The document discusses India's Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC). It aims to set minimum energy efficiency standards for building design and construction. The ECBC encourages energy efficient practices that do not compromise occupant comfort or economic considerations. It provides the central and state governments powers to enforce compliance. The ECBC is estimated to reduce building energy use by 25-40% through requirements for the building envelope, lighting, HVAC, and other systems. Widespread adoption could yield annual national energy savings of over 1.7 billion kWh. Implementation faces barriers around first costs, product availability, and testing/certification.

1. Energy Conservation Building
Code [ECBC]
Hisham Ahmad
Environmental Design Solutions [EDS]
1

2. What are Energy Conservation
Building Codes?
 ECBC set minimum energy efficiency
standards for design and construction
 ECBC encourage energy efficient design
or retrofit of buildings so that
 It does not constrain the building function,
comfort, health, or the productivity of the
occupants
 Has appropriate regard for economic
considerations
2

3. Power of Central Govt.
 POWER OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO FACILITATE AND
ENFORCE EFFICIENT USE OF ENERGY AND ITS
CONSERVATION
 14. Power of Central Government to enforce efficient use of energy
and its conservation.- The Central Government may, by notification,
in consultation with the Bureau,-
 (p) prescribe energy conservation building codes for efficient use of
energy and its conservation in the building or building complex;
 (q) amend the energy conservation building codes to suit the
regional and local climatic conditions;
 (r) direct every owner or occupier of the building or building complex,
being a designated consumer to comply with the provisions of
energy conservation building codes for efficient use of energy and
its conservation;
3

4. Power of State Govt.
 POWER OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO FACILITATE
AND ENFORCE EFFICIENT USE OF ENERGY AND ITS
CONSERVATION
 15. Power of State Government to enforce certain
provisions for efficient use of energy and its
conservation.- The State Government may, by
notification, in consultation with the Bureau-
 (a) amend the energy conservation building codes to suit
the regional and local climatic conditions and may, by
rules made by it, specify and notify energy conservation
building codes with respect to use of energy in the
buildings;
 (b) direct every owner or occupier of a building or building
complex being a designated consumer to comply with the
provisions of the energy conservation building codes;
4

5. ECBC Scope
 Mandatory Scope Covers commercial buildings
 Connected load in excess of 500kW
or
 Contract demand in excess of 600 kVA
 Recommended for all buildings with conditioned area
>1000m2
 Applies to New Construction only
 Building components included
 Building Envelope (Walls, Roofs, Windows)
 Lighting (Indoor and Outdoor)
 Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
System
 Service Water Heating and Pumping
5
 Electrical Systems (Power Factor, Transformers)

6. International Experience
6

7. History of Building Energy Codes
 Before the 1973 Oil Shock, only a few
countries in Europe had energy
requirements for buildings, which were
typically simple insulation requirements.
 After 1973, widespread use of Building
Energy Codes:
 North America (US and Canada)
 ASEAN and Asia
 South Asia and Pacific Islands
 Caribbean and Latin America
7  Europe, Middle East and North Africa

8. ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1:
Estimated Savings
100
90
40% from 1975 Construction
80
Total
70
5% from Standard 90-1975
60
60%
50
20% from Standard 90-1980
40
6-9% from Standard 90-1989 30
20
10
0
1975 1980 1989 1999
8

9. The California Experience
 Because of its energy
standards and other
programs, California has
experienced “flat” per-
capita growth in energy
consumption since the
late 1970’s, in spite of
larger homes, bigger
refrigerators and many
other amenities
 During this same time
period, the rest of the
United States has
experienced a 50%
increase in per capita
energy consumption.
9

10. ECBC India
10

11. ECBC development Process
 An extensive data collection was carried
out for construction types and materials,
glass types, insulation materials, lighting
and HVAC equipment
 Base case simulation models were
developed
 The stringency analysis was done through
detailed energy and life cycle cost
analysis.
 A stringency level for each code
11
component was established

12. Geographical
Variations
Five climate zones
1. Composite (Delhi)
2. Hot Dry (Ahmadabad)
3. Hot Humid (Kolkata),
4. Moderate (Bangalore)
5. Cold (Shillong)
12

13. Compliance Options
Building System Compliance Options
Prescriptive
Envelope
Option
Mandatory
HVAC
Provisions Trade Off
Energy Code
(required for most Option Compliance
SWH compliance options)
Power Energy Cost
Budget
Lighting
Simplified
Other
13

14. Prescriptive Compliance
 Prescriptive requirements for all the
relevant sections must be met individually.
 A simple checklist form for demonstrating
compliance
 Easy to use, but restrictive: no flexibility in
approach
14

