OPET BUILDING: Support of the implementation of EU regulation related to the efficient use of energy in the building sector - Romanian experience - Centre for Promotion of Clean and Efficient Energy in Romania - ENERO Romania

Summary
The overall goal of the OPET BUILDING project was the promotion of efficient and innovative building-related energy technologies, support for the market penetration of innovative tools and instruments, fostering the implementation of the up-coming European regulation concerning the energy performance of buildings, and increasing the level of information and know-how transfer throughout Europe. These actions were developed within 7 work packages.

One of the focal points of the project was work package 1: Support of the implementation of EU regulation related to the efficient use of energy in the building sector. Related joint activities were developed by 15 partners, from 13 countries (8 partners from EU, 4 from the new member states, 2 from candidate countries, and one partner from Israel).

In all the participating countries, successful events were organised for the support of the implementation of the new European Building Directive. In addition to workshops and other information events, there were also elaborated studies, surveys and reports on different aspects of the European legislation in the building sector.

These activities provided a helpful overview of the current situation of the building sector. The results reveal the need to foster energy savings in buildings - firstly by introducing corresponding energy legislation, mainly related to the requirements of the EU Building Directive - and, in addition, by financial incentive and support programmes. Moreover, the dissemination and awareness raising activities for energy savings in the building sector are essential and should be boosted by all the concerned target groups.

End-user area	Financial instruments Legal initiatives (municipal regulations, directives, etc) New buildings Refurbishment of buildings Sustainable communities User behaviour
Target audience	Architects and engineers Citizens Decision makers Financial institutions Households Local and regional authorities Property owners Utilities
Technical scope	Appliances Biomass Cooling District Heating Energy efficiency Heating Lighting Solar energy

Context
ENERO - Centre for Promotion of Clean and Efficient Energy in Romania participated in the OPET Building project, and was involved in three work packages including Support of the implementation of EU regulation related to the efficient use of energy in the building sector. The residential building area has become the second largest final energy consumer in Romania, and, taking into consideration social aspects, the present situation is that priority should be given to energy efficiency programmes and measures relating to the building sector and district/centralized heating. Energy saving potential in the building sector, in addition to environmental and security of supply benefits, are important issues in the current context.

Romanian policies for increasing energy efficiency in buildings generally follow the model of the developed European countries. However, problems related to financing sources necessitate a continuous assessment of priorities and annual programmes for the thermal rehabilitation and retrofitting of energy inefficient buildings.

In order to disseminate know-how and experience related to the EU Building Directive, ENERO organised two seminars, elaborated and disseminated a leaflet and information materials, elaborated a report about the regulatory framework in the building sector in Romania, and a study about heating systems in existing buildings as basis for energy performance assessment. Other dissemination activities consisted of a published article in 'Mesagerul Energetic' monthly newsletter, participation with proceedings to national events, and invited as expert to 'DAME-BC' Conference organised by EC- DG Joint Research Centre - IES, with a report on 'Building Energy Efficiency Potential'.

The activities related to this Work Package ran from 1 April 2003 to 31 May 2004.

Objectives
Within the implementing context of the EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings, the specific objectives aimed to foster the exchange of experience about the practical implementation of the new regulation, to review the impact with respect to the technology applied (focusing on the use of innovative technologies), to inform the target groups involved in the building sector, to support national/regional regulatory bodies in transferring the European directive into national/regional regulation, to encourage the building certification systems in European countries.

Valuable European experience exists concerning legislative translation of the requirements of building directive, and also in the process of implementation of technologies as a consequence of putting regulations in practice. The partners within the current Work Package realised a number of information and training events in relation to the implementation of the EU Directive. A central focus was placed on activities in candidate countries, where the building market had scarcely realised the importance of such a Directive.

In Romania, the legal context related to European energy performance of buildings was not widely known when the Directive entered into force. In this respect, the activities developed during the OPET Building project had a high impact on the dissemination of EU regulations related to the efficient use of energy in the building sector, and good prospects within the Community Acquis fulfilment.

Process
The main tasks developed by ENERO involved the following activities:

A. Dissemination of EU-regulation at regional/national level

1. Workshop on 'Energy efficiency - national priority in view of European Union integration'
   28/08/2003, Bucharest

Target groups: Decision makers at the policy and at the administration level, experts and specialists in the building sector, building owners/administrators and equipment/technology suppliers.

