Project website: www.buildonres.org Project Start: 2001 Coordinator: Delft University of Technology-Institute for Housing, Urban and Mobility Studies, The Netherlands Status: Ongoing

Project Results

1. Benchmark of energy performance regulations and incentives, with regard to the incorporation of renewable energy sources, for new housing and extensions to existing housing (B, DK, F, NL, UK)
2. Benchmark of energy performance regulations and incentives, with regard to the incorporation of renewable energy sources, for existing housing and conversions of existing buildings (B, DK, F, NL, UK)
3. Description of the context for extension of energy performance regulations and development of an implementation protocol for an RES-oriented building code
4. Development of a framework for an RES-oriented European Model Building Code of Energy Performance for Housing.
5. General publication through a website, plus targetted dissemination of findings through publications and seminars, to relevant organisations

Project Abstract

In the last 30 years, building regulations have proven to be an appropriate and effective means to improve Rational Use of Energy (RUE) in new housing. The potential of stimulating RES by building regulation however, has not yet been explored. The recent EU draft Directive (25th April 2001) will urge member states to develop and design an energy performance regulation according to a European Model Building Code. For some member states this will imply a drastic change of current building regulation and huge effort for developing an energy performance based regulation. In order to stimulate application of RES by building regulation and support member states in (re)developing energy performance regulation in a RES oriented way for both new and existing housing, the Build-On-RES project has been formulated. The Build-on-RES project will develop the methodological and contextual framework for the maximum incorporation of renewable energy sources (RES) in a European Model Building Code for Energy Performance in Housing. The Model will address both new and existing residential buildings. In this way the project will contribute to the aim of the EU to stimulate the application of RES in the building sector.

Project Description

The RES oriented Model Building Code will be based on the results of an analysis of the contents, the system and the experiences regarding RES in energy performance building regulations in five member states already having experience with energy performance regulations: Belgium, Denmark, France, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Next to this, the project will investigate the potential contextual constraints on the extension of energy performance requirements, with reference to building control bodies, national standards organisations, utility companies, financial lenders, landlords, and consumers. The final outcome of the project will be two frameworks for a RES oriented Energy Performance Model Building Code: one for new housing and one for existing housing. The project is divided into two phases and five tasks (plus a sixth task for project management).

• Phase 1: Bench marking energy performance building regulation in NL, B, F, DK and UK. In phase one two tasks are being distinguised, benchmarking the energy performance (EP) regulation for new housing and existing housing in countries experienced with EP regulation. Because it is known that the situation for existing housing is completely different from new housing, separate tasks will focus on each of the two situations.
• Phase 2: Development of framework for a RES oriented European Model Building Code. In phase 2, three task have been distinguised. First, the context of regulation, construction, energy generation and the housing market and constraints for application of RES like insufficient certification, normalisation aspects, societal unwillingness, economical factors and impact of varying availability of renewable energy sources in EU member states are being studied. This will lead to a contextual framework and an implementation protocol. The first three tasks will be used in the fourth task to inform the development of a European Model Building Code of Energy Performance for Housing, for both new and existing buildings and with a focus on the incorporation of measures to promote the use of RES. The findings of the first four tasks will be issued for extensive dissemination. The benchmarks, implementation protocol and Model Building Code will be published on a website which invites comments from interested practitioners. Hard-copy reports will be circulated to relevant bodies in each of the member states of the EU.