15. Trade-off Process
 The compliance can be demonstrated at a
system level.
 Trade-off between component of a system
is allowed
 Simple spreadsheet based calculations
can be sufficient
 Slightly more effort required, but offers
greater flexibility
15

16. Whole Building Compliance (Energy
Budget Method)
 Compliance is demonstrated for the whole
building
 The overall target of energy use
(kWh/year) is to be met; irrespective of the
compliance at the component level
 Whole building energy simulation is
required
 Offers great flexibility, but requires much
greater effort, knowledge, and simulation
experience
16

17. Budget Building Criteria
Proposed Design Budget Building Design
Meets mandatory requirements Meets mandatory requirements
As designed: Meets prescriptive requirements :
Envelope/Lighting/HVAC/SHW Envelope/Lighting/HVAC/SHW
Identical
Surfaces
Orientations*
Identical
Simulation Model Simulation Model
Weather
Schedules
Energy rates
Design Energy Cost Energy Cost Budget
*Unless glazing area in budget design
17 requires adjustment

18. Methodology
The Budget Building and Proposed
Building must be identical in terms of:
 Occupancy schedules
 Weather file
 Building geometry
 Purchased energy rates
 Simulation software
18

19. ECBC Impact
19

20. National Impact Potential
 The average energy use (lighting and
HVAC) for typical commercial building is
200 kWh/sq. meter/year.
 Mandatory enforcement of ECBC shall
easily reduce the energy use by 30-40% to
120-160 kWh/sq. meter/year.
 Nationwide Mandatory enforcement of
ECBC will yield a saving of 1.7 billion kWh
for 2005-2006.
20

21. 25%-40% Reduction in Building Energy
Use
National Code Level of Adoption
= X X
Energy Stringency Compliance Rate
21 Savings

22. Impact of Energy Codes
 Market Development for EE products
 Building Insulation
 Energy Efficient Windows (Glass and Frames)
 High-Efficiency HVAC Equipment
 Improved Design Practices
 Lighting and Daylighting
 Natural Ventilation/Free-Cooling Systems
 Improved Performance
 Improved Power Factor
22  Lower HVAC Loads

23. Encourage Environmentally Sensitive
Design
 The most cost effective way to meet the
ECBC requirement would be to design
buildings with appropriate regard to climate
and sun.
 A design not sensitive to sun and climate
will have to invest more to meet the
minimum ECBC standard
 This will encourage environmentally
sensitive design and architecture
23

24. Typical Implementation Schedule
Years
Phases 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 Development
2 Implementation Preparation
3 Enforcement
4 Revisions
24

25. Implementation
25

26. Barriers to ECBC Implementation
 Strong first cost bias
 Lack of availability of efficient products
 Lack of equipment testing & certification.
 Lack of energy expertise
 Lack of awareness, info. and tools
 Electricity rate structures / rural subsidies
 Territoriality by agencies
 Potential code official abuses
 Lack of government & utility “Champions”
26

27. Proposed Comprehensive Program to
Implement the Energy Code
 Traditional Energy Code Enforcement
 Government buildings – enforced by agency
 Private & Institutional buildings – enforced via
local code process
 Utility hookup enforcement
 Market programs
 Demonstration Building Programs to Transform
Markets
 DSM Programs (Design Assistance / Rebates)
 Green Building Rating Systems
27  Energy Labeling Schemes (1-5 Star)

28. ECBC Development: Next Steps
 Checking and Certification Systems for
Equipment and Systems
 Capacity building of State and Municipal
implementing agencies
 Design Manuals, Software, and Training
and Technical support for Architects,
Engineers, and Code Officials
 Awareness programs for building owners,
designers, and users
28

29. ECBC HIGHLIGHTS
29

30. ENVELOPE
30

31. Envelope
 Mandatory Requirement
 Envelope sealing
 Test methods for measuring thermal
performance
 Prescriptive Requirements
 Roof Insulation
31

32. Roof Requirement
Table 4.3.1 Roof assembly U-factor and Insulation R-value Requirements
Hospitals, Hotels, Call Other Building Types
Climate Zone Centers (24-Hour) (Daytime)
Maximum U-
factor of Minimum R- Maximum U- Minimum R-
the value of factor of the value of
overall insulation overall insulation
assembly alone assembly alone
(W/m2-°C) (m2-°C/W) (W/m2-°C) (m2-°C/W)
Composite U-0.261 R-3.5 U-0.409 R-2.1
Hot and Dry U-0.261 R-3.5 U-0.409 R-2.1
Warm and
Humid U-0.261 R-3.5 U-0.409 R-2.1
Moderate U-0.409 R-2.1 U-0.409 R-2.1
Cold U-0.261 R-3.5 U-0.409 R-2.1
See Appendix D.3 for typical complying roof constructions.
32

