Key energy efficiency strategies for buildings
The best of the energy efficiency in buildings and construction involves complex strategies whose implementation - in most cases - is gradual and slow with palpable benefits for cities that will achieve sustainable growth and outstanding benefits for their citizens.
Bearing in mind that city dwellers spend most of their time in their homes. According to the energy efficiency portal Efivert.com … "The reduction of energy to cool buildings, to heat them and the light they use must be essential ingredients of any municipality for the benefit of climate objectives and the citizen himself". Remembering that it has a direct impact on reducing energy bills and, in addition, it can allow companies to be more competitive by reducing their energy costs or bringing health benefits, among many other factors. Therefore, increasing energy efficiency and effectiveness will help meet various goals and an environmental commitment.
Why act on buildings?
The reality, buildings represent around a third of all greenhouse gas emissions, so they are a main objective to use strategies that reduce their energy consumption. Although the graph is a bit old, we can see and understand the magnitude of direct and indirect emissions according to the type of buildings.
Without comparing it to other economic sectors, the potential is enormous in reducing emissions:
If we investigate a little more, we can see the final energy consumption in blocks of flatsdepending on whether it is a cold country or a moderate climate … In what uses of the building do you need more energy?
It must be taken into account that these data about the energy use in buildings They are relevant and can be used to develop strategies and specific localized lines to reduce energy consumption and obtain greater savings depending, for example, in which city we are located.
Barriers to building efficiency
Multiple barriers fall on applying an adequate energy efficiency in buildings, which can be summarized as the difference between the efficiency measures that are technically and economically available, and the measures that are actually implemented. These barriers prevent or dissuade the actors from taking actions or investments on the buildings to be energy efficient.
A worldwide problem
If we look at the future forecasts on emissions in the construction sector according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), it presents us with a negative outlook if economic conditions are not created that allow atransition over low carbon buildings, reminding us that it is not a local problem, it is global.
Variety of actors involved in the management of the building
Decisions about buildings in urban areas are governed by a mix of public and private agents with various forms of formal and informal authority on which to work. Not only do local administrations have a variety of mechanisms available to influence the building efficiency on their communities, but also other agents that intervene, to a lesser or greater extent, worse than they should be taken into account.
In the previous graph we can test the actors involved in the management of the blocks of flats that poses a multisectoral challenge and a cooperative effort between all the intervening parties for the benefit ofpromote energy efficiency in buildings.
The useful life of buildings
Decisions about the buildings we make today, how to build them, design and rehabilitate or reform will have lasting effects on the use of urban resources and services since, as the following image shows, buildings have the longest life expectancies. long with reference to large energy-consuming investments.
Strategies for energy improvement of buildings
From the Accelerating Building Efficiency - 8 Actions for Urban Leaders report coined by the World Resources Institute (WRI) they propose eight actions ostrategies to accelerate energy efficiency in buildings of cities. Tactics that lay the long-term foundations of how to energetically improve the buildings of the municipalities:
- Building standards and codes: Regulations and requirements for existing and new constructions that guarantee a minimum level of energy efficiency. They must cover design, construction and rehabilitation. The objective. promote long-term energy savings.
- Clear and defined objectives: Municipalities must establish mandatory targets for energy reduction in all public and administrative buildings with voluntary application references for all other buildings and infrastructures.
- Know and measure the energy performance of buildings: Energy certification programs, audits, and disclosure requirements are among the tools cities can use to better understand their buildings. The goal, to help property owners, occupants and managers understand and improve the smart use of energy.
- Financial incentives for construction: Discounts, grants, bonds, low-interest loans, mortgage financing, lines of credit or tax incentives are some of the approaches that cities can introduce to help and incentivize different energy saving programs on buildings. Mechanisms particularly useful if they are applied in the initial expenses.
- The example is the best ally: Administrations can initiate energy policies and projects that set an example for the community by fostering greater acceptance and demand for energy efficient solutions. Public buildings should be the perfect example to follow.
- Participation strategies: As an example, contests or awards that will facilitate the regeneration of a space are ways to stimulate dialogue between tenants, homeowners and property managers.
- Technical training in efficiency: Educational programs allow interested parties to develop the necessary skills to know how to save energy or to be able to implement the latest designs and facilities to achieve energy savings. Encouraging and explaining the benefits of new application technologies such as biomass projects in buildings or geothermal facilities, for example, are necessary to understand why we should use them in efficient construction.
- Public data: Municipalities can expand their access to data on energy use through alliances with public and private utility companies or the citizens themselves. Making information easier to access can help make smart decisions to improve energy efficiency goals.
According to the report… "The recommendations are intended to help city administrations avoid costly mistakes in the face of poor decisions about each stage of the life cycle of any type of building to overcome long-term obstacles."
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