User Manual

2.4. Reduce energy usage in buildings

Well-developed building construction standards are now available for low-energy houses that have

proven themselves. The technology is ready to use – yet it is still going to take a number of decades

before the technology is deployed throughout Europe.

New buildings

New buildings should only be built based on future-oriented low-energy standards and equipped with

energy-saving building automation and control functions of BAC efficiency class A.

Current situation

Europe is developed – its building inventory cannot be transitioned to state-of-the-art energy-saving

construction technology either in the short or medium-term. It is only possible over the long term with

available construction capacity. And the required costs will certainly be enormous.

Some existing buildings cannot even be transitioned over the long term to state-of-the-art

construction technology for cultural as well as historical reasons.

With regard to energy efficiency, we will still have to deal with a less-than-optimum building

environment and do the best we can – for example, with the help of building automation and control.

Updating existing buildings

Various short-term measures can significantly improve the energy efficiency of existing building.

Examples:

· Update using energy-saving building automation and control

· Position heating setpoint and cooling set at the far end of comfort levels

· Update mechanical ventilation with heat recovery

· Replace older boilers (often oversized, not very efficient)

· Lower the heat transmission losses on the building’s exterior

· Replace existing windows

· Improve insulation of the rest of the exterior shell (walls, roof)

· Update older buildings to the "Minergie" standard for renovations

· etc.

Short term executable measures

You can achieve significant reductions in energy use and CO

emissions by further updating building

automation and control functions in older and less energy-efficient buildings.

Goal of these measures

Existing buildings can be operated at significantly lower energy use after updating building

automation and system functions that are optimally set and activated:

Cost savings from operational energy

Conserve the environment and existing energy resources

Guarantee reasonable comfort during occupancy