Cost optimal building performance requirements
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Posting Date | 6 June 2011Publication Date | 2011
Country | International Organizations
Geographic Coverage | International
Type of publication | Report
Publisher | eceee. Commissioned by eceee with financial support from Eurima and the European Climate Foundation (ECF).
ISBN | -
Number pages | 38
Source Languages | English
Cost optimal building performance requirements
The EPBD recast requests that Member States shall ensure that minimum energy performance requirements for buildings are set “with a view to achieving cost-optimal levels”. The cost optimum level shall be calculated in accordance with a comparative methodology. In May 2011 eceee presented a new report with the aim to contribute to the ongoing discussion in Europe concerning the details of such a methodology by describing possible details on how to calculate cost optimal levels and pointing towards important factors and effects. The methodology described in this report is consistent with the description of the process as presented in the study “Cost Optimality – Discussing methodology and challenges within the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive” published in September 2010 by the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE). The present document provides additional insights and details.
Illustrations | 
The following text summarizes the provisions of the EPBD recast text regarding calculating and achieving cost-optimal requirements:
Methodology to calculate cost-optimal levels
Assessment and comparison to current standards
With the methodology being supplied by the European Commission, the assessment of input data (e.g. climate conditions, investment costs etc.) and the calculation of the results is done by and on the level of individual Member States. However joint issues like information regarding estimated long-term energy price developments are to be provided by the European Commission. By using this common methodology, the Member States identify cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements for new and existing buildings and building elements and compare the results of these calculations to the minimum energy performance requirements in force.
Member States are requested to report to the Commission all input data and assumptions used for these calculations and the results of the calculations. Member States need to submit their reports to the Commission at regular intervals of maximum five years, with the first report due by June 2012. If the result of the benchmarking performed shows that the minimum energy performance requirements in force are significantly less energy efficient than cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements (i.e. exceeding 15%), the Member State needs to explain this difference. In case the gap cannot be justified, a plan needs to be developed by the respective Member State, outlining appropriate steps to significantly reduce the gap by the next review of the energy performance requirements. The Commission will publish a report on the progress of the Member States regarding cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements.
In the report, the outline of a possible methodology for calculating and comparing the cost of different packages of energy-related measures when applied to new or existing buildings or building elements is described.
Methodology to calculate cost-optimal levels
The Commission shall have established by June 2011 a comparative methodology framework for calculating cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements for buildings and building elements (e.g. the roof of a building). The comparative methodology framework shall require Member States to:
- Define reference buildings that are characterized by and representative for their functionality and climate conditions. The reference buildings shall cover residential and non-residential buildings, both new and existing ones;
- Define energy efficiency measures that are assessed for the reference buildings. These may be measures for buildings as a whole, for building elements, or for a combination of building elements;
- Assess the final and primary energy need of the reference buildings and the reference buildings with the defined energy efficiency measures applied. Related calculations should be based on relevant European standards; and
- Calculate the costs (i.e. the net present value) of the energy efficiency measures during the expected economic life cycle applied to the reference buildings, taking into account investment costs, maintenance and operating costs, earnings from energy produced and disposal costs.
Assessment and comparison to current standards
With the methodology being supplied by the European Commission, the assessment of input data (e.g. climate conditions, investment costs etc.) and the calculation of the results is done by and on the level of individual Member States. However joint issues like information regarding estimated long-term energy price developments are to be provided by the European Commission. By using this common methodology, the Member States identify cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements for new and existing buildings and building elements and compare the results of these calculations to the minimum energy performance requirements in force.
Member States are requested to report to the Commission all input data and assumptions used for these calculations and the results of the calculations. Member States need to submit their reports to the Commission at regular intervals of maximum five years, with the first report due by June 2012. If the result of the benchmarking performed shows that the minimum energy performance requirements in force are significantly less energy efficient than cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements (i.e. exceeding 15%), the Member State needs to explain this difference. In case the gap cannot be justified, a plan needs to be developed by the respective Member State, outlining appropriate steps to significantly reduce the gap by the next review of the energy performance requirements. The Commission will publish a report on the progress of the Member States regarding cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements.
In the report, the outline of a possible methodology for calculating and comparing the cost of different packages of energy-related measures when applied to new or existing buildings or building elements is described.
In the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) adopted in May 2010, a benchmarking mechanism for national energy performance requirements was introduced. The purpose of this is to determine cost-optimal levels to be used by Member States for comparing and setting these requirements.
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