Code to label; lessons learned and the case for India

Many countries have developed,and have been developing, building energy efficiency codes and rating/labeling systems for the last few decades, both for existing and new buildings. While codes are used as a regulatory tool to recommend a set of rules by the authorities, rating/labeling systems have been used to determine the minimum energy performance standards and help the authorities by providing useful information on how energy consumption is evolving over a period. To build and sustain resilient communities,reliable and accessible information influences consumers and markets to make informed choices. This is where residential building labeling steps in. This paper summarizes the residential building labeling program/policies in, including learning in terms of designing, implementation and enforcement, quality assurance,and impact of the labeling program.The paper contains key features of the labeling program from these 12 countries and India, whilst highlighting each one’s scope,minimum performance criteria, methodology and criteria for rating,and implementation and administrative framework. It concludes with various challenges in the current framework, highlighting the shortcomings of the program and provides plausible set of actions for further improvement and effective uptake of the labeling program in India.