IMPLEMENTING ENERGY SAVING MEASURES

Implementing Energy Saving Technologies and Practices in Non-Domestic Buildings



Implementing Energy Saving Technologies and Practices in Non-Domestic Buildings

Introduction

The energy consumption in buildings, the energy requirements for lighting and the lighting saving/efficiency in offices are discussed in this section.

Energy Consumption in Buildings and Climate Change Policy

Serious concerns about the depletion of fossil fuels, climate change and increased energy import dependency led Europeans leaders in March 2007 to make a long-term commitment for the mitigation of climate change and for energy sustainable development in the European Union. The transformation of Europe into a highly energy-efficient and low-greenhouse-gas emitting economy can be achieved by the endorsement of a combined climate and energy policy package with the following targets: A 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to those in 1990; 20% integration of renewable energy sources into the final energy mix compared to the present 6.5%; an energy saving of 20% of the primary energy consumption in 2020 compared to the base year 1990 (Balaras, 2007, pp.1298-314).

The direct cost, at European level of using energy efficiently, will amount to more than 100 billion Euros annually by 2020. Realizing this 20% potential in 2020 will require an “Action Plan for Energy Efficiency” equivalent to some 390 Mtoe and to a reduction of CO2 emissions by 780 Mt CO2 with respect to the baseline scenario . The Action Plan is intended to mobilize the general public, the policy-makers and the market actors in order to provide EU citizens with the most energy-efficient infrastructure, buildings, appliances, processes, means of transport and energy systems available globally.

Buildings account for more than 40% of the energy used and the building sector is responsible for over one third of energy related CO2 emissions. The energy consumption in commercial buildings is very high, and commercial buildings in developing countries account for three quarters of this total consumption. Energy consumption in buildings in Europe has been increasing at a rate of 1.5% per annum since 2004, with the fastest growth seen in the commercial and public sector. This increase was due not only to parameters related to the need for lighting, office equipment and cooling-heating in work places, but also to irrational energy behavior practices (Dascalaki, 2002, pp.557-67). The Association for the Conservation of Energy in UK proposed (based on the EU Building Directive) that freeholders of commercial properties should ensure that their buildings meet minimum energy efficiency performance standards on a periodical basis.

Research methodology

The research was funded by the Interreg IIIC program and was implemented by the Regional Energy Agency of Crete (REAC) in cooperation with the University of Crete. The benefits of this research included the provision of targeted information and the raising of awareness among professionals for new and innovative energy saving technologies related to lighting and energy sustainable behavioral attitudes. This was achieved by the interview itself, the focused information session and the use of specific leaflets which were explicitly presented and handed out afterwards to the interviewees for further ...