Energy efficient buildings to meet future European targets

The Build with CaRe project aims to make energy-efficient building design the mainstream for the industry. Hanna Blomdahl, the spokesperson for the project, outlines the progress that has been made so far and also highlights missed opportunities in a recent building directive.

The Build with CaRe (Carbon Reduction) project, which started in 2008, is on a mission to make energy efficiency in building design the norm and is in partnership with local and regional authorities, universities and institutes from 10 regions in five countries in the North Sea. Building structures account for 40 per cent of the European Union’s energy use, and success in energy efficient buildings is key to achieving the EU goals. Build with CaRe therefore sees its efforts as leading the way for refining European standards in the way buildings consume energy. The project provides a platform and the tools for importing and exchanging knowledge and experiences within professional networks. A major event for the project was the recast of the European Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which meant that the public sector will be owning and renting buildings with ‘near zero’ energy standards by the end of 2018. This will have beneficial implications for climate change, energy and the economy and is seen as recognition of the key role buildings play in order to reduce carbon emissions in Europe.

“Already today we see that the public sector are in the forefront when it comes to investing in energy efficiency,” says Hanna Blomdahl, spokesperson for the project. “The reason is that they are in it for the long run and they clearly see the financial benefits. The public sector should take on this challenge and prove that it is possible, even before the set target date of 2018. The Build with CaRe partnership is convinced this is possible.”

Despite this progressive move, the recast has not set targets for existing building stock in its present form – and this is perceived by the Build with CaRe partnership as a missed opportunity in the otherwise attractive and forward looking directive. As Blomdahl explains, new build rates add less than one per cent to the stock each year – or just five per cent over 20 years – so big savings can only come from improvements to existing stock. “We are concerned that no specific target was set for existing buildings since most of the buildings in 2050 have already been built”.

This is frustrating, since there exist strategies to make this directive possible: and the consequence will be that European and global targets for 2050 probably won’t be met, a great shame when energy efficient buildings could potentially save so much. According to the European Energy Action Plan the building sector could save 30 per cent until 2020, reducing the EU’s total energy consumption by around 11 per cent. Also, compared to other sectors, energy efficient buildings represent a cost-effective way to achieve the needed energy reductions. Measures can be implemented immediately while similar actions in the other sectors will take longer to develop and implement.

However, energy-efficient buildings are still seen as prototypes or possibilities, rather than new standards in construction. “The process has been slow in many of our countries, but, the early investors will be the winners in the future,” says Hanna Blomdahl. “More and more people are demanding energy efficiency and the industry is starting to understand this and adjust to it. Companies that already have understood this and have invested in this competence will benefit when the development accelerates.”

The project continues to put pressure on existing legislation, as every new-build house that uses unnecessary energy worsens the problem. The task is on National governments to create serious and well-targeted action plans so that European decisions such as the EPBD can be implemented. “We engage in dialogue on the European level, by introducing our policy paper to the North Sea Commission, EU decision makers and the press,” explains Blomdahl. “On a national level we try to put pressure on legislation by taking a pro-active approach and leading by example. We have several projects – such as the Northern Energy Norm realised by Province Grooningen which aims at decreasing EPC faster than legislation – where we pilot stronger regulations and different forms of incentives on a regional and local level.”

Policy, investments, subsidies and fiscal measures are all required to set European and global targets; alongside large European and national investment programmes. Build with CaRe are also active in several large marketing campaigns to try and make the building market pay attention to the call for more thoughtful construction, which will create many new jobs as the industry grows. Ultimately, investing in energy efficiency will create business and employment opportunities, as well as contributing to market growth and energy security in Europe.

To find out more about the project, contact Hannah Blomdahl at hanna.blomdahl@vgregion.se or visit the BuildWithCaRe website.

Published: Tuesday, 27th April 2010 by Tom Freeman

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