What is Directive 2002/91/EC?
Directive 2002/91/EC is a piece of European legislation. Its aim is to improve the energy performance of buildings in the most cost-effective way, whilst still maintaining the practicality of the buildings.
It covers the following areas:
- Improving the energy efficiency of buildings such as through insulation;
- applying minimum energy requirements on new buildings;
- applying minimum energy requirements on large existing buildings that are due to be renovated;
- energy certification of buildings;
- regular inspection of boilers and air-conditioning systems; and
- assessing heating installations in which boilers are more than 15 years old.
Why do we need to assess the energy performance of buildings?
The residential and tertiary (services) sector, the major part of which is buildings, accounts for more than 40 % of final energy consumption in the European Union [1]. This is growing and so it is important that building energy use is reduced in order to cut carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Energy performance of buildings is key to achieve the EU Climate & Energy objectives, namely a 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and 20% energy savings by 2020 [2]. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive offers a framework on how to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.
Energy Performance Certificates
The UK has set its own laws to ensure that Directive 2002/91/EC is met. This includes the use of Energy Performance Certificates. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required for all homes whenever built, rented or sold [3]. The certificate records the energy efficiency of a building on the scale of A to G. ‘A’ being the most energy efficient.
Help with compliance
The BUILD UP initiative was established by the European Commission in 2009 to support EU Member States in implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive [4]. It is aimed at professionals and individuals to help them reduce the energy consumption of buildings across Europe. Visit the BUILD UP link below for more information.
Useful links
Regulatory Impact Assessment of Directive 2002/91/EC on the Energy Performance of Buildings http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/ria.pdf
Energy Efficiency Drivers in Europe http://www.homesprogramme.com//images/info_pages/drivers-energy-efficiency-144-367.pdf
EUR-Lex – EU legislation website http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=en&type_doc=Directive&an_doc=2002&nu_doc=91
References
[1] Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on the energy performance of buildings http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=en&type_doc=Directive&an_doc=2002&nu_doc=91
[2] Managenergy http://www.managenergy.net/products/R210.htm
[3] Energy Performance Certificates http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/theenvironment/energyperformance/homes/energyperformancecertificates/
[4] BUILD UP – energy solutions for better buildingshttp://www.buildup.eu/
