Developing dynamic building energy efficiency codes – what can Europe learn from best practice around the world?

Panel: 2. Energy efficiency policies: What delivers?

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Niamh McDonald, Global Buildings Performance Network, France
Jens Laustsen, Global Buildings Performance Network, France
Rosa Sitja Gibert, Global Buildings Performance Network, France
Karl Wakelin, independent Consultant, France

Abstract

Buildings account for approximately a third of final energy demand worldwide and thus hold significant carbon mitigation potential. Zero energy buildings are the ultimate way to realise this potential, but how do they become standard? Policy makers play a critical role in developing dynamic building policies that ensure dramatic energy efficiency improvements and avoid carbon lock-in. Policy makers must also ensure that the right market conditions are set to guarantee real improvements in energy efficiency.

The analysis and comparison of best practice energy efficiency codes assists policy makers to improve their understanding of the key elements that must be addressed by codes in order to support the rapid transition of the building stock towards zero energy. However, limited methodologies exist for conducting such comparative analyses, presenting a challenge for policy makers.

This paper presents a methodology for comparing and analysing best practice European and global building energy efficiency codes. Sixty-four energy efficiency building policy experts particpated in the development of criteria for defining dynamic best practice codes. These criteria form the basis of the Global Buildings Performance Network’s interactive on-line “Policy Comparative Tool”. The tool applies the developed methodology, comparing twenty-five regional and national building energy efficiency codes from Europe, China, US, India, South East Asia and Australia, and provides a rich insight into the codes and how they compare internationally.

If we are to ensure that today’s state of the art buildings become the norm by 2020, such tools represent an excellent opportunity for policy makers to learn from other good examples in order to renew existing policies and to develop ambitious and dynamic codes.