Indo-Switzerland

The Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) is a bilateral cooperation between the Ministry of Power (MoP), Government of India and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of the Swiss Confederation. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is the Implementing agency on behalf of the MoP while the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is the agency on behalf of the FDFA.

Consequent to the Cabinet Approval by the Govt. of India, an MoU for a five-year joint project with an overall objective to reduce energy consumption in new buildings in India was signed between the two governments on 8th November 2011 and was valid till 7th November 2016. The successful implementation of the project during 2011-2016, resulted in the two governments agreeing to extend the MoU for 5 years. Hence, the extension of the MoU for a follow-up phase of BEEP (8th November 2016 – 7th November 2021) was signed in the month of November 2016. The MoU’s for the follow-up phase were exchanged between the two countries on 28th November 2016 at the BEEP International Conference in the presence of Mr. Piyush Goyal, the then Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy, Mines, Govt. of India. The project is also in the process of seeking an extension till December 2022 to complete the activities delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Activities completed under the bilateral (FY 2020-21):

1. Eco-Niwas Samhita Implementation: BEEP is providing technical support to BEE with the implementation of Energy Conservation Building Code for Residential Buildings or Eco-Niwas Samhita (ENS). Over 1500 participants attended the National Training Program on ECBC and ENS as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav event on 18th – 19th July, 2021. The NEERMAN awards were launched on 16th July, 2022 under the Amrit Mahotsav event organized by BEE by the Hon’ble Minister of Power. BEEP assisted BEE with the conceptualization and implementation of the NEERMAN awards which aims to recognize and award exemplary commercial and residential buildings which comply with ECBC and ENS.
2. BEEP developed the document “Building Envelope Solution Sets (v 1.0) for Eco Niwas Samhita, 2018”. The publication was released by the Secretary, Ministry of Power during the “National Workshop on Energy efficiency in Residential Buildings” under Bharat ki Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on 10th December 2021 at New Delhi.
3. Tools and Technologies: BEEP has developed a simulation software “Vayu Pravah” to analyze the natural ventilation potential in buildings through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The CFD tool “Vayu Pravah” along with its user manual was released by the Secretary, Ministry of Power during the “National Workshop on Energy efficiency in Residential Buildings” under Bharat ki Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on 10th December 2021 at New Delhi. The tool will help building designers in designing better naturally ventilated buildings. Two online training programmes were organised for building professionals and were attended by 200 professionals.
4. BEEP has also developed a manual for building designers on the External Movable Shading Systems (EMSyS), used to shade windows, available in the Indian market. The project also undertook a study to measure the reduction in room temperature and savings in electricity used for air-conditioning through the use of EMSyS products. The manual was released by Secretary, Ministry of Power during the “National Workshop on Energy efficiency in Residential Buildings” under Bharat ki Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on 10th December 2021 at New Delhi.
5. Architecture & Engineering Student Education & Training: BEEP is focusing on training under-graduate and post-graduate Architecture & Engineering students in integrated energy-efficient building design. BEEP organised the 3rd edition of its flagship BEEP Student Camp (originally a 1-week residential program) as a 2-week online program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was attended by 60 participants pan India, comprising of both students and young professionals from architecture and engineering backgrounds. A book on “Building Heat Transfer: Understanding through Numerical Examples” was developed in collaboration with IIT Bhilai. The publication was released by the Secretary, Ministry of Power during the “National Workshop on Energy efficiency in Residential Buildings” under Bharat ki Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on 10th December 2021 at New Delhi. Two online training programmes for faculty members was organized, which was attended by around 50 faculty members.
6. Media Engagement on Energy Efficient Buildings: BEEP is supporting BEE in increasing media engagement on the issue of energy efficiency in buildings. BEEP has partnered with the Centre for Media Studies (CMS) to conduct a series of workshops on the topic for journalists. A 2-week training for journalism students was conducted during October 2021 in collaboration with the Centre for Media Studies (CMS). Hon’ble Union Minister for Power, New & Renewable Energy launched the media manuals developed under BEEP at the Energy Conservation Day event held at Vigyan Bhawan on 14th December 2021.