Energy policy towards nZEB: The Hellenic and Cypriot case

Abstract

ABSTRACT Undoubtedly Europe is facing challenges in the field of economy and energy which are definitely strongly related. The high energy prices, the growing energy demand, the security risks, the climate change parameter, the need for introducing energy upgrade and low carbon measures, form the basic parameters for the energy and environmental policy. Therefore, a list of European Union (EU) directives, standards were adopted specifying the provisions for the energy upgrade as well as energy certification of buildings. The 2010 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive and the 2018 recast constitute at present the main European legislations concerning the reduction of the energy consumption of the building sector. The nearly Zero or Zero Energy Building (nZEB) was introduced setting the renewable energy sources use a crucial parameter for the upgrade of energy efficiency in buildings. In correspondence to energy, CO2 emission reduction is another quantified goal set in the EU policy. Targeting to compare efficiently the legislation framework of the two countries the crucial parameters concerning the energy performance of residential and commercials buildings were chosen. These parameters are the U values, the energy rating classes, the lighting contribution, as well as the thermal bridges evaluation. Moreover, for Greece was chosen climate zone A, for example, Crete, where the climate is practically identical to the Cypriot conditions aiming to comment successfully on the framework followed by two countries and how the legislation can be successfully implemented.