ASHRAE Journal - May 2011 - 104

international column

revision of eu energy Performance Directive
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By chris Breslin and tim Dwyer, ceng., Fellow ASHRAE

he European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, adopted originally in 2002, has been revised to clarify the original document

and to encompass current European Union (EU) policy goals, while reducing the variations in its implementation. The directive follows the general shift in focus of EU policy and regulation from carbon emissions to an emphasis on energy performance. The individual governments of the 27 EU states must include the directive in their country’s laws and regulations.
The directive addresses the energy efficiency of buildings, new and existing, while recognizing the importance of renovating existing stock and the long refurbishment cycles, which can curb energy efficiency for years to come. Recognition is given to the vital role of properly trained and competent installers and professional experts in delivering integrated energy efficiency and renewable technologies. The directive requires all new buildings to be “nearly zero-energy buildings” by 2020, including existing buildings undergoing major renovation. It also requires governments to prepare a national plan for increasing the number of such buildings, including setting targets to stimulate the transformation of buildings that are refurbished into nearly zero-energy buildings. The national plan must also include intermediate targets for improving the energy performance of new buildings by 2015. A national definition of nearly zero-energy buildings must be issued, including a numerical indicator of primary energy use expressed in kWh/m2 per year, although this remains a contentious issue. A number of new definitions have been introduced, as well as amending several as used in the original directive. Notably, the original definition of the principally European term of CHP (combined heat and power) has been changed to cogeneration. This more closely ties in with terminology used in North America. The directive requires every EU government to apply a methodology that calculates the energy performance of buildings. These calculations must be based on a general framework incorporating some core minimum requirements. The explicit reference to required CO2 emissions has been dropped, which is consistent with the greater emphasis on energy efficiency. A new provision requires governments to demonstrate that the miniashrae.org

mum energy performance standards they set are at a cost-optimal level, which is defined as delivering the lowest cost during the anticipated lifespan of the building or building element, taking into account investment, maintenance and operating costs, compared with the value of the energy saved plus earnings from any energy produced. The energy performance requirements must be based on a standardized calculation methodology, and general indoor climate conditions must be taken into account, so as to avoid possible negative effects, such as inadequate ventilation, as well as local conditions and the building’s designated function and age. The section concerning new buildings has been extended to require the mandated renewable energy feasibility study to be documented and retained for possible later checking. And for existing buildings, the minimum energy performance requirements as set for new buildings will apply when a major renovation is to be carried out, of whatever size. When defining a major renovation, governments must opt for either work in excess of 25% of the building value (excluding land value), or 25% of the surface building envelope. Governments must ensure that whenever an entire building, or an element of it, undergoes major renovation, its energy performance is upgraded to meet minimum requirements, and they must encourage the consideration of alternative environmental systems. At the least, this should include hot water,
May 2011

104

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