A4 Zero Energy 27.06.14-RGB Download our short guidance document here on the need to future proof construction of commercial buildings to ensure that they meet the requirements of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings directive.
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive – Article 9
Nearly zero-energy buildings
1. Member States shall ensure that:
(a) by 31 December 2020, all new buildings are nearly zero- energy buildings; and
(b) after 31 December 2018, new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities are nearly zero-energy buildings.
Member States shall draw up national plans for increasing the number of nearly zero-energy buildings. These national plans may include targets differentiated according to the category of building.
The European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Recast (EPBD) requires all new buildings to be Near Zero Energy Buildings by 31st December 2020, however any new buildings occupied or procured by public bodies after 31st December 2018 must also be Near Zero Energy.
Yes! That means if you are planning a building in 2015 you probably need to target the likely definition of Near Zero Energy standard today. Given planning and construction lead in times, and the closeness of these dates, it would be unwise to bring commercial property to the market built to outdated standards as it will have to compete for tenants with property built to the near Zero standard after the 2020 cut off date.
In order to comply with this directive the Department of Environment Community and Local Government intends as a first step to revise Building Regulations to achieve a average 40 % improvement over the current standards for different non residential building typologies. They will issue a draft Part L Technical Guidance Document, Conservation of Fuel and Energy – Buildings other than dwellings in 2015, which should come into force by 2016/2017. From the 31st December 2018 public bodies can only acquire new buildings that are Near Zero Energy. By the 31st December 2020 a second revision of the standards to comply with the requirement for Near Zero Energy Buildings will have come into force.
The Near Zero Energy Building standard for non residential buildings for Ireland is expected to be a 60% improvement over current standards. We could argue it should be higher, but this is the minimum target you probably should consider designing to today.
The current building regulations TGD Part L for non residential development date from 2008 and no longer reflect good practice or the improvements in technology which have taken place since so mere compliance is not a good idea and could impact on the future asset value of the building .
To understand what the likely energy performance level for your building type should be achieving, see the document on cost optimal in the linked resources below.