33. Wall Requirements
Table 4.3.2 Opaque Wall Assembly U-factor and Insulation R-value Requirements
Hospitals, Hotels, Call Other Building Types
Climate Zone Centers (24-Hour) (Daytime)
Maximum U- Minimum R- Minimum R-
factor of value of Maximum U-factor value of
the overall insulation of the overall insulation
assembly alone assembly alone
(W/m 2-°C) (m 2 -°C/W) (W/m 2-°C) (m 2 -°C/W)
Composite U-0. 440 R-2.10 U-0.440 R-2.10
Hot and Dry U-0.440 R-2.10 U-0.440 R-2.10
Warm and
Humid U-0.440 R-2.10 U-0.440 R-2.10
Moderate U-0.431 R-1.80 U-0.397 R-2.00
Cold U-0.369 R-2.20 U-0.352 R-2.35
33

34. Glazing Requirements
Table 4.3.4-1 Vertical Fenestration U-factor and SHGC Requirements (U-factor in
W/m2-°C)
Climate Maximum U- Maximum Maximum SHGC
factor SHGC 40%<WWR<60%
WWR<40%
Composite 3.3 0.25 0.20
Hot & Dry 3.3 0.25 0.20
Warm & Humid 3.3 0.25 0.20
Moderate 6.9 0.40 0.30
Cold 3.3 0.51 0.51
Minimum Visible Light Transmittance
Window-Wall-Ratio Minimum VLT
>30% 0.27
31%-40% 0.20
41%-50% 0.16
51%-60% 0.13
34 >61% 0.11

35. Glazing Requirements
 Overhangs and/or side fins may be applied in
determining the SHGC for the proposed design.
 Exception to SHGC Requirements in § 4.3.4:
Vertical Fenestration areas located more than
2.2 m (7 ft) above the level of the floor are
exempt from the SHGC requirement in Table
4.3.4-1, if the following conditions are complied
with:
 Total Effective Aperture
 Glare/ solar control
 Minimum Visible Transmission: To permit the
use of available daylighting in place of electric
lighting, glazing products used in offices, banks,
libraries, classrooms with predominant daytime
usage, must have the minimum visual
35 transmittance (VT), defined as function of
window area

36. HEATING, VENTILATION
AND AIR CONDITIONING
36

37. HVAC
 Mandatory Requirements
 Ventilation (Natural or Mechanical)
 Minimum Equipment Efficiencies
 Controls
 Thermostats
 Timeclocks
 Pipe and Duct Insulation
37

38. HVAC
 Prescriptive Requirements
 Outside Air Economizers
 Variable speed drives for large pumps and fans
38

39. Minimum Efficiency for Chillers
Equipment Class Minimum Minimum
COP IPLV
Air Cooled Chiller <530 kW (<150 tons) 2.90 3.16
Air Cooled Chiller ≥530 kW (≥150 tons) 3.05 3.32
Centrifugal Water Cooled Chiller < 530 kW 5.80 6.09
(<150 tons)
Centrifugal Water Cooled Chiller ≥530 and <1050 5.80 6.17
kW ( ≥150 and <300 tons)
Centrifugal Water Cooled Chiller ≥ 1050 kW 6.30 6.61
(≥ 300 tons)
Reciprocating Compressor, Water Cooled Chiller 4.20 5.05
all sizes
Rotary Screw and Scroll Compressor, Water 4.70 5.49
Cooled Chiller <530 kW (<150 tons)
Rotary Screw and Scroll Compressor, Water 5.40 6.17
Cooled Chiller ≥530 and <1050 kW (≥150 and
<300 tons)
Rotary Screw and Scroll Compressor, Water 5.75 6.43
39 Cooled Chiller ≥ 1050 kW (≥ 300 tons)

40. Unitary Air Conditioning Equipment
Equipment Class Minimum Minimum Test Standard
COP IPLV
Unitary Air Cooled Air Conditioner ≥19 3.08 ARI 210/240
and <40 kW ( ≥5.4 and <11 tons )
Unitary Air Cooled Air Conditioner ≥40 3.08 ARI 340/360
to <70 kW (≥11 to <20 tons)
Unitary Air Cooled Air Conditioner ≥70 2.93 2.99 ARI 340/360
kW ( ≥20 tons)
Unitary Water Cooled Air Conditioner 4.10 ARI 210/240
<19 kW (<5.4 tons)
Unitary Water Cooled Air Conditioner 4.10 ARI 210/240
≥19 and <40 kW ( ≥5.4 and <11
tons )
Unitary Water Cooled Air Conditioner 3.22 3.02 ARI 210/240
≥<40 kW ( ≥11 tons )
40

