Helping construction clients preserve the low energy design goals – throughout the construction process

Panel: 5. Saving energy in buildings: The time to act is now

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Henrik Teglgaard Lund, Danish Energy Saving Trust, Denmark
Dorthe Bechmann, Viegand & Maagøe ApS, Denmark

Abstract

The construction of a new building involves many decisions that can have an impact on the final energy consumption, something that construction clients are not always aware of. This is why an important activity for saving energy in buildings involves helping clients, throughout the process, to preserve the low energy design goals in situations where they are interested in de facto low energy consumption and resulting low energy costs in the building. Many clients want to build energy efficiently, but in real life ambitious energy savings targets are often not fulfilled by project completion. The challenge is therefore to ensure that focus is maintained during the construction process.

The Danish Energy Saving Trust focuses on ensuring that the necessary tools and knowledge is available to all target groups in the construction process chain: clients, consultants, construction companies and craftsmen. High priority is given to construction clients because they appear to be the most important, and can have the most influence. Clients like social housing, companies, and private and public clients have the most direct interest in the future energy consumption and energy bill. Consequently, they also have the most incentive to take responsibility for the process. It is only on this basis that the building will meet requirements that exceed the low energy target.

The Trust has for some years worked with indoor design, and the purchase of energy efficient products. But when it comes to construction of new buildings the challenge is to foresee the consequences that each of the decisions taken in the process has for the total concept.

This paper discusses the situation in relation to construction clients and how The Trust seeks to help clients deal with it. It is expected that the project guidelines will help clients understand that they play a key role and are ultimately responsible for the overall energy efficiency of the new building which they will occupy.