EPBD FAQs: Existing buildings
Is there something specifically for existing buildings?
There are many elements of the recast Directive that pertain to existing buildings. Unfortunately, the recast does not set targets for improving existing buildings and non- legislative measures will be needed to address how to achieve a greater share of renovation.
However there are other important aspects relating to existing buildings.
Article 4 states that “Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that minimum energy performance requirements for buildings or building units are set with a view to achieving cost-optimal levels. The energy performance shall be calculated in accordance with the methodology” referred to in other parts of the Directive.
Article 4 continues: “Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that minimum energy performance requirements are set for building elements that form part of the building envelope and that have a significant impact on the energy performance of the building envelope when they are replaced or retrofitted, with a view to achieving cost-optimal levels.
“When setting requirements, Member States may differentiate between new and existing buildings and between different categories of buildings.
“These requirements shall take account of general indoor climate conditions, in order to avoid possible negative effects such as inadequate ventilation, as well as local conditions and the designated function and the age of the building.”
The 1000 m2 threshold for major renovation that was in the original Directive was deleted. Instead, it will take effect when the national regulations have been implemented and applied.
Minimum requirements for components are introduced for all replacements and renovations. For major renovations, the holistic calculation methodology is the preferred method. As a complement or alternative, performance calculations based on component requirements are allowed.
Existing buildings are also dealt with in the Energy Efficiency Directive in two specific areas: renovation of public buildings and developing long-term renovation strategies.
First, Art. 5 in the EED sets a 3% annual renovation target for public buildings owned and occupied by its central government from the beginning of 2014 onwards. Central government buildings must be renovated to meet at least the national minimum energy performance requirements set in application of Art. 4 of the EPBD. The 3% rate shall be calculated on the total floor area of buildings with a total useful floor area over 500 m2 and, as of 9 July 2015, over 250 m2 owned and occupied by central government. This is an important start to push for ambitious total programme of renovations. It allows central governments to set a good example to roll out ambitious renovations throughout the entire building sector, and to test different technical and business models.
Second, Art. 4 of the EED requires MS to establish a long-term strategy for investment in the renovation of residential and commercial buildings with the aim of improving their energy efficiency, including with deep renovations. This article is unique in the EED in the sense that it extends beyond 2020, although no exact timeline is set out in the directive. This is quite an important requirement if implemented according the spirit and not simply the letter of the article. Organisations such as the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) have provided some guidance on how best to address these strategies. [1]
This strategy is to encompass:
a. an overview of the national building stock based, as appropriate, on statistical sampling;
b. identification of cost-effective approaches to renovations relevant to the building type and climatic zone;
c. policies and measures to stimulate cost-effective deep renovations of buildings, including staged deep renovations;
d. a forward-looking perspective to guide investment decisions of individuals, the construction industry and financial institutions; and
e. an evidence-based estimate of expected energy savings and wider benefits.
What is a major renovation under the recast?
The recast of the EPBD is designed in part to encourage more major renovations that achieve significantly higher improvements in energy performance than “normal” renovations. This essentially means that a more comprehensive approach to renovation is needed. The benefit is that there are more opportunities for savings when taking a “whole building” approach.
Article 2 defines major renovation as “the renovation of a building where:
(a) the total cost of the renovation relating to the building envelope or the technical building systems is higher than 25 % of the value of the building, excluding the value of the land upon which the building is situated; or
(b) more than 25 % of the surface of the building envelope undergoes renovation ...” Member States may choose to use either option (a) or (b).
Article 7 states that “Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that when buildings undergo major renovation, the energy performance of the building or the renovated part thereof is upgraded in order to meet minimum energy performance requirements set in accordance with Article 4 in so far as this is technically, functionally and economically feasible”.
Article 10 states that “Member States shall take account of the cost-optimal levels of energy performance when providing incentives for the construction or major renovation of buildings”.
How are components within buildings addressed in the recast?
Components are given considerable attention in the recast Directive. The recast Directive has Article 8 dealing with technical building systems. Instead of looking specifically at components, the recast takes a systems approach. The article states that: “Member States shall, for the purpose of optimising the energy use of technical building systems, set system requirements in respect of the overall energy performance, the proper installation, and the appropriate dimensioning, adjustment and control of the technical building systems which are installed in existing buildings. Member States may also apply these system requirements to new buildings.”
The article then goes on to state that “System requirements shall be set for new, replacement and upgrading of technical building systems and shall be applied in so far as they are technically, economically and functionally feasible”.
The system requirements shall cover at least the following: (a) heating systems;
(b) hot water systems;
(c) air-conditioning systems;
(d) large ventilation systems; or a combination of such systems.
Article 7 on existing buildings adds: “Member States shall in addition take the necessary measures to ensure that when a building element that forms part of the building envelope and has a significant impact on the energy performance of the building envelope, is retrofitted or replaced, the energy performance of the building element meets minimum energy performance requirements in so far as this is technically, functionally and economically feasible.”
The preamble to the Directive goes on: “When setting energy performance requirements for technical building systems, Member States should use, where available and appropriate, harmonised instruments, in particular testing and calculation methods and energy efficiency classes developed under measures implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products and Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by energy-related products, with a view to ensuring coherence with related initiatives and minimise, to the extent possible, potential fragmentation of the market.”
Back to the FAQs on the EPBD start page.
[1] For more information, go to http://bpie.eu/renovation_strategy.html
