Category: Energy (Page 3 of 8)

What’s All the Fuss About the Revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

June 14, 2019 / barros / 0 Comments

The amendment of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is one of the most important changes that has occurred in the EU buildings sector in the last 16 years.

Under the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD):

EU countries will have to establish stronger long-term renovation strategies, aiming at decarbonising the national building stocks by 2050, and with a solid financial component.
A common European scheme for rating the smart readiness of buildings, optional for Member States, will be introduced.
Smart technologies will be further promoted, for instance through requirements on the installation of building automation and control systems and on devices that regulate temperature at room level.
E-mobility will be supported by introducing minimum requirements for car parks over a certain size and other minimum infrastructure for smaller buildings.
EU countries will have to express their national energy performance requirements in ways that allow cross-national comparisons.
Health and well-being of building users will be promoted, for instance through an increased consideration of air quality and ventilation.

Other requirements under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive include:

All new buildings must be nearly zero-energy buildings by 31 December 2020.
Energy performance certificates must be issued when a building is sold or rented, and they must also be included in all advertisements for the sale or rental of buildings.
EU countries must establish inspection schemes for heating and air conditioning systems or put in place measures with equivalent effect.
EU countries must set cost-optimal minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings, for the major renovation of existing buildings, and for the replacement or retrofit of building elements (heating and cooling systems, roofs, walls and so on).
EU countries must draw up lists of national financial measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.

What is the challenge?

The Commission reached an agreement that includes a binding energy efficiency target for the EU for 2030 of 32.5%.
The risk of the directive being ineffective is high if countries and local authorities do not enforce it correctly.
Around 200 million buildings need to be renovated. EU countries must make energy efficient renovations to at least 3% of the total floor area of buildings owned and occupied by central government.
EU governments should only purchase buildings which are highly energy efficient.
EU countries must draw up long-term national building renovation strategies which can be included in their National Energy Efficiency Action Plans.
Member states are to provide for set system requirements in respect to installation, sizing, adjustment and controls. This applies to heating systems, hot water, air conditioning and large ventilation systems.
Cost optimal performance – the integration between cost optimality and high performance technical solutions underpins the deployment of NZEBs.

Overview of Key Changes to TGD L – Dwellings 2019

May 14, 2019 / barros / 0 Comments

Technical Guidance Documents are published to accompany each part of the Building Regulations in Ireland indicating how the requirements of that part can be achieved in practice.

Technical Guidance Document L (TGD L) indicates the requirements for Conservation of Fuel and Energy.

A new TGD L is due to be published in 2019. The new document follows a revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Member States have until March 2020 to translate into national law all the new requirements from the EU energy efficiency legislation affecting buildings.

Draft Transitional Arrangements:

NZEB and TGD L 2019 Dwellings to apply to new Dwellings commencing construction from 1st November 2019 subject to transition.
Transitional arrangements to allow TGD L 2011 – Dwellings to be used where planning approval or permission has been applied for on or before 31st October 2019 and substantial completion is completed within 1 year i.e. by 31st October 2020.

Overview of key changes to TGD L Dwellings 2019:

Introduction of NZEB (Nearly-Zero Energy Building), MPEPC (Maximum Permitted Energy Performance Coefficient)=0.30, MPCPC (Maximum Permitted Carbon Performance Coefficient)=0.35
Introduction of Major Renovations to a cost optimal level where technically, economically and functionally feasible
Introduction of a Renewable Energy Ratio (RER) of 20% as per ISO EN 52000 (to replace 10kWh/m2 /yr).
Reduction of air permeability backstop from 7m3 /hr/m2 to 5m3 /hr/m2
Table 1- Reduction of wall and floor backstop U-Value from 0.21W/m2K to 0.18 W/m2K
Table 1- Reduction of window backstop U-Value from 1.6 W/m2K to 1.4 W/m2K
Inclusion of guidance to avoid overheating in dwellings
Par 1.3.2.5 – removal of variation of U-Value with percentage glazing • Introduction of calculation of Ru value for corridors in apartments.

The draft TGD L – Dwellings 2019 can be accessed here.

The current TGD L – Dwellings 2011-2017 can be accessed here.

Minimum BER rating for new houses built in 2019.

What is a Building Renovation Passport?

January 25, 2019 / barros / 0 Comments

In its most recent study, the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) suggests to evolve EPCs into Building Renovation Passports. Based on three examples of “Building Renovation Passports” in the Belgian region of Flanders (“Woningpas”), France (“Passeport Efficacité Énergétique”) and Germany (“Individueller Sanierungsfahrplan”), building renovation passport are centred around the combination of technical on-site energy audits and quality criteria established in dialogue with building owners. The result is a user-friendly long-term roadmap that owners can use to plan deep renovations, gather all relevant building information in a sole place and get an up-to-date screenshot of the building across its lifetime, with information about comfort levels (air quality, better daylight entry, etc.) and potential access to finance.

A Building Renovation Passport (BRP) is a document – in electronic or paper format – outlining a long-term (up to 15-20 years) step-by-step renovation roadmap to achieve deep renovation for a specific building. It is designed to reflect the (changing) situation of the owner or occupier. The BRP also addresses the complexity of renovation works and ensures coordination throughout the different stages.

Building Renovation Passport – Overview of its components (Source: BPIE)

A Building Renovation Passport is an evolution of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), as it supports building owners with personalised suggestions on their renovation options. These result from an on-site energy audit fulfilling specific quality criteria and indicators established in dialogue with the owner. Via BRPs, building owners receive a ready-to-use, personalised renovation plan, presenting all the measures to be taken and the related expected benefits, including energy savings and comfort improvement.

EuroACE’s recommendation 5 on the Amended Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2018 recommends the introduction of Building Renovation Passports as a tool to inform, motivate and incite building owners to undertake energy renovation is a manner by which national and regional governments can bring tangible support to consumers, thus boosting energy renovation rates and depths.

Member States have until March 2020 to translate into national law all the new requirements from the EU energy efficiency legislation affecting buildings.

Lets wait to see if the Building Renovation Passports will be introduced in Ireland or not.