Irish Regions Office Website

September 18, 2008

Energy-proofing buildings

The general trend in the implementation of the EU's 2004 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is picking up momentum according to a new Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors report, but overall progress remains slow with some states having failed to even present their operational plans.
The directive provides a common methodology for calculating the energy performance of buildings exceeding 1000m² area. It contains a range of provisions aimed at not only raising standards but also improving consumer knowledge and confidence in these matters. Ireland is among the vanguard of compliance having established a Building Energy Rating (BER) certification requirement on completion of each applicable new building (since 1 January 2007 for residences and since 1 July last for non-residential and public buildings) and for the sale or rental of existing buildings as of 1 January 2009.
It should be noted however that Energy Commissioner Piebalgs has spoken at length in recent months of a desire to recast the directive by reducing or even abolishing the building size threshold; taking steps to encourage low/zero energy buildings; strengthening the inspection and certification framework; creating a benchmark standard tool; and allowing the public sector to assume the lead role in implementation.
Meanwhile the possibility of EU-15 countries employing EU funding towards energy retrofitting in housing (see the April Bulletin) has been prioritised by the current French Council Presidency who are seeking to amend Regulation 1828/2006 to re-define spending on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in the housing sector as ‘energy investments’ rather than the currently ineligible ‘housing expenditure’. This would make all EU regions eligible for co-funding of certain energy spending linked especially to housing projects aligned with social strategies such as area renewal. The proposal has found favour with the European Parliament’s Regional Development Committee (REGI), with MEPs generally, and with the Commission in principle.
EPBD Platform: http://www.buildingsplatform.org/cms/
RICS Report: http://www.rics.org/NR/rdonlyres/78EAD2F3-7822-44C2-8933-467FD3648DDA/0/EPBD2online_web.pdf

Posted by iroronan at September 18, 2008 07:04 PM