Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
c. Energy labels: Standards and labels can be established separately
or as complementary programmes. Many types of labelling pro-
grammes exist.
d. Energy efficiency standards can be mandatory or voluntary and
can be based either on maximum energy consumption or on
minimum energy efficiency.
e. An energy policy framework that is conducive to energy
efficiency is critical to the longevity of a national standards
programme. Supportive policies include government procure-
ment requirements, voluntary programmes, incentives to man-
ufacturers, consumer awareness campaigns and demand-side
management and integrated resource planning.
2. Proposed Process
a. Compliance with voluntary and mandatory standards and
labelling requirements must be ensured through a credible
enforcement scheme to guarantee programme effectiveness.
Programme evaluation will inform necessary programme
modifications, justify further activities and provide the doc-
umentation necessary to sustain the standards and labelling
programmes over the long term.
b. The legislative process should ensure that standards and labels
are periodically reviewed and raised ('ratcheted' upward) as the
overall product efficiency of the market improves. The changes
will mostly depend on the results of programme evaluation.
c. In the programme design and improvement process, input from
all stakeholders (government, private companies, consumer asso-
ciations etc.) should be considered. Cooperation among the stake-
holders is the key to programmes' success. However, local and
national governments must also hold its decision final, after care-
fully considering all suggestions.
1.10 Concluding Remarks
It is important to incorporate an energy performance directive as a standard
in this region. Meeting such a goal will aid energy savings in large buildings
and will set regulations for energy-efficient designs that are based on stan-
dard calculation methods. The following recommendations apply:
1. Develop standardised tools for the calculation of the energy perfor-
mance of buildings within urban and rural environments and their
relation to providing adequate quality of life
