EU POLICIES ON ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF BUILDINGS: the role of air tightness and ventilation

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EU POLICIES ON ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF
BUILDINGSthe role of air tightness and
ventilation

• Users Stakeholders TightVent Meeting, Brussels
• 24 MARCH 2011
• Dr Marina Economidou
• Expert in Energy Efficiency
• Buildings Performance Institute Europe

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Overview

• A Few Words about BPIE
• EU Building Policies opportunities challenges
• Why care about ventilation air-tightness?
• Airtightness in New and Existing building
  policies
• Concluding remarks

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BPIE

• Non-profit association in Brussels operational
  since Feb 10
• Founding partners eceee, European Climate
  Foundation, Climate Works
• Focus on energy efficiency in buildings
  throughout Europe
• Centre of expertise in buildings (technical
  expertise)
• European centre for a global best practice
  network
• Targeted independent research, policy analysis
  evaluation to support policy implementation

A FEW WORDS ABOUT BPIE
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EU framework

• EPBD (2002/91/EC)
• Definition of requirements for the energy
  performance of buildings
• methodology for calculating the energy
  performance of buildings
• scheme of assessing the energy performance of a
  building (EPC)
• Mechanism of regular inspections of heating air
  conditioning systems
• EPBD (2010/31/EC)
• New nearly-zero-energy buildings constructed
  after 2020 (public sector buildings in 2018)
• A harmonised calculation methodology to push MS 
  minimum energy performance requirements towards
  cost-optimal levels
• Existing building stock shall be renovated to
  very low-energy standards (no specific target be
  set for the renovation of existing building).
• For major retrofits the 1000 m² threshold is
  eliminated .
• A more detailed and rigorous procedure for
  issuing EPC
• EU 2020 20/20/20 Target

EU BUILDING POLICIES OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES
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Energy Efficiency Plan 2011

• Non-binding targets
• MS to set their own indicative targets
• EC to review progress in 2013 and propose binding
  targets for all MSs if it appears the 20 target
  will not be achieved.
• Public Sector
• Set an example
• Renovation rate to be doubled to at least 3 per
  year
• Renovation should bring buildings up to level of
  the best 10 of national building stock
• Energy efficiency standards to be incorporated
  more fully into public procurement.
• ESCOs
• Both the private and public sectors
• Legislative proposals to increase their role
• Training
• Improving training for architects, engineers,
  auditors etc. to meet implementation of
  technically demanding building solutions.

EU BUILDING POLICIES OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES
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EPBD and Air tightness

• Common general framework for the calculation of
  energy performance of buildings (Annex 1)
• The methodology shall be laid down taking into
  consideration at least the following aspects
• (d) natural and mechanical ventilation which may
  include air-tightness
• ...

EU BUILDING POLICIES OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES
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CO2 Saving potential
IMPORTANCE OF AIR-TIGHTNESS AND VENTILATION
Source JRC Environmental Improvement
Potentials of Residential Buildings. South
European countries with warm climates
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Indoor air quality

• Build Tight Ventilate right
• Leaky buildings
• Discomfort
• Space heating/cooling
• Deterioration
• Too air-tight buildings
• Sick Building Syndrome
• Symptoms e.g. headaches, fatigue

IMPORTANCE OF AIR-TIGHTNESS AND VENTILATION
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Nearly zero energy buildings
Multiple definitions Climate, building types,
building traditions , etc.
Need Common and cross-national understanding
Example of low energy standards Passive House
Air-tightness part of integrated NZEB solution
So does ventilation!
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Air tightness of EU buildings
Source Preliminary BPIE data for its
Transforming Europes Buildings study
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Max. air tightness levels
UK
AT
CZ
Source Preliminary BPIE data for its
Transforming Europes Buildings study
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Renovations

• Air-tightness Ventilation to be
• considered in renovation solutions
• Current renovation rates 1 per year
• Targeted renovation rates 3 per year
• Need for large scale solutions

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Some concluding remarks

• Legal framework exists but more support is
  required for implementation
• Importance of Build Tight Ventilate Right
• Environmental reasons
• Comfort reasons
• Greater need for air-tightness and ventilation
  measures
• NZEB
• RENOVATIONS

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Thank you! Marina Economidou marina.economidou_at_bp
ie.eu
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BPIEs mission

• Support the development of ambitious but
  pragmatic buildings related policies and programs
  at EU and Member State Level.
• Drive timely and efficient implementation by
  teaming up on European and member state level
  with local authorities, communities, industrial
  players, research organisations and consumers.
• Provide the knowledge that is necessary to
  conduct both activities successfully

A FEW WORDS ABOUT BPIE
BPIE