Savings potential in existing Danish building stock and new constructions

Panel: Panel 2. Making buildings more energy efficient

Authors:
Susanne Dyrbøl, Rockwool International A/S
Henrik Tommerup, Technical University of Denmark
Svend Svendsen, Technical University of Denmark

Abstract

There is a large potential for energy savings in the Danish building stock, 75% of the buildings being constructed before 1979 when the first important demands for energy performance of buildings were introduced.

The scope of this study was to investigate and set out the technical and economic potential for energy savings in the Danish building stock and in new constructions.

The study treats construction-related energy measures, incl. ventilation with heat recovery. Main focus has been on measures which are cheap to be taken when renovating or making new constructions. In order to estimate the total savings potential, detailed calculations of three typical buildings representing the building stock have been performed.

An average Danish building uses approx. 140 kWh/m 2 p.a. for space heating [1]; by implementing existing, energy-saving technologies it is possible to reduce energy consumption for space heating to 20 kWh/m 2 p.a. in a block of flats and to 40 kWh/m 2 p.a. in a one-family house. Regarding new constructions, the economically optimal insulation level is much higher than required by legislation (year 95) when evaluated over a period of 30 years.