BEE Initiates Groundbreaking ESCBE to Redefine India’s Construction Landscape

-ECSBC Code aims to reshaping building practices, cutting carbon emissions, and driving economic growth
-The ECBC is evolving into the ECSBC, and stakeholders are invited to give FEED BACK on the draft ECSBC (Commercial & Residential) by February 12, 2024
-It will enforce stringent energy standards for new commercial and residential constructions, prioritizing holistic sustainability beyond emissions reduction
-The ESCBE is vital for Cosmopolitan cities like HYDERABAD due to rising energy demands from rapid Urbanization
-Sustainable buildings aim to minimize the environmental impact by efficiently using energy, water, and resources
-This prioritizes occupant health and productivity, emphasizing indoor environmental quality and natural elements while reducing waste and pollution
-Abhay Bhakre, BEE’s Director General, highlighted ECSBC’s potential to cut building sector energy demand by 50% by 2030, aligning with India’s Paris Agreement
-As ECSBC progresses, it aims to drive the building sector towards near-zero energy goals, setting a global standard for sustainable construction

Hyderabad, Neti Patrika Prajavartha :
At the forefront of revolutionizing India’s construction landscape, the Union Ministry of Power’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is poised to introduce the Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC), aimed at reshaping the nation’s building practices while slashing carbon emissions, propelling economic growth, and fostering innovation in alignment with global environmental commitments.
The impending ECSBC will establish rigorous energy performance standards for new commercial and residential constructions, taking a holistic approach to sustainability beyond emissions reduction. Acknowledging the significant impact of buildings on global energy usage and carbon footprint, India underscores its commitment to environmental stewardship, with ECSBC serving as a cornerstone initiative. With buildings and construction responsible for 39% of global energy-related CO2 emissions and 36% of final energy consumption, ECSBC aims to enhance the quality, comfort, and affordability of built environments, bolstering energy security, economic prosperity, and societal advancement in response to these alarming statistics.
Sustainable building encompasses a holistic ethos, spanning from meticulous planning and design to construction, operation, maintenance, and renovation phases. Achieving this paradigm shift necessitates close collaboration among architects, engineers, developers, and all stakeholders involved in building projects.
The primary aim of sustainable buildings is to minimize the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the ecosystem by judiciously utilizing energy, water, and resources. This approach not only conserves resources but also prioritizes occupant health, productivity, and environmental harmony, with an emphasis on indoor environmental quality, natural ventilation, and daylight utilization while mitigating waste, pollution, and environmental degradation.
In light of the amendment to the Energy Conservation Act in December 2022, the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) is undergoing a transformation into the Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC), encompassing sustainable elements for both commercial and residential sectors.
Following extensive stakeholder consultations held in Delhi., Hyderabad, Odisha, and Pune, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency has released the initial draft of ECSBC for feedback. This draft outlines norms and standards for energy efficiency, conservation, renewable energy utilization, and other green building requisites.
Interested parties are invited to provide feedback on the draft ECSBC (Commercial & Residential) by the 12th of February 2024.
BEE will meticulously review the inputs to inform the final document, underscoring the pivotal role of stakeholders in shaping the code’s efficacy and success.
Abhay Bhakre, Director General of BEE, said that two- day National Level Stakeholders Conference in Hyderabad was Successful and BEE is keen to Continue to impart Global technologies from advanced Countries like Germany, Switzerland and France for enhancing energy efficiency in Building Sector. He underscored ECSBC’s potential to slash 50% of energy demand in the building sector by 2030, translating to a reduction of 300 million tons of CO2 emissions. This aligns with India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.
Abhay Bhakre emphasized that the code serves as a catalyst for innovation, competitiveness, and collaboration within the building sector, fostering opportunities for green jobs, skills, and technologies. ECSBC’s implementation entails a thorough stakeholder engagement process to ensure a well-rounded perspective and enhance its relevance and acceptance.
Saurabh Diddi, Director , BEE, emphasized that India’s transition towards ECSBC signifies not merely a shift in building codes but a transformative leap in lifestyle and work practices. He urged stakeholders to rally behind this movement for a greener and more affordable future.
Telangana and AP have emerged as key players in ECBC implementation, with over 1000 compliant buildings and more than 3000 stakeholders trained. The ESCBE is vital for cities like Hyderabad due to rising energy demands from rapid urbanization. By promoting energy-efficient buildings, it can ease strain on power infrastructure. Additionally, ECBC compliance helps mitigate climate change risks, like extreme heat events, by reducing energy consumption. Moreover, implementing ECBC in HYDERABAD can create green job opportunities, boosting economic growth through energy auditing and sustainable building design.
As the journey towards ECSBC unfolds, it is poised to propel the building sector towards near-zero energy targets, establishing a global benchmark for sustainable construction practices.
The link for the draft ECSBC (Commercial & Residential) and feedback format for comments is mentioned below-
Doc. No. Title
ECSBC.Version 1:2024 Draft Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (Draft ECSBC) – Commercial and Office Buildings
Link- https://beeindia.gov.in/en/comments-on-draft-ecsbc-commercial-office-buildings-2024
ENS (ECSBC-R).Version.1:2024 Draft Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (Draft ENS 2024) – Residential Buildings
Link- https://beeindia.gov.in/en/comments-on-draft-ens-2024-ecsbc-residentialenergy-conservation-sustainable-building-code
Last Date for Feedback Submission: 12th Feb 2024