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Other Policy Measures Relevant to Implementation of the ECBC A number of ideas for incentives to comply with the ECBC are being discussed in India, including “fast-tracking” developers when they apply for installation of utilities or lowering fees if they are ECBC-compliant.28 The central government is empowered by the Energy Conservation Act to include large commercial buildings in the list of designated consumers. Designated consumers could be required to have energy audits of their premises carried out by qualified energy auditors and provide to the Government data on energy consumption and actions recommended in the audits and to designate an energy manager in charge of activities related to energy efficiency. These requirements could support the adoption of the ECBC, particularly for additions and alterations of existing buildings.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead The Indian government has embarked on a long-term program to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, starting with commercial buildings, including public-sector buildings. The program has so far resulted in development of the code document and supporting technical documentation for compliance support, awareness building and training and capacity building of sector professionals, particularly on energy simulation, and on curriculum development for future professionals in the sector. The next steps include a standards and labeling program for fenestration products, labeling for insulation materials and “Cool Roofs,” other relevant building materials, labor force capacity building, as well as support of state and local governments for the implementation of the code, possibly through large-scale pilots in several states/cities. Such pilots would go a long way toward familiarizing the market with the costs and benefits of ECBC compliant buildings and provide a testing ground for compliance and enforcement procedures for the ECBC (see also table A3.5).
Table A3.5. Remaining Barriers and Constraints for Effective Implementation of ECBC and Actions Needed Barriers and Constraints
Actions Needed
• Lack of information about energy use and efficiency in commercial buildings • Risk perception due to lack of confidence in performance of new technologies • Largely unskilled workforce that is also uneducated in building energy efficiency aspects • Underdeveloped materials and components market for compliance, including related testing and certification capabilities • Subsidized residential electricity prices • Limited ability to internalize incremental cost of EE technologies because of low income level • Large informal building construction outside of government oversight
• Start large scale pilots and demonstration by working with proactive states and municipalities so as to track-test and improve the preconceived compliance procedures and requirements and setting the stage for transition to mandatory ECBC • Maximize market-driven actions by disseminating actual cost and benefit information of ECBC compliant buildings or projects and the use of noncash incentives such as fast-tracked permit approval and high profile media exposure • Accelerate the schedule for mandatory ECBC to help spur the market for materials and components and support the development of testing and certification capabilities
Source: Authors.