Introduction
Outline of research
Research goal
Research question
Research methodology
Limitations of the research
Adoption of definitions for highly energy-efficient housing in Belgium and the Netherlands
General terms used
Relevant definitions in research
Definitions from demonstration projects
the Netherlands | Belgium |
---|---|
Housing demonstration project | |
‘Minimum-energy house’ built in 1982–1983 by architect Jon Kristinsson | ‘IDEE-house’ built in 1984 by the Belgian Building Research Institute |
Resulted in | |
Designing for investing an additional 4,500 € | Designing for technology demonstration in a research facility |
Airtight house | Air tightness not considered |
Insulated on all sides | Introduction of thermal insulation |
Solar energy zoning | Heavily glazed south facades, no solar protection |
Solar boiler | Solar collector for heating and hot water |
Permanently balanced ventilation with heat recovery and heated by air | No controlled ventilation |
Lessons learnt | |
An integrated concept led to innovations (polystyrene foundation insulation, airtight walls, roofs and windows, balanced ventilation with heat recovery, electronically ignited gas heater with a modulation burner) | Hasty conceptual and construction decisions led to poor quality (ventilation, overheating, leaky points,…) |
Initial problems with new technologies, but many of the companies that invested in the innovations are still in business | The demonstration programme for this building was abandoned and a follow-up project (PLEAIDE) was not realised until 1994 with predefined performance criteriaa
|
The decline in the gas price prompted the authorities and banks to withdraw from follow-up projects, but the demonstration project is still used to promote the passive house concept in the Netherlands. | Until today, a strong emphasis exists in policy on providing a good indoor climate, ventilation and the avoidance of overheating. Indoor climate criteria have been integrated directly in Belgian energy performance legislation |
Definitions introduced for market creation
Categorya
| Energy criteria for homes | Reference |
---|---|---|
Low-energy house | Under no specified calculation model: | Flemish charter 2003 (BBLV 2010) |
The total energy demand for space heating should be limited to 60 kWh/m2 gross floor area | ||
(Low-energy house) | Under the conditions in the Flemish EPB calculation model: | Label for Flemish architects (EA 2010) |
The E-level should be limited to 60 | ||
(Low-energy house) | Under the conditions in the Flemish EPB calculation model: | Flemish grants from energy providers (VEA 2010) |
The E-level should be limited to 60 | ||
Low-energy house | Under the conditions in the Walloon EPB calculation model: | Baseline for subsidiesa in the Walloon Region (Energie Wallonie 2011) |
E
w ≤ 80 | ||
Low-energy house | Under the conditions in the Walloon EPB calculation model: | Label for construction companies and architects (CALE 2010) |
E
w ≤ 70; E
spec ≤ 120 kWh/m2/year | ||
Low-energy renovation | Under the conditions in the PHPP 2007 calculation model: | Project listing for exemplary actors Brussels Capital Region (Leefmilieu Brussel 2010) |
The total energy demand for space heating is limited to 60 kWh/m2 of conditioned floor area | ||
(Very-low-energy house) | Under the conditions in the Flemish EPB calculation model: | Flemish grants from energy providers (VEA 2010) |
The E-level should be limited to 40 | ||
Very-low-energy renovation | Under the conditions in the PHPP 2007 calculation model: | Project listing for exemplary actors Brussels Capital Region (Leefmilieu Brussel 2010) |
The total energy demand for space heating is limited to 30 kWh/m2 of conditioned floor area | ||
Passive house | Under the conditions in the PHPP 2007 calculation model: | |
The total energy demand for space heating is limited to 15 kWh/m2 of conditioned floor area | ||
The total primary energy use is limited to 45 kWh/m2 year for heating, domestic hot water and auxiliary equipment (fans, pumps), excluding lighting and appliances | ||
Passive house (including non-residential) | Under the conditions in the PHPP calculation model: | Current definition promoted by Belgian and Dutch business networks: PHP, PMP, Passiefbouwen.nl and research centres in Belgium and the Netherlands: ECN, SBR, BBRI |
The total energy demand for space heating and cooling is limited to 15 kWh/m2 of conditioned floor area | ||
