Implementing Efficiency in Telangana: Two New Resources

As 2017 brings record-breaking heat to its capital Hyderabad, the state of Telangana in India continues to lead efforts to make buildings more energy-efficient. At a recent regional workshop on implementing the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC)—the building energy code that sets minimum energy efficiency levels for commercial buildings—the state government released two new resources to accelerate effective compliance.

Led by Telangana State, with technical support from NRDC, the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), and the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), these new resources—a compilation of frequently asked questions, and a set of guidelines on energy code—are a major step towards locking in building energy savings for years to come, while retaining occupant comfort and combating climate change.

Frequently Asked Questions

The government of Telangana is the first state in the country to incorporate energy code provisions into its online development permission management system. The online compliance system allows users to submit an ECBC Design Compliance Certificate issued by independent third-party assessors, along with other application materials through a convenient web interface. To facilitate the use of the online compliance system and provide answers on the technical aspects of the code, the Telangana state government has developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

The FAQs answer address queries in three main sections related to the scope, technical provisions and online compliance process of the code to help building owners and developers navigate the process of securing compliance for the Telangana State ECBC (TS ECBC). Since most states’ building energy codes are adapted from the same national code, the technical guidelines in the FAQs can be useful for users beyond Telangana and serve as a model for other states and cities to develop their own versions.    

Draft Telangana State ECBC Technical Guidelines

For ease of understanding the Telangana State ECBC (TSECBC) in greater detail, Telangana state has developed a set of draft guidelines for the building energy code provisions. The handbook provides easy-to-understand provisions for interpreting and complying with the TS ECBC and integrating it with the online compliance system. The guidelines have been adapted to the local context and climate of Telangana. Examples include the removal of requirements for cold and moderate climate zones that are not relevant for the warmer state of Telangana. The guidelines also provide practical means of compliance, such as by providing consistent units of insulation (retaining U-value instead of both R-value and U-value for wall and roof insulation), and introducing and referencing and test procedures wherever applicable. The guidelines are being  posted on the Telangana New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation’s website for public comments. The guidelines aim to strengthen Telangana’s building energy code and facilitate greater compliance, all while keeping the cost of compliance reasonable—both for building owners and developers on the one hand and urban local bodies on the other.

ECBC adoption is a central element of India’s building efficiency policy framework that underpins the nation’s climate commitments and its ambitious Smart City Mission initiative.

Telangana’s implementation framework lays a strong foundation for the state to establish its position as a leader in energy efficiency and inspire other states in India to follow suit. 

With inputs from Karan Chouksey and Laasya Bhagvatula