European project neZEH for renovation of hotels to buildings with almost zero consumption
The neZEH project (nearly Zero Energy Hotels), constitutes a European initiative that aims to convert existing hotels to buildings with almost zero consumption due to their impact on the environment.
The European Union aims to reduce energy dependence and especially CO2 emissions in this sector, given that currently buildings consume almost 40% of all energy in Europe and emit 36% of greenhouse gases.
It is intended the creating more efficient and sustainable buildings Through the incorporation of new technologies and the adequate management of processes and services as actions that will lead to this objective of reducing energy consumption.
This initiative seeks to achieve the renovation of existing hotels, through the following action strategies:
- Providing technical advice on improvement measures necessary to achieve these objectives for those hotels that commit themselves to this initiative.
- Proving that said measures are profitable and feasible, and that the cost of implantation of the same is perfectly acceptable and amortizable, to achieve this objective.
- By means of the proper training and awareness, through the necessary activities established for this purpose.
- Encouraging those pioneering buildings in this initiative at a national and international level, increasing their prestige and having an impact on their better market projection.
Building with almost zero energy consumption
As established in the Directive on energy efficiency in buildings, the Almost Zero Consumption Building, the one who gets;Almost zero energy demand (necessary energy that, for given a building envelope and the climatic conditions of its environment or location, we must contribute to maintain interior comfort).
The energy contribution or required demand must be covered with renewable energy sources, including here those generated by the same facilities or near them, produced "in situ" or by the environment.
Therefore, the neZEH project aims to be framed within those stimulus policies for the renovation of existing buildings at a level of almost zero energy consumption, as established in the European Directive on the energy efficiency of buildings (2010/31 / EU), in such a way that it contributes to the objectives set for the year 2022, and supports the member countries to achieve this objective.
This project will last for three years, from 2013 to 2016 and it will be financed through the Intelligent Energy Europe program, which aims to promote sustainability solutions that promote the creation of new technologies to improve energy efficiency, use renewable energy and reduce polluting emissions.
Benefits for the hotel sector from the neZEH project
With the application of this program, it is expected that the following objectives will be achieved:
- Savings in energy consumption and reduction of maintenance costs. To do this, an online tool will be created with which it will be possible to evaluate the energy consumption of each building and be able to provide optimal solutions to improve energy efficiency.
- Considerable improvement in comfort as an added value for guests.
- Will allow access the building to a new sustainable market, which improves its image at the company level both in a national and international context.
- Will increase its commitment and corporate social responsibility, in relation to environmental and social sustainability.
The neZEH project in Spain
Last year 2014 this project was presented in Spain within the framework of FiturGreen, by Rodrigo Morell, general director of CREARA ENERGY EXPERTS, a leading Spanish company in energy saving and efficiency, which is part of the AENOR Technical Standardization Committee 216, "Energy Efficiency Management Systems", within the Intelligent Energy Europe program, in order to implement energy saving measures that allow achieving up to 75% savings in SME establishments.
In said presentation, the main objectives of this program in our country were established, to achieve savings in energy consumption and the reduction of emissions, through measures that will reduce demand, as well as through monitoring, the replacement of inefficient equipment, the improvement of their thermal envelope and the use of renewable energies to reduce maintenance costs, energy dependence and achieve a greater international projection.
The implantation of the neZEH project in Spain it is being carried out in several phases, in a first phase the concept of “almost zero energy hotel”, Establishing a catalog of the characteristics that they must meet, and in a second phase, two hotels - already in operation - are selected to participate in the pilot project.
They will receive free technical advice and support, from the first study or pre-audit to the study and advice on the necessary improvement measures, the financing alternatives and the study of the amortization periods of the investments, so that they will also benefit from training courses in energy saving.
More information fromwww.nezeh.eu
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