USAID, Ministry of Power and Bureau of Energy Efficiency Develop New Energy Efficient Building Codes

May 27, 2007

NEW DELHI –The Ministry of Power, Bureau of Energy Efficiency and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today Energy Conservation Building Codes for India that introduce new standards for making commercial buildings more energy efficient.

The codes will determine the minimum energy performance standards for the design and construction of large commercial buildings by encouraging more efficiency in construction; lighting; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; water heating; and electric power distribution with in the building.

Speaking about this development, Elizabeth Hogan, Deputy Director for USAID India, said, “The commercial building sector in India is expanding rapidly and presently uses about 8 percent of electricity supplied by utilities. There is enormous potential for India to save energy in this sector.”

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, USAID and a committee of public and private sector experts worked more than two years to develop the Energy Conservation Building Codes. Research conducted over this two year period indicates that buildings complying with the new minimum standards would achieve energy savings of 27-40 percent.