Solar techniques in the building sector: "Influence of the European directive energy performance of buildings"

In order to realize large scale CO2 reduction in the building sector, innovations contributing to energy savings are essential. One well-known type of energy saving innovations for buildings are solar techniques. In this paper we will discuss to what extent the penetration of solar techniques has a direct relation with the policies being used in Europe and in The Netherlands. We will especially focus on energy performance regulations that were introduced in The Netherlands in 1996, since the European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings (Directive 2002/91/EC, in short: EPBD) will urge member states to develop and introduce energy performance regulations for the building sector by the year 2006. This paper discusses findings from the European Altener project Build-On-RES, supplemented with a pilot project in the framework of PhD research. In Build-On-RES, experiences with energy performance regulations in five member states have been examined and experiences with the encouragement of solar techniques in the building sector have been listed. In the pilot study of a PhD research about 100 Dutch energy performance calculations, submitted for receiving building permits from 1996 to 2001, have been analysed. On the basis of this study we will describe some first conclusions about the relation between energy performance policy and encouragement for solar techniques.