Centre has proposed mandatory energy star ratings for all new large commercial, residential and office buildings as part of efforts to improve energy efficiency in a sector that accounts for about 40 per cent of the country's electricity demand, according to a draft notification issued by the power ministry.
The proposal seeks to amend the Energy Conservation and Building Code Rules notified in 2018 and would apply to all buildings and building complexes with a proposed built-up area of 20,000 square metres or more.
The move follows amendments to the Energy Conservation Act in 2022, under which the Energy Conservation and Building Code (ECBC) has been expanded into the Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC), incorporating broader sustainability requirements alongside energy efficiency.
Under the proposed framework, all eligible buildings would be required to obtain a rating from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) or an accredited rating agency. Buildings would need to secure at least a minimum sustainability benchmark, including a 3-star rating under the BEE or GRIHA systems, Gold certification under the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and LEED framework, or a GEM-3 rating under Assocham's Green and Eco-friendly Movement (GEM) system.
According to the BEE's proposed methodology, buildings achieving a five-star rating would qualify as the "Super ECSBS" category, while four-star buildings would be classified as "ECSBS Plus". A three-star rating would represent compliance with the baseline ECSBS code.
The draft also requires rating agencies such as GRIHA, IGBC, Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI) and Assocham to register with the BEE and submit their respective rating methodologies for approval.
The ratings would be issued in provisional and final stages and remain valid for 10 years. Commercial and office buildings would be required to renew their ratings after expiry, while renewal for residential buildings would remain voluntary.
Building owners or occupants would have to prominently display the ratings and include them in advertisements and promotional material. In cases of non-compliance, displayed ratings would have to be removed, violations would be publicly disclosed and state governments would have the authority to impose penalties.
In the draft notification, the ministry said large commercial, institutional and residential buildings account for a substantial share of India's electricity consumption, contribute significantly to peak power demand and are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
"Improving the energy performance of buildings is therefore critical for enhancing energy security, reducing energy intensity, lowering carbon emissions, and supporting India's commitments towards sustainable development and climate change mitigation," the ministry said.
While the BEE has already developed the ECSBC for commercial buildings and the Eco Niwas Samhita (ENS) for residential buildings, implementation has varied across states and Union Territories. The ministry said existing voluntary green building certification systems also follow different methodologies, resulting in the absence of a uniform national framework.
It added that the absence of mandatory disclosure has weakened incentives for developers to exceed minimum energy performance standards, while the lack of a centralised database on building energy performance has made compliance monitoring and policy evaluation more difficult. |
