Union minister of power . Sushilkumar Shinde today launched a 'star rating programme' for office buildings in order to accelerate energy efficiency activities in commercial buildings.

The programme developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is based on actual performance of the building, in terms of specific energy usage (in kWh/sq m/year).

Highlights of thestar rating programme:

• This programme would rate office buildings on a 1-5 star scale, with 5-star labelled buildings being the most energy efficient.
• Initially, the programme targets the following three climatic zones for air-conditioned and non- air-conditioned office buildings:

i. Warm and Humid

ii. Composite

iii. Hot and Dry

It will be subsequently extended to other climatic zones and building types.

• Energy Performance Index (EPI) in kWh / sq m/ year will be considered for rating the building. Bandwidths for Energy Performance Index for different climatic zones have been developed based on percentage air-conditioned space.

For example a building in a composite climatic zone like New Delhi and having air conditioned area greater than 50 per cent of their built up area, the bandwidths of EPI range between 190-90 kWh/sq m/year.

Thus a building would get a 5-Star rating if its EPI falls below 90kWh/sq m/year and 1 Star if it is between 165-190 90kWh/sq m/year. 

• Similarly for the same building in a warm and humid climatic zone like Chennai, the bandwidths of EPI range between 200-100 kWh/sq m/year and therefore it would get a 5-Star rating if its EPI is below 100 kWh/sq m/year and 1 Star if it is between 200-175 kWh/sq m/year.
• Buildings having air conditioned area below 50 per cent of their built up area, in a in a composite climatic zone the bandwidths of EPI range between 80-40 kWh/sq m/year. Similarly the same building in a warm and humid climatic zone like Chennai, the bandwidths of EPI range between 85-45 kWh/sq m/year.
• The Star rating programme would provide public recognition to energy efficient buildings, and create a ''demand side'' pull for such buildings. Those buildings having a connected load of 500 kW and above would be considered for BEE star rating scheme.
• EPI shall be kWh/sq.m/year in terms of purchased and generated electricity divided by built up area in sq.m. However the total electricity would not include electricity generated from on-site renewable sources such as solar photovoltaic etc.

The Bureau over the past two years, launched the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) with the goal of specifying standards for new, large, efficient commercial buildings, as well as initiated a nationwide programme to upgrade the energy efficiency of existing government buildings through retrofitting, carried out by Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) in a performance Contracting mode.