41. Controls
 All mechanical cooling and heating systems
shall be controlled by a timeclock that:
 Can start and stop the system under different
schedules for three different day-types per week,
 Is capable of retaining programming and time setting
during loss of power for a period of at least 10 hours,
and
 Includes an accessible manual override that allows
temporary operation of the system for up to 2 hours.
 Exceptions:
 Cooling systems < 28 kW (8 tons)
 Heating systems < 7 kW (2 tons)
41

42. Cooling Tower
 All cooling towers and closed circuit fluid
coolers shall have either two speed
motors, pony motors, or variable speed
drives controlling the fans.
42

43. Ductwork Insulation
Table 5.2.4.2 Ductwork Insulation ( m2-°C/W)
Required Insulationa
Duct Location Supply Ducts Return Ducts
Exterior R-1.4 R- 0.6
Unventilated Attic with Roof Insulation R- 0.6 No Requirement
Unconditioned Spaceb R- 0.6 No Requirement
Indirectly Conditioned Spacec No Requirement No Requirement
Buried R- 0.6 No Requirement
a Insulation R-value is measured on a horizontal plane in accordance with ASTM
C518 at a mean temperature of 24C (75F) at the installed thickness
b Includes crawlspaces, both ventilated and non-ventilated
c Includes return air plenums with or without exposed roofs above.
43

44. Economizers
 Each individual cooling fan system that has a design
supply capacity over 1,200 l/s (2,500 cfm) and a total
mechanical cooling capacity over 22 kW (6.3 tons) shall
include either:
 An air economizer capable of modulating outside-air and
return-air dampers to supply 100 percent of the design supply
air quantity as outside-air; or
 A water economizer capable of providing 100% of the expected
system cooling load at outside air temperatures of 10°C (50°F)
dry-bulb/7.2°C (45°F) wet-bulb and below.
 Exception to § 5.3.1.1:
 Projects in the Hot-Dry and Warm-Humid climate zones are
exempt.
 Individual ceiling mounted fan systems < 3,200 l/s (6,500 cfm)
are exempt.
 Where required by 5.3.1.1 economizers shall be
capable of providing partial cooling even when
additional mechanical cooling is required to meet the
44 cooling load.

45. Variable Flow Hydronic Systems
 Chilled or hot-water systems shall be designed for
variable fluid flow and shall be capable of reducing
pump flow rates to no more than the larger of:
 50% of the design flow rate, or
 the minimum flow required by the equipment manufacturer for
proper operation of the chillers or boilers.
 Water cooled air-conditioning units with a circulation
pump motor greater than or equal to 3.7 kW (5 hp) shall
have two-way automatic isolation valves on each unit
that are interlocked with the compressor to shut off
condenser water flow when the compressor is not
operating.
 Chilled water or condenser water systems that must
comply with either 5.3.2.1 or 5.3.2.2 and that have
pump motors greater than or equal to 3.7 kW (5 hp)
shall be controlled by variable speed drives.
45

46. SERVICE HOT WATER AND
PUMPING
46

47. Service water heating
 Mandatory Requirements
 Solar water heater or heat recovery for at least
20% of the design capacity
 Minimum efficiency for service water heating
equipment
 Piping insulation
 Pool covers for heated swimming pools, except
when heated with solar or site-recovered heat
47

48. LIGHTING
48

49. Lighting
 Mandatory Requirements
 Each space enclosed by ceiling-height partitions
shall have at least one control device to
independently control the general lighting within
the space.
 Automatic Lighting Shutoff for Interior lighting
systems for contiguous spaces larger than 500
m2 (5,000 ft²)
 Luminaires in daylighted areas greater than 25
m2 (250 ft2) shall be equipped with either a
manual or automatic control
49

50.  Lighting for all exterior applications not
exempted in § 7.4 shall be controlled by a
photosensor or astronomical time switch
 Following lighting applications shall be equipped
with a control device to control such lighting
independently of general lighting:
 Display/Accent Lighting
 Case Lighting
 Hotel and Motel Guest Room Lighting
 Task Lighting
 Nonvisual Lighting
50

51.  Internally-illuminated exit signs shall not exceed
5 Watts per face.
 Exterior Building Grounds Lighting should have
a minimum efficacy of 60 lm/W unless the
luminaire is controlled by a motion sensor
51

