These are the measures which help in reducing electricity consumption in buildings through various energy efficiency interventions. Energy saving potential due to following energy conservation measures in each of the 5 climate zones has been established under the “High Performance Commercial Buildings in India” Project:
- Bioclimatic passive architectural design strategies:
These include energy saving potential and impact of strategies such as optimum orientation, external shading of walls, roof, windows, daylight integration and establishment of passive cooling strategies which are climate dependent.
- Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) recommended by Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC):
ECBC recommends building envelope thermal performance for each climate zone of India. Saving potential due to these measures is established. Impact and energy saving potential due to efficient lighting system, lighting controls, efficient system, HVAC controls as recommended by ECBC is also established.
- Energy saving potential in High Performance Buildings, where passive architectural design strategies are integrated with energy efficiency measures recommended by ECBC is established.
Methodology
To ascertain the saving potential of energy conservation measures a conventional building case is created, which represents a typical conventional building in India. Energy saving potential of various energy conservation measures is established in comparison to this conventional building case or Base case.
Energy saving potential through various ECMs has been established both for day use building and 24 hrs use building.
Hot & Dry
A hot and dry climate is characterized by a mean monthly maximum temperature
above 30 ºC. The region in this climate is usually flat with sandy or
rocky ground conditions.
In this climate, it is imperative to control solar radiation and movement
of hot winds. The building design criteria should, thus, provide appropriate
shading, reduce exposed area, and increase thermal capacity.
Warm & Humid
Warm and Humid climate is characterized by high relative humidity,
around 70-90 %, and high precipitation levels, about 1200 mm per year.
The temperatures usually vary between 25–35 ºC in summers; while in
winters, temperatures vary between 20–30 ºC.
The building design in this climate should aim at reducing heat gain
by providing shading, and promoting heat loss by maximizing cross ventilation.
Dissipation of humidity is also required to reduce discomfort.
Temperate
Temperate climate is characterized by temperatures which are neither
too hot nor too cold. The total rainfall usually exceeds 1000 mm per
year. Winters are dry in this zone.
This climate requires a building design which would reduce heat gain
by providing shading, and promote heat loss by ventilation.
Composite
A climatic zone that does not have any season for more than six months may be called as composite climate zone. (Source: National Building Code of India).
It boasts high temperatures in summer and cold in winter, low humidity in summer and high in monsoons, high direct solar radiation in all seasons except monsoons, high diffused radiation, occasionally hazy sky hot winds in summer, cold winds in winter and strong winds in monsoons, and variable landscape and seasonal vegetation. The various other features of the composite climate zone are:
| Climate |
Temperature (ºC) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Summer mid day (High) |
Summer nigh ( Low) |
Winter mid day (High) |
Winter night (Low) |
Diurnal variation |
Variable periods |
Variable rainfall |
Sky condition |
States under the climate |
Cities under the climate |
| composite |
32 to 43 |
27 to 32 |
10 to 25 |
4 to 10 |
35 to 22 |
Dry Periods=
20-50%
Wet Periods=
50-95% |
500- 1300 mm/yr,
during
monsoon
reaching
250 mm
in the
wettest
month |
Variable Overcast
and dull
in the
monsoon |
Uttar Pradesh,
Haryana,
Punjab,
Bihar,
Jharkhand,
Chattisgarh,
Madhya
Pradesh etc |
Allahabad,
Amritsar,
Bhopal,
Dehradun,
Gorakhpur
, Gwalior, Hissar,
Indore, Jabalpur,
Lucknow, Nagpur,
New Delhi, Raipur, Ranchi, Saharanpur, |
Cold
Regions that lie in the cold climate zone are situated at high altitudes.
The temperatures range between 20–30 ºC in summers; while in winters,
it can range from -3 ºC to 8 ºC, making it quite chilly.
Cold climate requires buildings to have appropriate insulation and infiltration
to resist heat loss, and promote heat gain by directly admitting and
trapping solar radiation within the living space.
