A nest full of savings when you switch to conservation
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M. SOUNDARIYA PREETHA finds out the details and benefits of the Energy Conservation Building Code
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— Photos: K. Ananthan
Energy savers: Star-rated air-conditioners and compact fluorescent lamps help conserve precious power.
A year ago, when the demand was still running high and activities were hectic on the construction front in the country, slowly finding its feet was the Energy Conservation Building Code.
While most of us focus on the cost of construction, the code provokes us to give a thought to cost of using the building.
It is a set of measures suggested to conserve energy in a building. Though optional now, the code is expected to become mandatory after capacity building and depending on the implementation experience.
The code has identified areas in commercial buildings where energy consumption can be brought down to international levels.
The code
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency consulted the stakeholders in the sector and prepared the code under a mandate of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
It envisages bringing down the energy use in new commercial buildings by at least 25 per cent.
The country has been divided into five climatic zones and the State Governments will oversee the implementation when it becomes mandatory.
Flexible
The code is flexible since it can be amended to suit the local climatic conditions.
Energy saving starts from building design, materials used, lighting, controls and equipment and automation.
The code is applicable for new commercial buildings that have connected load of 500 KW or higher and buildings that have a conditioned area of 1,000 sq.mt.
According to a case study, energy consumption was brought down from 240 kwh to 98 kwh in an institution by controls, lighting optimisation and proper building automation.
Implementation
M. Bhuvanasundar, president of the Coimbatore chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects, says the cost of construction can go up by five to 10 per cent if the climatic conditions are not taken into consideration while designing. “The best way is to have the appropriate design to sun and climate,” he says.
The buildings should have natural lighting provisions. Heating, ventilation and air-condition systems should be energy efficient. Low-energy materials should be used and solar systems installed.
The code gets into specifics such as window/wall ratio, the minimum U value (resistance to heat transmission) for each wall, etc.
Why needed
Mr. Bhuvanasundar explains that with increasing urbanisation, built-up area needs are going up by nearly 20 per cent every year in the country. It is estimated that 20 million sq.ft of office space is being added every year and this can go up to 55 million sq.ft. All these mean higher energy consumption. While energy requirements are increasing by 17 per cent annually, the supply is going up only by five to seven per cent. “This is where the energy code comes into play,” he says.
When more people live and work in a particular place, then the lighting and ventilation needs go up and hence more energy is consumed. This can be reduced with planning.
Initiatives
Mr. Bhuvanasundar says the Tamil Nadu chapter of the institute of architects plans to have energy modelling of buildings. A range of software is available for this. However, data is not available in the tier two cities.
The chapter plans to bring about a technical manual, build data on climate and energy performance of buildings.
Public inclination and awareness is needed for implementation of the code.
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