UNIT V POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES

Basic understanding of Earth Summit, Kyoto protocol, UN frame work convention of climate change,
national policies on sustainable and energy efficient development, The Energy Conservation Act, 2001
(Amendments 2010)- Main Amendments and its legal framework, Energy Conservation Building Code
(ECBC), Environmental impact assessment (EIA) based on the Environmental Protection Act (EPA),
1986

5.1 BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF EARTH SUMMIT.

The Earth Summit was a UN event.

The United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio de Janeiro Earth

Summit, the Rio Summit, the Rio Conference, and the Earth

Summit (Portuguese:ECO92),was a major United Nations

conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992.

In 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development was also held in Rio, and is also
commonly called Rio+20 or Rio Earth Summit 2012. It was held from 13 to 22 June.

The issues addressed included:

 systematic scrutiny of patterns of production — particularly the production of toxic components,

such as lead in gasoline, or poisonous waste including radioactive chemicals

 alternative sources of energy to replace the use of fossil fuels which delegates linked to global
climate change

 new reliance on public transportation systems in order to reduce vehicle emissions, congestion in
cities and the health problems caused by polluted air and smoke

 the growing usage and limited supply of water

5.2 KYOTO PROTOCOL

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction
targets.

Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG
emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity, the Protocol
 places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of "common but differentiated
responsibilities."

WHAT IS THE KYOTO PROTOCOL AND HAS IT MADE ANY DIFFERENCE?

The Kyoto protocol was the first agreement between nations to mandate country-by-country reductions in
greenhouse-gas emissions. Kyoto emerged from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), which was signed by nearly all nations at the 1992 mega-meeting popularly known as the
Earth Summit. The framework pledges to stabilize greenhouse-gas concentrations "at a level that would
prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system". To put teeth into that pledge, a
new treaty was needed, one with binding targets for greenhouse-gas reductions.

The Goal: Reduction of 4 Greenhouse Gases

The Kyoto Protocol’s main goal is to reduce the presence of 4 harmful greenhouse gases (GHG’s):

1. Carbon Dioxide
2. Methane
3. Nitrous Oxide
4. Sulphur Hexafluoride
These gases belong into two groups, both of which are being targeted by the protocol:

1. Hydrofluorocarbons
2. Perfluorocarbons
The goal is to reduce emissions by 5.2%, compared to 1990 levels. That doesn’t sound unreasonable to
us, especially considering that shipping and international aviation emissions are not included in that
percentage.

5.3 UN FRAME WORK CONVENTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an

international environmental treaty adopted on 9 May 1992 and opened for signature at the Earth
Summit in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992. It then entered into force on 21 March 1994, after a
sufficient number of countries had ratified it. The UNFCCC objective is to "stabilize greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference
with the climate system".

5.4 THE ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT, 2001

1. ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT 2001

•Enacted on 1st October 2001.

•Become effective from 1st March 2002.

•Objective of providing necessary legal framework for promoting energy conservation measures in the
country.
•Bureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE) operationalized from 1st March2002.

2. PURPOSE OF THE EC-ACT 2001

• The purpose of this act is to provide for efficient use of energy and its conservation.

• Provide a policy framework and direction to national energy conservation activities.

• Coordinate policies and programs on efficient use of energy with stakeholders.

• Establish systems and procedures to verify measure and monitor EE improvements

. • Leverage multilateral, bilateral and private sector support to implement the EC Act.

• Demonstrate EE delivery systems through public-private partnerships.

3. IMPORTANT FEATURES OF ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT2001

•Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC)

•Standards & Labeling (S & L) •Demand Side Management (DSM)

•Bachat Lamp Yojana (BLY).

•Promoting Energy Efficiency in Small & Medium Enterprise (SMEs).

•Designated Consumers .

•Certification of Energy Managers & Energy Auditors.

5.5 ENERGY CONSERVATION BUILDING CODE (ECBC)

The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) was launched in 2007 as a voluntary code by the
Bureau of Energy Efficiency for effecting energy efficiency in buildings. ECBC establishes minimum
energy standards for commercial buildings having a connected load of 100 kW or contract demand of 120
KVA and above.

