BPIE: Europe's buildings under the microscope - PU Europe

Building Codes
Incorporating energy-related requirements during the design or retrofit phase of a building is a key driver
for implementing energy efficiency measures which in turn highlights the role of building energy codes
in reducing CO 2
emissions and reaching the energy saving potential of buildings. Several Member States
introduced building code requirements (prescriptive criteria) associated with the thermal performance
of buildings following the oil price increases in the 1970s while requirements in some Scandinavian
countries have been in place since the mid-1940s.
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD, 2002/91/EC) was the first major attempt requiring
all Member States to introduce a general framework for setting building energy code requirements based
on a “whole building” approach (so called performance-based approach). Although subsidiarity applies
to implementation of the EPBD, Member States were required to introduce a methodology at the national
or regional level to calculate the energy performance of buildings based upon this framework and apply
minimum requirements on the energy performance of new buildings and large existing buildings subject
to major renovation.
Following the EPBD in 2002, requirements have gradually started shifting from prescriptive to a
performance-based approach which is regarded as a major change in the building code trends.
Major changes are also expected through the application of the cost optimality concept in the energy
performance requirements as introduced by the recast of the EPBD in 2010 (2010/31/EU). Member
States are required to set their national requirements in accordance with cost optimal levels by applying
a harmonised calculation methodology (Article 5 and annex III of EPBD recast). This is currently being
reviewed by the European Commission. The introduction of cost optimality in building regulations is
likely to have a significant impact in many countries, with requirements being improved and further
strengthened. Cost optimal levels should also gradually converge to nearly zero energy standards which
would comprise a requirement for new buildings from 2020 onwards.
Due to these foreseen changes, building codes are anticipated to be in a dynamic phase in the next decade.
Understanding building codes however requires specific technical expertise which makes monitoring and
evaluating the progress of what is happening from the political level difficult. Given the environmental
and climatic impacts of building codes, it is crucial to keep track of all the key transformations happening
in the field of building energy codes in a simple, understandable way.
Through its survey, BPIE has collected country-by-country information, making the first attempt to
provide an overall picture of what is happening in Europe in the area of building codes. A summary
of the key performance-based requirements and prescriptive criteria adopted by different countries is
presented in Table 2B6. With the exception of a few countries, all countries have now embedded building
regulations for both new and renovated buildings. These regulations are discussed in more detail on the
next page.
76 | Europe’s buildings under the microscope