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Updated: 30.06.2008
| Index of this
Page: |
| · Recasting
of the EPBD (2008) Read |
| · Content:
A Directive to Increase Energy Efficiency of Buildings in the
EU (2002) Read |
| · INFORSE
Recommendation for Implementation (2002) Read |
Recasting
of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2008
Member
States are supposed to have implemented the EPBD since two years now
but first assessments show many gaps. By April 2008,
the EU Commission has initiated 17 infringement cases against Member
States that have failed partially or completely to implement the Directive.
Consequently, the EU Commission decided to recast the Directive and launched
a public consultation opened until June 20, 2008. The aim of the recasting
is simplifying and clarifying the current Directive, strengthening certain
requirements, redefining minimum thresholds for the implementation of
the Directive, making the role of national public sector and EU policies
clearer.
Read
INFORSE-Europe's contribution ( pdf
file 34kB) (June 2008)
Read
the consultation and its background paper on the EU
Commission’s
web site.
Content:
A Directive to Increase Energy Efficiency of Buildings in the EU (2002)
The main content
of the Directive is:
-
Application
and regular updating of minimum standards for energy
performance of buildings based on a common methodology for all new buildings
and for
existing buildings of more than 1000 square meters that are being
renovated. The performance will include energy use for heating,
ventilation, lighting,
as well as the opportunity of heat recovery and local renewable
energy supply used in cost-effective ways.
-
Common
methodology for the preparation of minimum integrated energy performance
standards,
which Member States will have to adopt for each type
of building. This methodology will have to take into account differences in
climate and include factors relating to insulation, heating, ventilation,
lighting,
building
orientation, heat recovery, and use of renewable energy sources.
-
Certification
systems for new and existing buildings: energy performance certificates
no more than ten years old, containing advice on how to improve energy
performance, will have to be available for all buildings when built,
sold or leased. These energy performance certificates, together with
information on recommended and actual indoor temperatures, will also
be displayed in public buildings and in other types of building frequented
by the public.
-
Specific
checks and assessment of heating and cooling equipment by experts.
Member States will have to make arrangements for regular inspection
of boilers of a rated output between 20 and 100 kW. Boilers above this
threshold must be inspected every two years (gas boilers every four
years).
Read
more about the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC)
on the EU
Commission's web site.
Status
On October 10, 2002 the EU Parliament supported the Commission's
proposal with some amendments. Following this, the Commission adopted
the final language agreed upon by the Parliament in October. This
concluded a year and a half of debate between the Parliament and
the Commission.
The EU countries have also agreed to the text and adopted it at
the energy ministers' meeting November 25.
Implementation
Member States had until the 4th of January 2006 to implement the Directive,
except Bulgaria and Romania for whom the deadline was January 2007.
However for certifications and inspections, Member States can have
an additional period of three years if they miss qualified or accredited
experts.
Many European countries have updated or are currently updating their energy performance
regulations in order to improve energy efficiency of their buildings.
The EU Commission
(DG TREN) has formed a committee to oversee the implementation of the
Directive, with representatives of EU countries and the trade association
EuroAce. The committee had its first meeting in June 2003.
INFORSE
Recommendation for Implementation
Given
that energy efficiency standards in national building codes have been
one of the most efficiency and cost-effective way of raising energy
efficiency in most EU countries, this Directive can be very important
for future increase in energy efficiency. The effect of it is, however,
crucial dependant on the implementation in national legislation. It is
important that there is a national debate about the implementation
with
focus on how to maximize the benefits from the implementation, rather
than a debate on how to have the least changes. In all countries current
building codes
have relatively low requirements for energy efficiency and renewable
energy which leads to higher energy consumption than the cost-effective
level.
Because most houses are built according to the standards, the users are
trapped with these unnecessary high costs. New, stronger building
codes
can correct this problem, to the benefit of users, the constructors and
the environment. Thus, NGOs and relevant stakeholders should push
the
implementation of the new Directive in an ambitious direction, so it
will contribute to this.
In
the implementation, the countries should give priority to passive
solar energy above what is proposed in the Directive. Passive solar
energy
use should be taken into account in planning, orientation and positioning
of houses; as well as in use and heating control of houses. There
is also
a need for inclusion of passive solar concepts in education. The countries
should also give priority to micro-CHP, i.e. building-integrated CHP.
It is proposed that the limit for renovation of buildings to require
current energy efficiency standards is set to renovations that costs above
10% of the value of the building.
Read more on EuroACE and
on the ENPER-EXIST project's
website. EuroAce is the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency
in Buildings. ENPER-EXIST was a project which aims at supporting the take-off
of the
EPBD.
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