Energy Efficiency in Buildings

A variety of standards apply to the specification, modification and assessment of buildings with regard to their energy performance.

Some of the relevant organisations, targets, and methods will be mentioned here, with links to information sources.


The Wikipedia Passive house article outlines the development of buildings with very low energy requirements, and compares the German Passivhaus standard with the American PHIUS standard.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_house

In the UK, the PassivHaus Trust “provides leadership in the UK for the adoption of the Passivhaus standard and methodology.”
http://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/

This website claims that “Passivhaus buildings achieve a 75% reduction in space heating requirements, compared to standard practice for UK new build.” Regarding the retrofitting of existing buildings, a slightly relaxed standard applies, known as EnerPHit.
The Passivhaus publication Claiming the Passivhaus Standard: Technical briefing document states that the “Passivhaus Standard is arguably the world’s most rigorous quality assurance standard for energy efficient buildings” and refers to other standards in place in the UK.
http://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/UserFiles/File/Technical%20Papers/150318_Claiming%20the%20Passivhaus%20Standard_MJS_YP%20rev(1).pdf

The UK's National Calculation Method for Non Domestic Buildings is available at http://www.uk-ncm.org.uk/ and for domestic dwellings information on the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) can be seen at https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2012

The attention of some community energy groups is currently focussed on energy saving by means of retrofits to existing housing stock. Much of the terminology used in such work can be found in Fabric Energy Efficiency for Part L 2013, a report written to support the 2012 Building Regulations Part L consultation.
http://www.zerocarbonhub.org/sites/default/files/resources/reports/Fabric_Energy_Efficiency_for_Part_L_2013-Classification_Methodology_for_Different_Dwelling_Types.pdf

Topics outlined include Fabric Energy Efficiency (FEE), dwelling type classification, and calculation examples for target FEEs in various types of dwelling.


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