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How can energy related behaviours and energy conservation measures be grouped into different categories?

The most common way of categorising energy conservation measures is by cost:   Low- to No-cost measures Medium-cost measures  High-cost measures. Low- to No-cost measures require very low, if any, investment and design input. Examples of such measures are...

What is the best way of extending the existing knowledge on energy poverty in Europe?

Deepening the understanding and extending and refining existing knowledge should be done via multifaceted and interdisciplinary approach that involves different agencies and various stakeholders. Moreover, opportunities for policy synergies between energy...

What are the complexities that underpin energy poverty in Europe?

There are not only methodological but also conceptual complexities that underpin energy poverty. Portraying energy poverty is a challenging task for numerous reasons. In the first place, energy poverty is private and confined to the home....

Which are the structural components that form a green roof?

Green roofs are structurally engineered and generally comprise of six key components as illustrated in the figure bellow. These are:   The uppermost planted layer. Success of any green roof depends on how healthy the plants are. The growth...

Do green roofs have any disadvantage?

In spite of mitigating the urban heat island phenomenon and offering numerous other benefits, green buildings have some potential disadvantages. Although they might be negligible or inconvenient to a particular group of people, these...

Which are the different types of green roofs?

Green roofs, or living roofs as they are also known, can be classified according to type of usage, construction factors and maintenance requirements, into three different types; extensive, semi-intensive and intensive green roofs.  ...

What are Test Reference Years (TRYs)?

Test Reference Years are detailed annual climate data rows used primarily in calculation and simulation programmes. They are in most cases not simply measured climate information of a real year at a certain location, but an artificial...

Why is monitoring so important in demonstration projects?

Pilot or demonstration buildings are made in order to test new innovative technologies or to demonstrate that a defined level of high building energy performance is possible in reality. These buildings are show cases that allow experts and...

How does the German “Mieterstromgesetz” [Tenant Electricity Law] work?

In the end of July 2017, the German law on the promotion of tenant electricity (Gesetz zur Förderung von Mieterstrom) entered into force. With this law, tenants shall benefit from the energy transition. In fact, the law promotes landlords...

What is meant with “Rebound Effect”?

Efficiency measures at the building envelope and the building services systems decrease the operational costs of buildings. But reduced costs can lead to changes in the behaviour of the building users. They consume more energy and parts of...