52. Lighting Power Requirement
Table 7.3.1 Interior Lighting Power - Building Area Method
Building Area Type LPD (W/m2) Building Area Type LPD (W/m2)
Automotive Facility 9.7 Multifamily 7.5
Convention Center 12.9 Museum 11.8
Court House 12.9 Office 10.8
Dining: Bar Parking Garage
Lounge/Leisure 14.0 3.2
Dining: Cafeteria/Fast Performing Arts Theater
Food 15.1 17.2
Table 7.3.2 Interior Lighting Power – Space Function Method
Space Function LPD Space Function LPD
(W/m2) (W/m2)
Lobby 14.0 Hospital
For Hotel 11.8 Emergency 29.1
For Performing Arts Recovery
Theater 35.5 8.6
52 For Motion Picture Nurse Station
Theater 11.8 10.8

53. Table 7.4 Exterior Building Lighting Power
Exterior Lighting Applications Power Limits
Building entrance (with canopy) 13 W/m2 (1.3 W/ft2) of canopied area
Building entrance (without canopy) 90 W/lin m (30 W/lin f) of door width
Building exit 60 W/lin m (20 W/lin f) of door width
Building facades 2 W/m2 (0.2 W/ft2) of vertical facade area
53

54. ELECTRICAL POWER
54

55.  Mandatory Requirements
 Transformers
 Maximum Allowable Power Transformer Losses
 Energy Efficient Motors
 Power Factor Correction: All electricity supplies
exceeding 100 A, 3 phase shall maintain their power
factor between 0.95 lag and unity at the point of
connection.
 Check-Metering and Monitoring
55

56. APPENDICES
56

57. ECBC APPENDIX
 Definitions, Abbreviations, And Acronyms
 Climate Zone Map Of India
 Prescriptive Compliance Forms
 Building Envelope Tradeoff Method
 Whole Building Performance Method
57

58. ECBC can be downloaded from
www.bee-india.nic.in
58

59. Impact on HVAC Sizing
59

60. Typical Building Plan
60

61. 61

62. Building Envelop- Non ECBC Compliant
Walls
U-factor
Description Net Area (m²) (W/m²-°C)
wall East 183.78 2.767
wall North 367.533 2.767
Roofs
Descriptio Net Area U-factor
n (m²) (W/m²-°C)
East Roof 113.934 2.605
South
Roof 265.31 2.605
Core Roof 491.512 2.605
Windows
U-factor Exterior Projection
Description Area (m²) (W/m²-°C) SHGC Orientation Shades Factor
Windows
South 177.12 6.121 0.810 South None
Windows
62 West 78.72 6.121 0.810 West None

63. Transient Thermal Behavior-Non ECBC Compliant Building
63

64. Internal Gains – ECBC Non Compliances
64

65. Fabric and Ventilation - ECBC Non Compliances
65

66. Building Envelop- ECBC Compliant
Curtain Walls, Other Walls
Description Net Area (m²) U-factor (W/m²-°C)
wall East 183.78 0.250
wall West 183.78 0.250
wall South 367.533 0.250
wall North 367.533 0.250
Roofs
Description Net Area (m²) U-factor (W/m²-°C)
East Roof 113.934 0.150
west Roof 113.934 0.150
North Roof 265.31 0.150
South Roof 265.31 0.150
Core Roof 491.512 0.150
Windows
U-factor (W/m²- SHG Exterior
Description Area (m²) °C) C Orientation Shades Projection Factor
WindowsSouth 177.12 2.440 0.595 South yes
WindowsNorth 177.12 2.440 0.595 North yes
Window East 78.72 2.440 0.595 East yes
WindowsWest 78.72 2.440 0.595 West yes
66

67. Transient Thermal Behavior-ECBC Compliant Building
67

68. Internal gains – ECBC Compliance
68

69. Fabric and Ventilation- ECBC Compliances
69

70. Zone Description ECBC Compliant ECBC Non Compliant
Block Zone Design Capacity (kW) Design Capacity (kW)
GroundFloor GF East 4.40 9.61
GroundFloor GF West 5.45 11.64
GroundFloor GF Core 13.61 28.96
GroundFloor GF North 8.48 18.48
GroundFloor GF South 8.50 18.50
Middle
MiddleFloor East 4.53 10.29
Middle
MiddleFloor West 5.51 12.41
Middle
MiddleFloor Core 13.91 31.97
Middle
MiddleFloor North 8.67 20.22
Middle
MiddleFloor South 8.69 20.06
70
TopFloor Top East 4.64 11.39

71. Thanks
Hisham Ahmad
Environmental Design Solutions
hisham@edsglobal.com
71