Legislation to foment the use of renewable energies and solar thermal energy in building construction: The case of Spain - Solar Energy Sciences and Engineering Applications - page 652

Figure 20.3.1 Energy labels in the European Union (example from the United Kingdom).
The software application is capable of calculating the annual final energy consumption
of the building as well as the energy source (fossil fuel, renewable energies, etc.). It then
evaluates the building's energy performance by comparing it with that of a reference
building. Once the level of energy efficiency is obtained, the building is assigned to
an Energy Performance Category, which can vary from Category A (highest energy
efficiency) to Class G (lowest energy efficiency). When a building obtains an EPC,
the energy performance label is valid during the period of validity of the certificate (see
Figure 20.3.1) 16 .
20.3.3 The spanish technical building code
From a regulatory perspective, the PANER (National Action Plan of Renewable Ener-
gies) proposes the implementation of thermal renewable energy and central heating
systems through city ordinances, as well as the modification and improvement of the
16 For further information about the implementation of energy labels in Europe, see Brounen
and Kok (2011) and Mlecnik et al. (2010)