The event presented the current developments related to energy efficiency aspects in the context of future integration in European Union:

• European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings
• The Romanian state of the art in the residential sector
• The current Romanian regulations
• The new technologies available on the market for the support of the Directive implementation

2. Workshop on 'Energy Performance in Buildings'
   27/11/2003, Bucharest

Target groups: Experts and specialists in the building sector, building owners/administrators and equipment/technology suppliers, decision makers.

The event presented the current aspects and practical issues related to the implementation of energy performance of buildings, and the Romanian legislation and certification in the building sector in the context of EU Directive challenges.

The workshop revealed a high impact on the dissemination of EU regulation related to the efficient use of energy in the building sector, a strong interest for further promotion of the current developments and 'step by step' implementation, and good prospects in the context of Community Acquis demands.

B. Leaflet for the dissemination of 'Best Practice in Buildings'
Target group: experts, decision makers, technology suppliers, and general public.

Presentation (in Romanian) of the main provisions of ECB Directive, sound results on energy performance of buildings - the Danish experience in energy labelling of buildings, and also provisions related to energy performance in buildings in Romania, according to the 'National Strategy on Energy Efficiency'.

C. Advice to regulatory bodies

• Report about state of the art of legal framework in Romania,
  results of expert meetings with regulatory bodies
• Study about heating systems in existing buildings as basis
  for energy performance assessment

Actions
- Seminar
- Proceedings
- Article
- Report
- Study

Financial resources and partners
The ENERO team, involved in the OPET Building project, had a very effective and valuable collaboration with BIT and EVA Austria - as administrative and financial coordinators, with AZES Germany - as Work Package leader, and with other involved partners. In this respect, documents delivered by the Work Package leader and by Danish partners about the European policy and actions in the building sector were disseminated and discussed during the information and dissemination events organised in Romania by ENERO.

Part of the activities developed by ENERO within the OPET Building project was supported by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research. ENERO closely collaborated and developed joint activities with Romanian governmental bodies - Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Romanian Agency for Energy Conservation (ARCE), and with other organisations and market actors involved in the energy and environment field - Romanian Committee of World Energy Council, and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania. These organisations co organised with ENERO the two workshops.

Results
The results of the projects are laid down in four main deliverables (available on the OPET Building website):

• Workshops on EU regulation in Romania
  1. Energy efficiency - national priority in view of European Union integration
     During the event, 90 copies of the Building Directive were disseminated, accompanied by an 'informal fiche' (in Romanian) regarding the main objectives and demands of the Building Directive, and presenting the OPET Building project. These dissemination materials were appreciated by the participants.
     The audience requested more information on the current legislation in the EU Member States practical issues related to the implementation of the new building Directive in other countries details on common methodologies to be issued under the Directive's framework.
     
  2. Energy Performance in Buildings
     The proceedings of the workshop ('Legal framework on Energy Performance of Buildings in Romania', 'Promotion of private-public partnership to improve energy performance of buildings', 'Pilot buildings - effective instruments for settlement the strategies', 'Solutions for integration of solar technologies in buildings', 'European initiatives on the promotion of Energy Performance of Buildings', 'The building performance within the sustainable development framework', 'Energy certification of buildings, Lighting aspects in the Romanian buildings - analysis of the efficient solutions', 'Energy efficiency of buildings', 'Estimation of Building Energy Efficiency Potential by Special Techniques') re alised a significant increase in the dissemination of EU regulation s related to the efficient use of energy in the building sector, and revealed a strong interest for further promotion of the current developments and 'step - by - step' implementation.
     During the two workshops, animated discussions were targeted on effective measures to fulfil national and European legislation, the ways to overcome the present barriers, the new opportunities that come from the new legislation and the opinion of the different target actors directly involved.
     
• Leaflet for the dissemination of 'Best Practice in Buildings'
  ENERO issued a leaflet with the main provisions of EPB Directive and description related to the Danish experience in energy labelling of buildings, and also provisions related to energy performance in buildings in Romania, according to the recent 'National Strategy on Energy Efficiency'.
  The leaflet 'Best Practice in Buildings' was disseminated to the specialists involved in the building sector (30 exemplars), to the State Agency for Energy Conservation (50 exemplars), to the National Conference in Energy - FOREN 2004 (150 exemplars).
  