The total primary energy use for all appliances, domestic hot water and space heating and cooling is limited to 120 kWh/m2 (the Netherlands) or to a compactness related formulab (Belgium) |
Legal definitions
-
In the surrounding air
-
Under the soil surface
-
In surface water
Category | Definition for homes situated in the European economic area according to Belgisch Staatsblad—Moniteur Belge (2009) |
---|---|
Low-energy house | The total energy demand for space heating and cooling should be limited to 30 kWh/m2 conditioned floor area |
Passive house | The total energy demand for space heating and cooling should be limited to 15 kWh/m2 conditioned floor area |
During a pressurisation test (according to the NBN EN 13829 norm) with a pressure difference of 50 Pa between inside and outside, the air loss should not be more than 60% of the volume of the house per hour (n
50 ≤ 0.6/h) | |
Zero-energy house | Comply with the conditions for a passive house |
The residual energy demand for space heating and cooling can be fully compensated by renewable energy produced on site |
Discussion: the policy challenge of introducing ‘nearly zero energy’ in Belgium and the Netherlands
Definition initiative (reference) | Financial incentives for high energy efficiency? | Tool recommended to calculate primary energy use in kWh/m2/year? |
---|---|---|
BBLV 2010
| Not directly related to the initiative | No, Flemish EPB of PHPP can be used |
EA 2010
| Not directly related to the initiative | Flemish EPB software |
CALE 2010
| Not directly related to the initiative | Walloon PEB software |
Leefmilieu Brussel 2010
| Grants for (selected demonstration) projects | PHPP softwarea
|
Belgisch Staatsblad—Moniteur Belge 2009
| Income tax relief | Not particularly mentioned, confirmation according to the definition should be proven by means of a certificateb
|
PEGO 2009
| Not related to a definition of highly energy-efficient housing | No, several possible tools are presented |
DHV 2010
| No specific recommendations | Limits acknowledged of EPC calculations: defining the ambition level requires other tools |
Experiences in other countries
UK
‘Zero-energy’ definitions
-
It has a much-reduced energy requirement.
-
It meets the residual energy needs from sources that do not produce greenhouse gases.
-
It produces no net emissions of greenhouse gases.
-
It is economically viable.
Discussion: relevance for Belgium and the Netherlands
Definition initiative (country) | Legal reference: key requirements |
---|---|
Zero-energy house (Belgium) | Belgisch Staatsblad—Moniteur Belge 2009: |
The total energy demand for space heating and cooling should be limited to 15 kWh/m2 conditioned floor area | |
During a pressurisation test (according to the NBN EN 13829 norm) with a pressure difference of 50 Pa between inside and outside, the air loss should not be more than 60% of the volume of the house per hour (n
50 ≤ 0.6/h) | |
The residual energy demand for space heating and cooling can be fully compensated by renewable energy produced on site | |
Zero carbon home (UK) | Code for Sustainable Homes (Level 5): |
Energy-related net CO2 emissions from a dwelling over a year (emissions from energy required for heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation as well as appliances and cooking) ≤ 0 | |
Heat loss parameter ≤ 0.8 W/m2 K | |
Equivalent renewable energy generation capacity must be installed to reduce CO2 emissions to zero. All installations for the generation of renewable energy must be located within the curtilage of the development or directly connected. In the case of electricity installations this means a private wire connection | |
Zero-net-energy commercial building (USA) | US Congress (USC 2007:113) Section 422 (a) (3): |
A high-performance commercial building that is designed, constructed and operated in such as way that: | |
It has a much-reduced energy requirement | |
It meets the residual energy needs from sources that do not produce greenhouse gases | |
It produces no net emissions of greenhouse gases | |
It is economically viable |
Definitions with favourable innovation characteristics
Relating definitions to innovation diffusion
Perceived attribute of an innovation and relation to rate of adoption | Example of interpretation for nearly ‘zero-energy’ houses |
---|---|
Relative advantage: The greater the perceived advantage, the more rapid the rate of adoption | When in Belgium a more important tax reduction is given for a ‘zero-energy house’ than for a ‘passive house’ and a ‘low-energy house’, the adoption of more energy-efficient housing concepts is expected to increase |
