Uncertainties in Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate Generating in the UK

In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard targeting the energy performance of commercial buildings, this study compares the energy performance certificates of three UK hotels generated by two different software, EDSL TAS and SBEM, both accredited by the UK government for the purpose. Upon finding the results discrepant, the study finds that the two software’s different assumptions for the air permeability rate contribute to the discrepancy. While modifying this value makes the results from the two software more aligned, further issues regarding the validation process arise. The study continues to find that the underlying issue can be found within the National Calculation Methodology’s assumption about domestic hot water consumption in hotels. These assumptions are compulsory to follow when generating a non-domestic energy performance certificate in the UK, therefore, any uncertainties within them can affect all the buildings seeking an energy performance certificate within that sector. Finally, the study discusses that, for meeting the carbon dioxide mitigation goals, it is necessary to make changes to the current procedure of energy performance certificate generating in the UK to increase its reliability.

Minimum energy efficiency – is the energy performance certificate a suitable foundation?

PurposeClimate change is one of the most significant challenges of our time. The existing housing stock is a crucial component in achieving international and national climate change targets through energy efficiency improvements. The private rental sector incorporates some of the worst performing housing. To address this, the UK has implemented the minimum energy efficiency standard, based on the energy performance certificate rating. However, the energy performance certificate has a number of criticisms in the UK and across the EU. This viewpoints paper discusses the primary criticisms of the EPC and whether these undermine the minimum energy efficiency standard.Design/methodology/approachThis viewpoint paper draws on the recent work across academic, government and professional literature to develop a critique of the energy performance certificate and its underlying methodology as a basis on which to form the minimum energy efficiency standard.FindingsThe paper concludes that based on the current form of the energy performance certificate in the UK, the minimum energy efficiency standard is likely to unfairly advantage some landlords and penalise others. This has implications for landlords, tenants and the wider housing stock.Originality/valueThis paper presents a discussion of the new minimum energy efficiency standard based on the limitations of the energy performance certificate. It has implications for policymakers, researchers and practitioners in the private rental sector.

Impact of Adding Comfort Cooling Systems on the Energy Consumption and EPC Rating of an Existing UK Hotel

In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard and its expected impact on the commercial buildings sector, this study investigated the impact of adding cooling systems on the annual energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of an existing UK hotel. Thermal Analysis Software (TAS) was used to conduct the study, and the baseline model was validated against the actual data. As is the current accepted procedure in EPC generating in the UK, the cooling set points of the guest rooms were set to 25 °C, resulting in a small increase in the annual energy consumption and emission rates, but not enough to change the energy performance certificate rating. Also, it was found that an improvement in energy consumption and energy performance certificate rating of the hotel would be achieved if the new systems replaced the existing heating systems in the guest rooms. Further simulations investigated more realistic situations, in which occupants may decide to keep their rooms at cooler temperatures. The results from this round of simulations showed considerable increase in the energy consumption and emissions of the building; however, these results would not be considered in the current approved procedure for EPC generating.

Desempeño térmico de cerramientos de tierra alivianada Posibilidades de aplicación en el territorio peruano

Resumen Las soluciones constructivas tradicionales y contemporáneas han demostrado tener serias limitaciones en la solución del déficit cualitativo y cuantitativo de la vivienda y el equipamiento, de igual manera, las evidencias del desempeño térmico son igualmente desalentadoras. Es por lo que se indaga sobre la capacidad de la tierra alivianada de brindar confort térmico en los edificios, considerando los diferentes climas del territorio peruano y comparándola con los sistemas constructivos más comunes en el medio: el adobe y la albañilería de ladrillo. A partir de la caracterización previa de las cualidades térmicas de los componentes y de la realización de simulaciones térmicas dinámicas, comparando el desempeño de diferentes prototipos digitales, se identificaron las virtudes de la tierra alivianada por el marcado equilibrio entre una masa térmica media y una conductividad térmica relativamente baja, siendo los únicos que logran cumplir con las exigencias de la actual norma peruana de eficiencia energética para el caso de los climas más fríos. Adicionalmente de destaca la composición a partir de materiales naturales, renovables y biodegradables que son ventajas ecológicas. Palabras clave: arquitectura bioclimática; arquitectura sostenible; climatización pasiva; confort térmico; inercia térmica; simulación térmica; sistema constructivo; transmitancia térmica Abstract Traditional and contemporary construction systems have shown serious limitations in the solution of the qualitative and quantitative deficit of housing and equipment, in the same way, the evidence of thermal performance is equally discouraging. That is why we inquire about the ability of the land relieved to provide thermal comfort in buildings, considering the different climates of the Peruvian territory and comparing it with the most common construction systems in the environment: adobe and brick masonry. From the previous characterization of the thermal qualities of the components and the realization of dynamic thermal simulations, comparing the performance of different digital prototypes, the virtues of the earth alleviated by the marked balance between a medium thermal mass and a conductivity were identified relatively low thermal, being the only ones that manage to meet the requirements of the current Peruvian energy efficiency standard in the case of colder climates. In addition, the composition from natural, renewable and biodegradable materials that are ecological advantages stands out. Keywords: bioclimatic architecture; sustainable architecture; passive air conditioning; Thermal comfort; thermal inertia; thermal simulation; construction system; thermal transmittance. Recibido: febrero 25 / 2019 Evaluado: septiembre 20 / 2019 Aceptado: noviembre 23 / 2019 Publicado en línea: noviembre de 2019 Actualizado: noviembre de 2019

A Case Study for large-scale nearly zero energy retrofits of existing office building in Beijing

This paper studied the retrofit project of an existing office building in Beijing to meet the requirements of nearly zero energy buildings. The office building is the first retrofit nearly zero energy building project in China. There are technical difficulties under the constraints of the building and resources. In order to study the technical solutions applicable to the project, we analyzed the suitability of different energy-saving technologies based on the resources and characteristics of the project. Then we obtained the key energy-saving factors. This paper also discussed the energy saving effects of different energy efficiency technology solutions, proposing an optimized nearly zero energy technology solution and verifying the energy-saving level of the optimized plan. Compared with normal new constructions complied with national energy efficiency standard, the energy efficiency of this retrofit building increased by 60%.

Progress in energy efficiency standards of residential buildings in China’s severe cold and cold zones

Since Chinese government released the first residential building energy efficiency standard in 1986, the energy efficiency of residential buildings have been improved significantly. Three editions of residential building energy efficiency standards in severe cold and cold zones have been issued in the past 30 years, meanwhile, a new version is in the course of development and will be released in 2018. The paper reviews energy efficiency standards that have been issued for residential buildings in severe cold and cold zones in China, and development of new energy efficiency standards. The paper also describes the variation of key requirement in standards. Finally, future prospects for further developing energy efficiency standards for residential buildings in China are addressed. The findings show that the energy consumption reduction percentage has raised from 30% of JGJ 26-86 to 65% of the JGJ 26-2010. The insulation performance of roofs and external walls increased respectively by 103% and 83%, and the window performance increased by 130%.