Requirements to reduce the environmental impact of buildings are becoming increasingly stringent, including the EU's EPBD directive. One challenge will be to have a complete picture in order to implement the right measures at the right time.
By 2050, all buildings in the EU should be zero emission buildings, i.e. with very high energy performance and very low fossil fuel emissions. This is the overall goal of the EU's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The directive sets stricter requirements than before, but leaves it up to each member state to decide, within certain limits, what regulations to introduce.
"In practice, the focus is on carbon dioxide emissions. And a very important piece of the puzzle is the energy use of the buildings, which means that measures are needed for the building envelope as well as for heating and ventilation," says Lisa Löfving, Business Development Manager for Energy at RISE.
"At the same time, it is not as simple as identifying what needs to be done to comply with the EU directive and then implementing it.
"As a property owner, there are many other things to consider. In addition to the EU directives, you have to take into account things like Sweden's own national climate targets, the technical conditions of the building, economic aspects and - last but not least - the fact that the property must provide a good indoor environment for those who will use it as a home or workplace," she says.
She gives a simple example of the choice of whether or not to replace windows. In terms of energy efficiency, it is often worthwhile replacing old windows with new, modern models.
"But how good is it from a resource point of view to get new windows and throw away the old ones? That's where the environmental aspect comes in from a different direction, and it's a matter of assessing whether, for example, it might be better to carry out a renovation that achieves a certain level of energy efficiency than to replace the windows completely," says Lisa Löfving.
The EPBD brings new challenges
This is a complex situation to deal with, but it is not new - and there are established methods for calculating costs and impacts. But the stricter EPBD brings new challenges, says Peter Ylmén, who researches sustainable buildings at RISE.
"It is now important to include new parameters, such as carbon dioxide emissions from the materials used in the building. "In the end, there will be a lot of data to manage," he says.
The next step is no less challenging, he says:
"The final trade-off between, say, environmental, economic and social aspects is not something that can be calculated. Even if you do energy efficiency calculations, life cycle analyses, investment projections and take social aspects into account, it is still only a basis for decision-making. To make the decision, you need the ability and expertise to weigh up the different results," says Peter Ylmén.
The building should be reviewed from an energy point of view, taking into account all possible aspects
Own electricity production
However, the energy issue does not have to be all about consumption, as it is also possible to set up your own renewable electricity production - something that is also addressed in the EPBD.
"Many property owners are investing in solar panels and batteries, and this is often a very profitable investment. This is especially true for those with a larger property portfolio, where the electricity can also be used in the summer when there is less need for heating," says Lisa Löfving.
She also notes that there are rapid developments in the field, including Svenska kraftnät, which makes it easier for property owners to make their battery available for so-called support services to balance the electricity grid.
Innovations that can simplify the complex energy issue are also coming in other areas, Peter Ylmén points out.
"For example, we see a lot happening in ventilation and heat recovery, but above all we will benefit greatly from developments in digital readings via sensors in buildings that can be combined with digital models, so-called digital twins," he says.
Energy mapping required
"The basic requirement for a property owner is to have a complete and up-to-date energy audit," says Lisa Löfving.
"The building should be reviewed from an energy point of view, taking into account all possible aspects. This should then lead to a maintenance plan with both short and long-term perspectives," she says.
Navigating these issues can be complicated and is something that many property owners need help with.
"At RISE we have a very broad range of expertise in this area. We have expertise in all aspects of climate and energy issues in buildings - we help property owners with everything from assessing the current situation and the need for action, to exploring new solutions and follow-up. This enables us to see the big picture and help with the complex issues that can arise," says Peter Ylmén.
