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Buildings
Buildings account for close to 40% of energy used in most countries. The potential for energy savings is large and compelling and can often be achieved at low or no costs. For users and owners of buildings in general, energy efficiency will most often be feasible, as savings will pay for the additional investment costs over time.
Many barriers work against energy efficiency in buildings such as: split incentives, incremental costs, lack of information, and the complex and fragmented structure in the construction industry. There is a need for a package of policies to address these barriers both in new and in existing buildings.
The IEA has studied the state of building stocks and barriers.
Based on this countries should develop a policy package including: building
codes based on life time assessment, encouragement for ultra low and zero
energy buildings, policies for existing buildings
including demands by refurbishment, information activities, financial
tools, certification, incentives for energy efficiency and specific
activities for products such as glazed areas and HVAC systems.
Policies for buildings were adopted by the G8 in Heiligendamm 2007 and Hokkaido 2008.
Five of the 25
recommendations adopted by G8 concern new and existing
buildings.
As a part of the Heiligendamm
process the IEA was asked to assist by
setting up a Global network for sustainable buildings, which aims to
bring together developed and developing countries, industry, researches
and policymakers in a dialogue and to provide proposals for new energy
efficiency policies.
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