Towards climate neutrality within the European Union: Assessment of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive implementation in Member States

Maduta, C.; D'Agostino, D.; Tsemekidi-Tzeiranaki, S.; Castellazzi, L.; Melica, G.; Bertoldi, P.

doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113716

Cited by 19 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…However, while the directive outlines these guidelines, Member States have the flexibility to employ their calculation methods for energy performance and energy label designs, leading to a lack of uniformity across the EU [80]. This variation is particularly evident in the approach to energy performance assessment, with operational rating relying on actual energy use (measured) and/or asset rating based on assumed standard usage (calculated) [81]. Research by Semple and Jenkins (2020) [80] investigated EPC schemes in six countries, revealing how different methodologies can yield disparate conclusions about building stocks, while Ferrantelli and Kurnitski (2022) [82] found that EPCs issued using four distinct methodologies resulted varying, and at times unrealistic, renovation rates for Estonian building.…”

Section: Epc Global Significance and Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparative Study on Discrepancies in Residential Building Energy Performance Certification in a Mediterranean Context

Vardopoulos,

Santamouris,

Zorpas

et al. 2024

Buildings

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Energy Performance Certification (EPC) systems are pivotal in addressing the global energy challenge, particularly in the building sector. This study evaluates the efficacy of the EPC offered by the Simplified Building Energy Model interface designed to indicate compliance with the Cypriot building regulations, widely known as iSBEM-Cy Version 3.4a, by examining a typical residential unit in Cyprus. Data on construction features and electromechanical systems were collected, and actual monthly electricity and oil bills were analyzed to determine the total primary energy consumption. Various factors were considered, including energy efficiency and operational parameters for heating, cooling, lighting, auxiliary systems, and domestic hot water. The building energy performance was simulated using iSBEM-Cy, allowing for comparison with real-world energy consumption. Notable discrepancies were observed, particularly in cooling, with deviations reaching 377.4%. Conversely, domestic hot water consumption exhibited minimal variance at 7%, while heating and lighting showed moderate discrepancies (24.3% and −113.9%, respectively). This study underscores the need for rigorous evaluations to shape effective EPC and provides insights into building energy performance in Mediterranean Cyprus. This research contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable construction practices by aligning simulation results with real-world energy consumption.

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Section: Epc Global Significance and Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparative Study on Discrepancies in Residential Building Energy Performance Certification in a Mediterranean Context

Vardopoulos,

Santamouris,

Zorpas

et al. 2024

Buildings

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“…For comparison purposes, the Member States are divided into climatic zones as follows: (1) Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal in Mediterranean, (2) Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Germany, France Luxembourg, and Netherlands in Oceanic, (3) Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia in Continental, and (4) Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Sweden in Nordic. The average NZEB performance levels by climatic zones were calculated as explained in [26]. The comparison reveals an uneven landscape.…”

Section: Energy Performance Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, is important to note that not all countries have implemented a mandatory requirement for renewable energy contributions. In addition, some countries have distinct requirements depending on the building type, end-use covered, and technology [26]. Fig.…”

Section: Renewable Energy Contributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Readiness of Zero-Emission Buildings (ZEBs) implementation in the European Union

Maduta,

D’Agostino

2024

E3S Web Conf.

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The building sector plays a central role in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (EU). The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) sets out ambitious requirements to make the EU building stock decarbonised by 2050. The proposal for a recast EPBD introduces Zero-Emission Building (ZEB) as the building target for all new buildings as of 2030. This paper offers insights into the concept of ZEB, analysing its key methodological aspects, with a focus on ambition, the role of energy efficiency, and the role of renewable energy. Additionally, the paper evaluates the performance levels of new buildings in EU Member States, highlighting the gaps between current Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings’ performance levels and potential ZEB performance levels, specifically in terms of primary energy demand and renewable energy contribution. The findings emphasise the necessity to enhance initiatives aimed at improving energy efficiency and harnessing renewable energy sources to adopt the ambitious ZEB concept as of 2030. Additionally, the paper highlights the importance of addressing GHG emissions comprehensively, extending beyond the operational phase of a building to include embodied impacts, in order to achieve a life-cycle zero-emission building stock.

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“…However, it is important to underline that other types of ZEB definitions exist where the compensation approach is not allowed, i.e. a project cannot claim a net zero balance by avoiding emissions elsewhere [4,19,20]. This is due to the risk of double counting these avoided emissions in several GHGe accountings.…”

Section: Co 2eq Compensation In Zeb Definitionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Instead, requirements for ZEB definitions, for instance the recent net zero guidelines from ISO IWA 42:2022 (International Workshop Agreement) are founded on GHGe compensation via offsetting that actively removes carbon from the atmosphere. This can be via verified afforestation-or carbon capture projects that live up to the requirements of ensuring additional, verifiable, and long-term removals [19,20].…”

Section: Co 2eq Compensation In Zeb Definitionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing designs for net zero emission buildings – technical and conceptual feasibility in a Norwegian context

Rasmussen,

Bohne,

Kvande

2024

IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci.

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This paper investigates how a redesign of five single-family houses can comply with the Norwegian definition of a net zero emission building (ZEB). Central to the ZEB definition used in this study is the assumption that greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) can be compensated by exporting generated electricity from photovoltaic (PV) systems, thus avoiding emissions from grid-mix. The redesigns were made as part of a master’s level course where five student teams followed an iterative process with three main steps, where 1) the energy efficiency of the building was improved with passive and active measures. Results from this showed how energy demand was reduced, on average, by one-third in the building cases. 2) Selection of materials with low GHGe-intensity was in focus. Results showed how the ZEB designs were 1.5-2.5 times more GHGe-intensive than the base case designs, mainly due to the application of PV systems. 3) remaining life-cycle GHGe were compensated via on-site PV electricity generation and exports. Resulting designs included mounted and integrated PV systems and exported, on average, 14,000 kWh annually. Key learnings from the process were the challenges in adapting an existing design without altering the architectural expression. Hence, ZEB design should preferably begin at the conceptual design level. Additional learnings relate to the sensitivity in parameter setting for the in-use scenarios, specifically the degradation rate of the PV panels and the ZEB-factor for GHGe compensation (132 g CO2eq/kWh used in this study). An outlook from the study relates to the ZEB definition itself, internationally developing towards requirements for active GHGe removals from the atmosphere as a more stringent type of emission compensation.

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Towards climate neutrality within the European Union: Assessment of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive implementation in Member States

Cited by 19 publications

References 85 publications

A Comparative Study on Discrepancies in Residential Building Energy Performance Certification in a Mediterranean Context

A Comparative Study on Discrepancies in Residential Building Energy Performance Certification in a Mediterranean Context

Readiness of Zero-Emission Buildings (ZEBs) implementation in the European Union

Optimizing designs for net zero emission buildings – technical and conceptual feasibility in a Norwegian context

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