Complexity: Simpler innovations are adopted more rapidly | A simple definition can be easily communicated. A complex evaluation procedure can evoke opposition |
Example: Initially, the idea of ‘zero-carbon buildings’ met with a favourable reception from UK industry, but when the detailed requirements were unveiled many businesses found them unrealistic and unnecessarily complicated and either downscaled their ambitions or abandoned projects altogether (Saunderson et al. 2008) | |
Demonstrability: Opportunities for education and hands-on learning and innovation trials on a partial basis could improve the rate of diffusion | The industry is concerned that, even under favourable conditions many homes may be unable to generate sufficient electricity on-site [to reach net zero energy] due to physical restrictions alone (RAB 2007). This can decrease the diffusion rate of ‘zero-energy’ |
Visibility: The easier it is for individuals to see the innovation and its results, the greater the likelihood that they will adopt it | An independent institute (e.g. for grant control) can certify the definition of ‘passive house’. The official certificate can serve as a marketing tool and certified projects can be made public in a database (Mlecnik 2008). This appeal is currently further enhanced by independent appraisal (Belgisch Staatsblad—Moniteur Belge 2009): confirmation according to the legal definition should be proven by means of a certificate issued by one of the following: |
An institute recognised by the monarch | |
A competent regional or similar administration | |
A competent administration situated in another Member State of the European Economic Area | |
Compatibility: Incompatibility will not lead to adoption unless a new value system is embraced. This is a relatively slow process | The research efforts relating to defining zero-energy buildings focus primarily on local energy generation (integrating for example massive PV, micro-generation…) without taking too much account of some integrated energy or bioclimatic design aspects (popular in Belgium) like lowering the operational costs of the building whilst striving for a comfortable indoor climate. In discussions on net-zero-energy buildings the first and third step of the Trias Energetica are often conflated |
Opportunities and barriers in the Netherlands
Opportunities and barriers in Belgium
Housing category | Grant | Possible additional grant |
---|---|---|
E60 Dwelling (Flemish Region) | 1,000 € | + 40 € per E-level point below E60 |
+ 300 € solar boiler | ||
E40 Dwelling (Flemish Region) | 1,800 € | + 50 € per E-level point below E40 |
+ 300 € solar boiler | ||
E60 Apartment (Flemish Region) | 400 € | + 20 € per E-level point below E60 |
+ 300 € solar boiler | ||
E40 Apartment (Flemish Region) | 800 € | + 30 € per E-level point below E40 |
+ 300 € solar boiler | ||
Passive house (Brussels Capital Region) | 100 €/m2 floor area for houses up to 150 m2 and 50 €/m2 floor area for houses above 150 m2
| + first blower-door test |
+ €/m2 for several ‘sustainable’ options (e.g. roof insulation, wall insulation, environmentally friendly insulation materials, Forest Stewardship Council labelled wood window frames) |
Discussion
Attractiveness | Demonstrability | Visibility | Compatibility | Complexity |
---|---|---|---|---|
the Netherlands | ||||
Lack of legal definition = lack of attractiveness | High but current (UKR) demonstration programme does not distinguish definitions | High for ‘carbon neutral’, emerging for ‘passive house’ | ‘Passive house’ compatible with IED and Trias Energetica | Platform Energy Transition tries to reduce complexity |
The Flanders Region | ||||
Marketing makes ‘passive house’ solutions attractive | ‘Passive house’ important trial area; ‘zero-energy’ new trial area | High for ‘passive house’, emerging for ‘zero-energy house’ | Federal Decree compatible with ‘low energy’, ‘passive house’ and ‘zero energy’, less compatible regional interpretations | Transition network reduces complexity with information and education |
The Brussels Capital Region | ||||
Policy and market embraces ‘passive house’ | Current demonstration programme allows trials for different building typologies | High for ‘passive house’, involved actors are listed by official demonstration programme | Compatible Federal (Royal) Decree | Company clustering and facilitators reduce complexity |