ECBC 2017 has been launched on 19 June, 2017 which includes measures for energy savings through
suitable building construction parameters involving enhanced wall and roof insulation, efficient glass,
efficient comfort and control system and appropriate orientation and shading. It prescribes criteria and
parameters for design and construction of energy efficient buildings in 3 categories:

1. ECBC compliant
2. ECBC plus
3. Super ECBC
Various measures proposed in the Code can also be combined with the use of renewables to convert
buildings into Net Zero Energy Building category.
5.5 a : Purpose
The purpose of the Energy Conservation Building Code (Code) is to provide minimum
requirements for the energy-efficient design and construction of buildings. The Code also
provides two additional sets of incremental requirements for buildings to achieve enhanced
levels of energy efficiency that go beyond the minimum requirements.

5.5 b : Scope
The Code is applicable to buildings or building complexes that have a connected load of 100 kW
or greater or a contract demand of 120 kVA or greater and are intended to be used for
commercial purposes. Buildings intended for private residential purposes only are not covered by
the Code.

5.5 b2: B u i l d i n g S y s t e m s
The provisions of this code apply to: (a) Building envelope, (b) Mechanical systems and
equipment, including heating, ventilating, and air conditioning, service hot water heating, (c)
Interior and exterior lighting, and (d) Electrical power and motors, and renewable energy
systems. The provisions of this code do not apply to plug loads, and equipment and parts of
buildings that use energy for manufacturing processes, unless otherwise specified in the Code.

Energy efficiency requirements for the Code were derived after analysing 16 different non-
residential building typologies (shown below), that in turn are broadly based on building
classification in the National Building Code of India. Spatial layouts, material specifications,
façade characteristics, and occupancy patterns have an impact on energy efficiency of a building
and differ for these typologies. Potential for reducing energy use with technology and materials
thus varies from building type to type. By analysing this potential, ECBC energy efficiency
requirements are now sensitive to building typologies and, to the extent possible, only
requirements that are feasible have been included.
5.6 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) BASED ON THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT (EPA), 1986

Definition : UNEP defines Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a tool used to identify the
environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to predict
environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce
adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to
decision-makers

The purpose of Environmental Impact Assessment

1. The purpose of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to identify and evaluate the potential
impacts(beneficial and adverse)of development and projects on the environmental system.It is an
useful aid for decision making based on understanding of the environment implications including
social, cultural and aesthetic concerns which could be integrated with the analysis of the project costs
and benifits.This exercise should be undertaken early enough in the planning stage of projects for
selection of environmentally compatible sites,process technologies and such other environmental
safeguards.
2. While all industrial projects may have some environmental impacts all of them may not be
significant enough to warrant elaborate assessment procedures. The need for such exercises will
have to be decided after initial evaluation of the possible implications of a particular project and its
location.The projects which could be the candidates for detailed Environment Impact Assessment
include the following:-

o Those which can significantly alter the landscape,land use pattern and lead to
concentration of working and service population;

o Those which need upstream development activity like assured mineral and forest products
suuply or downstream industrial process development;

o Those involving manufacture,handling and use of hazardous materials;

o Those which are sited near ecologically sensitive areas,urban centers, hill resorts,places of
scientific and religious importance.

o Industrial Estates with constituent units of various types which could cumulatively cause
significant environmental damage.
3. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be prepared on the basis of the existing
background pollution levels vis-a-vis contributions of pollutants from the proposed plant. The EIA
should address some of the basic factors listed below:

4. Preparation of Environmental Management Plan is required for formulation, implementation and

monitoring of environmental protection measures during and after commissioning of projects.

Stages of EIA:

Although legislation and practice vary around the world, the fundamental components of an EIA would
necessarily involve the following stages:

a. Screening to determine which projects or developments require a full or partial impact assessment
study;

b. Scoping to identify which potential impacts are relevant to assess (based on legislative
requirements, international conventions, expert knowledge and public involvement), to identify
alternative solutions that avoid, mitigate or compensate adverse impacts on biodiversity (including
the option of not proceeding with the development, finding alternative designs or sites which avoid
the impacts, incorporating safeguards in the design of the project, or providing compensation for
adverse impacts), and finally to derive terms of reference for the impact assessment;

c. Assessment and evaluation of impacts and development of alternatives, to predict and identify
the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, including the detailed
elaboration of alternatives;

d. Reporting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or EIA report, including an

environmental management plan (EMP), and a non-technical summary for the general audience.

e. Review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), based on the terms of reference
(scoping) and public (including authority) participation.

f. Decision-making on whether to approve the project or not, and under what conditions; and

g. Monitoring, compliance, enforcement and environmental auditing. Monitor whether the

predicted impacts and proposed mitigation measures occur as defined in the EMP. Verify the
compliance of proponent with the EMP, to ensure that unpredicted impacts or failed mitigation
measures are identified and addressed in a timely fashion.