Challenges of nearly zero energy in urban areas. From performance to cost - Case study (original) (raw)
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Nearly Zero Energy Buildings: An Overview of the Main Construction Features across Europe
Buildings
Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs) represent the backbone to achieve ambitious European goals in terms of energy efficiency and CO 2 emissions reduction. As defined in the EPBD, by 31 December 2020, all of the new buildings will have to reach a target of nearly zero energy. This target encourages the adoption of innovative business models as well as the technology development in the building sector, aimed at reducing energy demand and exploiting local renewable energy sources (RES). Assessing the share of implementation and the performance of technologies in new or renovated nZEBs is strategic to identify the market trends and to define design guidelines with the most effective solutions according to the context. In this regard, this paper analyses the construction features of a set of nZEBs, collected in 17 European countries within the EU IEE ZEBRA2020 project, with a special focus on the influence of the boundary conditions on the technologies adopted. The results show a general high insulation level of the envelope and recurrent specific technologies in the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) system (i.e., heat pumps and mechanical ventilation), while the climatic conditions do not drive significantly the design approach and the nZEB features.
Towards nearly zero-energy residential neighbourhoods in the European Union: A case study
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2021
The European Union (EU) aims to establish a guideline that requires all new buildings to comply with nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB) by 2030. This decision involves new technologies based on concepts that meet international standards. This research aims to review the literature on 'net zero-energy building' and analyses the possibility of applying this research on nine statistically representative neighbourhoods of the building stock'in Belgium, depending on the built density. All the areas, grouped into four categories (urban, peri-urban, suburban, and rural neighbourhoods), were used for current energy consumption analysis and to evaluate prospective scenarios based on four major challenges, namely climate change, building renovations, photovoltaic panels, and sustainable mobility. In addition, a new approach combining several scenarios to further improve energy needs at the neighbourhood scale is also highlighted. The nine different types of neighbourhoods studied are commonly found in different countries across the EU. The average reduction in energy consumption of neighbourhoods (buildings + daily mobility) in 2040 (compared to reference year 2012) will likely reach 5.69% attributable to a 20% reduction in distances travelled, 6.48% to climate change, 12.95% to the current annual buildings renovation rate, 18.76%-100% electric cars, 22.26% for doubling the current buildings renovation rate, 31.62% and 63.25% to a light or heavy renovation of the entire building stock, respectively. Moreover, installing 20 m 2 of solar panels on the rooftops of each residential building would produce renewable energy equivalent to 6.53% of the current global energy consumption. Finally, the results show that more than 90% of current energy consumption can be reduced at the neighbourhood scale (buildings + daily mobility) by combining a heavy renovation of all the buildings, electric vehicles, and photovoltaic panels. This scenario allows reaching the 'nearly zero-energy' target at the neighbourhood scale.
Overview of challenges of residential nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) in Southern Europe
2016
In times of great transition of the European construction sector to energy efficient and nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB), a market observation containing qualitative and quantitative indications should help to fill out some of the current gaps concerning the EU 2020 carbon targets. Next to the economic challenges, there are equally important factors that hinder renovating the existing residential building stock and adding newly constructed high-performance buildings. Under these circumstances this report summarises the findings of a cross-comparative study of the societal and technical barriers of nZEB implementation in 7 Southern European countries. The study analyses the present situation and provides an overview on future prospects for nZEB in Southern Europe. The result presents an overview of challenges and provides recommendations based on available empirical evidence to further lower those barriers in the European construction sector. The paper finds that the most Souther...
Principles for nearly zero energy building in Belgium
The recast of the European Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires all new buildings to be "nearly zero energy' buildings (nZEB) by 2020, including existing buildings undergoing major renovations. Belgium was first to set a definition for a 'net zero energy house' (NZEB) in 2009. Every year the definition is revised for consistency with shortcomings and emerging issues. However, to reach the nZEB objective many questions are raised in the Belgian context. Many uncertainties exist among local governments and municipalities to achieve that objective. Therefore, the paper presents a review on the current Belgian definition and its market status in comparison with the international context. The paper builds on existing experience with the implementation of the EPB calculation method and the Passive House initiative. The aim of the paper is to review current definition discussions and pave the way to a more consistent definition. Finally, four principles are suggested to reach the nZEB objectives in Belgium.
