An internationally acclaimed residential camp for architecture and engineering students on Building Energy Efficiency concludes at CRDF, CEPT University
Ahmedabad, Gujarat: There is a need to alter the way we now design and build our buildings
in light of the problems posed by climate change. The design and construction of low carbon
buildings in India presents a significant opportunity for increasing thermal comfort and
reducing operational energy use. The country needs a critical mass of experts with academic
training in building energy for the design, construction, and implementation of building energy
efficiency measures in order to take advantage of this potential.
This was resolved in the 5th edition of the eight-day BEEP Students residential programme for
students studying architecture and engineering, which will conclude on December 22, 2022 at
CRDF, CEPT University, Ahmedabad. About 50 young students from architecture and
engineering backgrounds from 19 Indian states, attended the camp.
The BEEP Student Camp bridges the gap by bringing together students and young
professionals from both streams to give them an experience of practical application of their
technical know-how within an interdisciplinary group, encouraging the use of an integrated
approach to design thermally comfortable buildings that are low carbon.
There is a particular emphasis on how the two experts may collaborate from the start and utilise
their technical expertise to develop energy-efficient structures. In addition to providing the
participants with the necessary technical information, the camp emphasises how students may
improve their interpersonal skills to collaborate successfully in a diverse team to produce the
desired results.
The BEEP Student Camp was awarded the Chartered Institution of Building Services
Engineers (CIBSE) Building Performance Award 2022 under the “Learning & Development”
category in a ceremony held at London earlier this year.
The Camp is organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power,
Government of India and CRDF, CEPT University in collaboration with Swiss Agency for
Development & Cooperation (SDC) under the Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project
(BEEP).
Dr. Jonathan Demenge (Head & Counsellor – Swiss Cooperation Office, India), Mr. Saurabh
Diddi (Director – Bureau of Energy Efficiency), Dr. Rajan Rawal (CEPT University), Dr. Yash
Shukla (CEPT University), Architect Ashok Lall, Mr. Pierre Jaboyedoff (Indo-Swiss BEEP)
among other eminent Industry stakeholders concurred that trained young professionals and an
aware consumer shall be critical elements that will ensure that India is able to achieve its Net
Zero commitments.
About Indo-Swiss BEEP
Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) is a bi-lateral cooperation program
between the Government of India and the Government of Switzerland, which was initiated in
2011. Over this period, BEEP has provided technical support to BEE in the formulation of EcoNiwas Samhita (energy conservation building code for residential buildings), design of around
50 buildings and trained more than 5000 building sector professionals. BEEP has developed
the BEEP Student Camp and has implemented it jointly with CRDF, CEPT University since
2018.
About CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)
About CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) CEPT Research and
Development Foundation (CRDF) is the research and advisory arm of CEPT University. CEPT
University has created a vibrant environment of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation
focused on issues concerning human habitats. Through CRDF, University engages actively in
research projects, advisory assignments and capacity building initiatives aimed at solving
critical problems in the built environment and improving people’s quality of life in towns and
cities. Through these research and consulting pursuits, our faculty members make available
their academic knowledge and professional expertise to external stakeholders including the
government, public sector organisations, NGOs, communities, and businesses.
About CEPT University
CEPT University was established by the CEPT University Act of 2005 enacted by the
government of Gujarat. It was originally started in 1962 as the School of Architecture supported
by the Ahmedabad Education Society. CEPT University is recognized as a Center of
Excellence by the Government of Gujarat. CEPT University has many ongoing collaborations
and exchange programs with top ranked universities across the world.
About BEE
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power,
Government of India. It assists in developing policies and strategies with the primary objective
of reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy. BEE coordinates with designated
consumers, designated agencies, and other organizations to identify and utilize the existing
resources and infrastructure, in performing the functions assigned to it under the Energy
Conservation Act.
