Abstract

A commonly used measure of the energy efficiency of commercial buildings is the annual energy consumption per unit of floor area. This indicator is adequate for most of the buildings, where energy and electricity consumption is dominated by HVAC and lighting leading to an electric load of the order of 10-100 W per square meter. But, in some parts of some buildings energy consumption is dominated by specific processes like cooking, washing or data processing (computer rooms) and the electric loads may locally be of the order of several 100 W per square meter. If these high electric-load zones represent a substantial fraction of the building, then the measure of energy consumption per unit of floor area is no more a good measure of energy efficiency of the building. Alternative indicators of energy efficiency are presented for restaurants and computer centres and the use of these indicators in energy efficiency programmes is discussed.

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Panels of

Panel 1. Energy efficiency – a strategic choice for Europe

Panel 2. Comfort and energy use in buildings

Panel 4. Building the bridge from lab to customer

Panel 3. Land use, transportation and mobility

Panel 6. Dynamics of consumption

Panel 5. Market-based instruments