Considering the significant impact that the residential sector has on energy consumption, it is particularly important to implement policies aimed at improving energy efficiency in buildings for saving primary energy, and also to spread the concept of sustainable development through the use of appropriate technology and proper project criteria for new constructions. For these reasons the Municipality of Città della Pieve promoted the creation of a "Renewable Energy Park" in a deprived area of its territory, so that there were the main technologies for the production of green energy. In this context, it could not be lacking an educational/demonstrative "zero energy consumption" building for multifunctional activities realized with the most innovative techniques to save energy. The building will exemplify the optimization of the benefits derived from improved energy efficiency in synergy with systems of energy production from renewable sources, such as to make possible the transition from "passive" building to get to "active" building. In this paper we describe the technical solutions adopted both in the building envelope and the system concept for the project of that "zero energy consumption" building according to Directive 2010/31/CE. In order to validate the proposed solutions, it has also been carried out a simulation of the behaviour of the building in summer and winter so that it is possible to assess the actual benefits obtained both in terms of energy and in economic terms following the adoption of the proposed solutions.
From Low-Energy to Net Zero-Energy Buildings: Status and Perspectives
Journal of Green Building, 2011
A completely balanced annual budget for the operating energy or carbon emissions has been the goal of various building and estate projects that have been initiated and implemented recently within Germany and in other countries. The project results are called zero-energy buildings, zero-carbon or carbon-neutral buildings, equilibrium buildings, . . . .
From nearly-zero energy buildings to net-zero energy districts
2019
This publication is a Technical report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission's science and knowledge service. It aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policymaking process. The scientific output expressed does not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that might be made of this publication.
Renewable Energy and Power Quality Journal
Achieving Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEBs) is a main goal for the European Union, in order to reduce energy consumption in the building sector. NZEB means a building that has a very high energy performance. Its energy requirements should be covered by renewable sources, produced on-site or nearby [1]. It could be possible if building were turned into a "small power generating station", or reducing consumption with passive building proposals. However, we think that it is worth looking for a balance between energy consumption and generation for every building, following this simple equation: Consumption = demandgeneration The European regulations have already begun to indicate deadlines to implement NZEB requirements in buildings. Therefore, Spanish legislation related to energy efficiency and renewable energy generation in buildings has been recently updated, CTE HE [2]. This paper provides a comparative analysis for the new requirements (2013 CTE DB HE compared with previous 2006 regulation, revised in 2009). This study was performed by using a computer building model, including its geometry, building materials, usage profiles and installations. Thus, we could compare the characteristics of the different regulations, and we could evaluate the progress toward the NZEB concept.
Overview and future challenges of nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) design in Southern Europe
Energy and Buildings
In times of great transition of the European construction sector to energy efficient and nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB), a market observation containing qualitative and quantitative indications should help to fill out some of the current gaps concerning the EU 2020 carbon targets. Next to the economic challenges, there are equally important factors that hinder renovating the existing residential building stock and adding newly constructed high performance buildings. Under these circumstances this paper summarises the findings of a cross-comparative study of the societal and technical barriers of nZEB implementation in 7 Southern European countries. The study analyses the present situation and provides an overview on future prospects for nZEB in Southern Europe. The result presents an overview of challenges and provides recommendations based on available empirical evidence to further lower those barriers in the European construction sector. The paper finds that the most Southern European countries are poorly prepared for nZEB implementation and especially to the challenge/opportunity of retrofitting existing buildings. Creating a common approach to further develop nZEB targets, concepts and definitions in synergy with the climatic, societal and technical state of progress in Southern Europe is essential. The paper provides recommendations for actions to shift the identified gaps into opportunities for future development of climate adaptive high performance buildings.
Net zero energy building: A review of current definitions and definition development in Belgium
The recast of the European Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires the uptake of a definition of so called 'nearly zero energy ' buildings (nZEBs). The Belgian Monarch is one of the first countries that set a definition for a 'net zero energy house' (NZEB) in 2009. However, this definition is not cast in stone. Every year the definition is revised for consistency with shortcomings and emerging issues. In fact, the Belgian definition raised many questions regarding (1) the net balance, (2) the application and calculation method (3) the indoor air quality and comfort, (4) energy use included in the balance, (5) the type of buildings, (6) the accepted renewable energy supply options, (7) the quality assurance and monitoring and (8) energy storage and the connection to the energy infrastructure. Therefore, the paper presents a review on the current Belgian definition and its market status in comparison with the international context. The aim of the paper is to review the current definition and proposes a more consistent definition.