Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
7
Low Carbon
Buildings
7.1 Energy-Efficient Designs of Low Carbon Buildings
7.1.1 Summary
Developing communities on their path toward rapid development are
endeavouring to make all necessary and appropriate measures to enhance
the efficiency of energy utilisation and to increase the beneficiation of the
energy resources. Energy production, transmission, distribution and utilisa-
tion efficiency become vital factors and measures of national development.
Governmental organisations have been established that are responsible
energy planning and efficient utilisation, information dissemination and
capacity building as well as for devising the necessary codes and standards.
Throughout the nation, energy resources are widely used and consumption
rates are, in general, exceeding the internationally accepted values. Energy
rationalisation and audit exercises have been developed and monitored by
governmental authorities, universities and research centres over the past two
decades with definitive positive energy reduction and beneficiation. The devel-
opment of the relevant codes for residential and commercial energy efficiency
in buildings is underway through the governmental bodies responsible for
research and development in the building technology sector; it is under this
umbrella that the National and Unified Arab Codes are developed and issued.
A proposed new Energy Performance in Buildings Directive would fulfil the
following main targets of the Energy Performance Directive:
Legislative authorities shall ensure that, when buildings are constructed,
sold or rented out, an energy performance certificate is made available to
the owner or by the owner to the prospective buyer or tenant, as the case
might be. …
The energy performance certificate for buildings shall include refer-
ence values such as currant legal standards and benchmarks in order
to make it possible for consumers to compare and assess the energy
performance of the building. The certificate shall be accompanied by
recommendations for cost-effective improvement of the energy perfor-
mance… [Available at www.epbd.eu]
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