in the commonality of the guidelines,” he concludes. - DIKSHA JAWLE