• Report about state of the art of legal framework in Romania, results of expert meetings with regulatory bodies
  Five meetings with Romanian experts in building auditing regarding the present stage in this area. During the informal meetings, the current legal framework and the future prospect in the building sector were discussed and analysed.
  The report presented the current situation related to the Romanian legislation in the building sector, the priorities and challenges in view of EU integration, and conclusions of the expert meetings and regulatory bodies.
  
• Study about heating systems in existing buildings as basis for energy performance assessment
  The study analysed the current situation of the heating system of the Romanian buildings (block of flats), with regard to reducing energy consumption and limiting green house gas emissions, and to take steps to ensure the provision of advice to the users on the replacement of boilers, and on alternative solutions - according to Building Directive.
  
• Other activitie
  • The OPET team of ENERO elaborated an article related to 'State of the art of the political and technical aspects in the residential sector in Romania in the context of EU Accession', published in 'Mesagerul Energetic' monthly newsletter - September 2003.
  • Participation with proceeding to the National Conference Intelligent Systems for Buildings - HOME HIGH TECH - 2003', related to European Policies on Energy Efficiency in Buildings' - 24 September 2003, Romania, and p articipation as invited expert to 'DAME-BC' Conference organized by EC- DG Joint Research Centre - Institute for Environment and Sustainability, with a report on 'Estimation of Building Energy Efficiency Potential by Special Techniques'. The report presented specific details regarding the calculation methodology for energy performance of buildings. The ENERO representative promoted the OPET Building project.
  • Other support activities for the Work Package development

Lessons learned and replication potential
Within Romania, the project has successfully enhanced dissemination of EU regulation related to the efficient use of energy in the building sector and furthered the process of compliance with the Community Acquis demands. In this respect, the OPET Building project transferred the valuable experience in the building sector gained by EU member states.

The positive aspects of the project implementation revealed:

• Strong interest in further promotion of the current developments and 'step - by - step' implementation;
• Prospects for more information on the current legislation on EU Member States, on practical issues related to the implementation of the new building Directive in other countries, and on the common methodologies to be issued under the Directive's framework. Some questions were targeted on the financial aspects supporting the technical measures;
• Necessity of 'bottom-up' influence.

Romanian policies for increasing energy efficiency in buildings generally follow the model of the developed European countries. However, problems related to financing sources impose a continuous assessment of the priorities and annual programmes for the thermal rehabilitation and retrofitting of energy inefficient buildings.

• In this way, collaboration at national level/regional level among different institutions (government, public and private companies, households representatives, banks, NGOs), become s essential. Moreover, 'success stories' from other EU countries should be presented and promoted;
• A unified effort towards the provision of guidelines for choosing the best solutions from the energy, environmental and economic points of view is necessary;
• There is a strong need for transparency, and for cooperative actions.

As example, further actions and projects should take into account the positive influence of the active/passive RES solutions. As a result, t here are expected an improved cooperation between energy efficiency and RES experts, and s ound examples and success stories from other EU countries should be disseminated.

The ways to overcome the present barriers, the new opportunities that come from the new legislation and the opinion of the different target actors directly involved were persistent subjects of the debates revealed the need for the development of evaluation methodology and assessment of programmes and policy in the building sector, definition of priorities for support programmes and for the use of supporting funds.

There is a strong need related to the practical actions and measures taken by EU Member States at the central level (government, federal etc) in order to fulfil the Directive requirements. A very common question arose: Does the Directive comply with the existing legislation? Wh at are the barriers in applying the demands of this document? This shows that Romanian specialists are looking for more information about the updated status in EU countries - practical measures, barriers and impact - related to the current implementation of the new regulations.

In this respect, a dedicated site/portal - with the current legislation in Member State (laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the EPB Directive) as basis for transposition - c ould be very useful. I t is essential to r a ise awareness, and to build an information platform including support for the exchange of experience and provision of information.

For a future EU network related to the building sector, the new projects/actions should be targeted on monitoring of practical implementation and dissemination of best practice achievements by means of:

• Assessing the current (EU and national) legal context and the additional policy instruments needed for an effective implementation;
• Monitoring of 'best practice' and evaluating/analysing of the current barriers, identifying further actions;
• Transferring in NAS countries the European experience and know-how (including energy auditing procedures, training of auditors, etc);
• Building a concerted mechanism to promote the latest development on EPD implementation at national level.
• Disseminating/promoting of the harmonised methods and actions

A new OPET BUILDING project could be a European Platform for EPD implementation, breeding success stories and promoting best practice examples. The network could be also an interface between the European technological activities/projects and the target groups that are directly concerned with the related measures.