Core Team 1 – New Buildings

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Photo: Stefan Müller-Neumann, GWG Munich

Photo: Stefan Müller-Neumann, GWG Munich

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to setting minimum requirements for the energy performance of new buildings, Member States must make a detailed definition of a Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB) and implement the corresponding requirements. Firstly, the implementation of NZEBs is to be for all new public buildings by the end of 2018 and then for all new buildings by the end of 2020. New buildings include, in many cases, innovative building and building services system technologies and advanced energy management systems. Both the EPBD and the RES Directive stimulate the use of Renewable Energy Systems in new buildings.

Within the Concerted Action EPBD, Core Team 1 focuses on new buildings and their technical building systems. Core Team 1 first of all supports work on:

Definitions (EPBD Article 2):

  • Framework definition of Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings
  • Definitions of technical building service systems, building envelope, building elements and energy from renewable sources (RES)
  • Definition of energy performance of buildings

New buildings (EPBD Article 6)

  • Measures to ensure that new buildings meet minimum energy performance requirements
  • Consideration and taking into account of high-efficient alternative systems
    • decentralised energy supply systems based on RES
    • cogeneration
    • district or block heating or cooling particularly if based on RES
    • heat pumps

Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (EPBD Article 9)

  • Implementation of the NZEB definition for new public buildings by 31 December 2018 and for all new building by 31 December 2020
  • Drawing up of national plans for increasing the number of NZEBs
  • Policies and measures to transform buildings that are refurbished into NZEBs
  • MS’s detailed application in practice of the NZEB definition
  • Policies and financial or other measures adopted for the promotion of NZEBs
  • Evaluation of the national plans for increasing the number of NZEBs by the Commission and publication of reports on the progress of MSs

Core Team 1 also supports other parts of the EPBD, dealt with primarily by other Concerted Action teams. These elements are primarily:

Methodology for calculating the energy performance of buildings (EPBD Article 3)

  • Calculation methodology in accordance with the common general framework of Annex I

Minimum energy performance requirements (EPBD Article 4)

  • Minimum performance levels for new buildings with a view to achieve cost-optimum levels

Technical building systems (EPBD Article 8)

  • Setting requirements for systems (not whole buildings or individual products)
  • Energy performance of technical building systems (TBS)
  • Dimensioning, installation, adjustment, and control
  • Encouragement of intelligent metering for TBS
  • Active controls, automation, and monitoring

Activities of this Core Team

The EPBD Concerted Action activities of CT 1 ‘New buildings’ support the Member States in the exchange of experiences in high performance buildings (ranging from low energy buildings to passive houses, zero-energy and zero-emission buildings, and even energy surplus houses).

Topics for discussion include the most common building and service system solutions, calculation methods, promotional means, available subsidies and other incentives, supporting documents (e.g. guidelines), etc., as well as study tours to interact with experts at national administrations and visits to relevant sites.

The different national applications of the definition of nearly zero-energy buildings are presented and compared: front-runner countries receive feedback and other countries gather inspiration for their own application.

Through such information exchange, Member State participants further support each other in the development of the national plans for increasing the number of Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings.