European Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) - an introduction

As stated, the EU's buildings sector accounts for 40% of its energy requirements, so offers the largest single potential for energy efficiency. Research has indicated that over 20% of the present energy consumption (and up to 30 - 45m tonnes of CO2/year could be saved by 2010 by applying more ambitious standards to both new and refurbished buildings.

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is primarily aimed at playing a vital role in delivering significant improvements in building-related energy efficiency.

The EPBD, originally published in January 2003, and passed into Irish law on 4th January 2006, now requires that energy rating  be extended to include new non-residential buildings as well as new public service buildings. From 2009, the energy rating will apply to all existing dwellings, all existing non-residential buildings, and all existing public service buildings. Therefore, the EPBD is already having far-reaching consequences for owners, operators and developers of all buildings in Europe (both domestic and non-domestic and including the UK and Ireland). The Directive itself makes no distinction between homes and commercial buildings.

In brief, the EPBD Directive demands:

• Minimum requirements for the energy performance of all new buildings.
• Minimum requirements for the energy performance of large existing buildings that are undergoing major renovation.
• Energy certification of all buildings (frequently visited public service buildings are required to prominently display their energy certificates).
• Regular mandatory inspection of boilers and HVAC systems in buildings is required.

Earlier existing legal instruments that aim to improve energy efficiency include the Boiler Directive (92/42/EEC), the Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) and the buildings provisions in the SAVE Directive 93/76/EEC). The EPBD is intended to build on these measures.

In the UK, as well as in Ireland, it is a similar situation, although buildings are responsible for almost 50% of all energy consumed - so it is crucial that the stock of buildings is made more energy efficient. This is especially so when it is considered that, at the forecast rate of building, a large proportion of current buildings will still be in use in 2050. Therefore, improving the energy performance of existing buildings is just as important as making new ones efficient.

It is essential that enough qualified inspectors are available and/or trained.

Boilers and air conditioning systems:

Boiler efficiency has a significant impact on the overall energy efficiency of a building. Therefore,  advice and information programmes should be available about the energy performance of boilers and heating systems. This is aimed at encouraging boiler owners to improve the efficiency of their products, as well as to reduce the carbon emissions (principally CO2) produced.

Many commercial buildings, as well as an increasing number of homes, have air conditioning systems - all of which use significant amounts of energy. Legislation should ensure that larger air conditioning systems, at least, are regularly inspected to ensure that they are in best condition for efficiency. Such inspections are likely to involve air conditioning systems where the total system cooling capacity is greater than 12kWr (homes as well as non-domestic buildings). Such air-conditioning systems, at least in the UK, will be inspected at least every five years. The inspection will include an assessment of efficiency, a review of sizing, plus advice on improvements, replacements, and alternative solutions.

Methods of reducing energy demands of buildings:

There are many ways in which the energy demands of buildings can be reduced. For existing buildings, assuming that all sensible and easily attained energy saving measures have already been applied (eg: switching off electrical, lighting and HVAC equipment when not in use etc), the methods include better insulation, double glazing, the latest energy saving lamps (CFLs, fluorescent tubes, LEDs etc), modern lighting control equipment, more efficient HVAC and hot water systems, addition of renewable energy sources (microCHP, solar thermal or PV (cell) systems, heat pumps, wind energy etc), and the installation of so-called 'smart' energy meters.

Many, or all, of the above can also be applied to new buildings, but there possibilities for large energy savings are much greater here, especially as careful design can reduce, or even eliminate the need for HVAC equipment. Also, careful design can allow much more natural daylight into rooms, reducing or eliminating the need for artificial light except at night. For larger buildings, modern building management systems (BMS) can also be used to greatly reduce enrgy demand.

Among the more exciting developments for homes (and small businesses) is the heat pump, which can provide energy seemingly almost for free (apart from initial cost).

One way of maximising efficiency for business, retail or industrial electrical networks is to use Schneider Electric Services & Projects' MP4 Network Review. Read about it in the Word doc in this VoltiTECH.

Back

For latest electrical industry news, register for Voltimum's free newsletter.

Enter your email address here: OK