In a groundbreaking move to combat energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions within the building and construction sector, the Indian government is embarking on an ambitious plan to overhaul energy codes for both commercial and residential buildings.
Anticipated to be finalized by the year’s end, the revised codes, which are currently obligatory for commercial structures across 25 states and Union Territories, will soon extend their jurisdiction to encompass residential buildings. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) director, Saurabh Diddi, revealed this development during a recent Call for Action event hosted by the Decarbonization Business Charter, a collaborative effort involving WRI India, Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), EcoCollab, and Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd (MLDL), held at the Embassy of Switzerland.
The building and construction industry’s significant role, accounting for a staggering 35-40% of energy consumption and carbon emissions, underscores the urgency of these measures. While the existing Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) targets commercial edifices, and Eco Niwas Samhita focuses on energy efficiency for residential structures, the revised codes will evolve beyond mere green building criteria. The forthcoming regulations will encompass embedded carbon, net zero standards, and overall sustainability, ushering in a new era of comprehensive building norms.
The transition will see ECBC evolve into the Energy Conservation and Sustainability Building Code, reflecting India’s commitment to holistic, sustainable construction practices. With many developed countries grappling with the challenge of retrofitting existing structures to enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions, India has a unique advantage. The nation can establish environmentally sound practices from the ground up as it doubles its residential and commercial building footprint over the next two decades.
AEEE’s President and Executive Director, Satish Kumar, emphasized that India’s pivotal role in shaping the future of construction offers a chance to get it right from the outset. Kumar stated, “In another 20 years’ time, we will double the footprint of residential and commercial buildings that will be in India. We have the opportunity to build it right when the building is getting constructed.”
The inception of the Eco Niwas Samhita ECBC for residential buildings, initially aided by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), laid the groundwork for this transformative endeavor. Jonathan Demenge, the head of SDC, acknowledged the collaborative efforts between Switzerland and India in the decarbonization space.
Sunita Purushottam, Head of Sustainability at MLDL, highlighted the forthcoming changes. She explained, “We are modifying that code to look at embodied carbon, waste management, water management in building and make it holistic so that we can move towards the net zero codes that are now coming up — net zero energy, waste, carbon, water, and others.”
Emphasizing the urgency, Purushottam emphasized that the next critical step for developers is to embrace codes beyond green building standards, particularly focusing on achieving net zero outcomes. Currently, only a meager 5% of buildings in India meet green standards, underlining the necessity for swift and comprehensive action to address the nation’s burgeoning carbon footprint.