The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body under the Union Ministry of Power, recently launched the “Aiming for Sustainable Habitat: New Initiatives in Building Energy Efficiency 2021”. As part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’, the initiatives aim to enhance energy efficiency in the building sector. Established through the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, the BEE’s prime objective is to reduce the energy intensity of the Indian economy. It collaborates with designated consumers, agencies and other organizations to utilize existing resources and infrastructure effectively.
Highlights of the New Initiatives
A series of new initiatives were launched to boost India’s energy conservation efforts. These measures include Eco Niwas Samhita 2021, an Energy Conservation Building Code for Residential Buildings (ECBC-R) prescribing code compliance approaches and energy performance requirements for buildings.
The launch also included web-based platform, ‘The Handbook of Replicable Designs for Energy Efficient Residential Buildings’, functioning as a learning tool for constructing energy-efficient homes in India, and the creation of an Online Directory of Building Materials for establishing standards for energy efficient building materials.
Furthermore, NEERMAN Awards (National Energy Efficiency Roadmap for Movement towards Affordable & Natural Habitat) were introduced to encourage exceptional building designs complying with BEE’s Energy Conservation Building Codes. An online Star Rating Tool was also launched to guide professionals in choosing energy-efficient options for their homes and perform performance analysis. More than 15,000 Architects, Engineers, and Government officials will be trained on the ECBC 2017 and Eco Niwas Samhita 2021 as part of these initiatives.
The Importance of the New Initiatives
Despite being the second largest consumer of electricity after the industrial sector, the building sector is expected to top the list by 2030. These initiatives will significantly enhance the energy-efficiency of residential buildings nationwide, leading to sustainable habitation and making India more energy-efficient.
Energy Efficiency in India: An Overview
Energy efficiency involves utilizing less energy for accomplishing the same task, thus reducing energy waste. It has numerous benefits including lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced demand for energy imports, and cost reduction on a household and economy-wide level.
India’s energy sector is set for a massive transition with the government’s recent ambitious developmental plans, for instance, aiming to achieve 175 GW of installed capacity of renewable energy by 2022, 24X7 Power for all, Housing for all by 2022, 100 smart cities mission, promotion of e-mobility, electrification of railway sector, 100% electrification of households, and promotion of clean cooking. Energy efficiency holds the maximum potential for GHG abatement (51%) compared to renewable measures (32%), biofuels (1%), nuclear (8%), and carbon capture and storage (8%).
The Potential Impact of Energy Efficiency
With the implementation of ambitious energy efficiency policies, India could avoid constructing 300 GW of new power generation up to 2040. The successful implementation of such measures led to electricity savings of 7.14% of total electricity consumption of the country and reduced emissions by 108.28 million tonnes of CO2 in 2017-18.
Other Initiatives to Promote Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency
Several other initiatives have been launched to promote energy conservation and energy efficiency. These include the Perform Achieve and Trade Scheme (PAT Scheme), the Standards and Labeling scheme, the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), and Demand Side Management.