• Energy Research

According to the European Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings recast, hotels and other buildings of a certain size, frequently visited by the public, should set an example in environmental and energy performance. Moreover, being energy intensive buildings, they are at high priority for becoming nearly Zero Energy Buildings. Even though they represent a specific category, along with restaurants, till today there is a lack of credible data for this type of buildings, especially taking into account the wide range of different typologies (coastal, mountain, urban, rural or business, resort, spa/wellness, bed & breakfast). This paper presents the results of the actual energy performance of six south European countries (Greece, Croatia, France, Romania, Italy and Spain) plus one north (Sweden) for comparison, analyzed in the framework of the nearly Zero Energy Hotels (neZEH) project. The project focused on providing technical assistance to existing pilot hotels for refurbishing into nearly Zero Energy Buildings, demonstrating the sustainability of investments towards zero energy and undertaking training and capacity building activities at regional, national and European level. The results showed that the primary energy use for the hosting functions across all sixteen pilot hotels can decrease dramatically—from an average of 277 kWh/m2/y to an average of 102 kWh/m2/y; an average reduction of 63%. At the same time, Renewable Energy Sources share for the hosting functions can be increased from an average of 18% to an average of 46%. The analysis also showed that hotel non-hosting functions, i.e., other facilities that require special indoor environmental conditions, such as spa, kitchen etc. are more critical than the hosting functions; their primary energy use can decrease from an average of 727 kWh/m2/y to an average of 374 kWh/m2/y.

Abstract The Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) market is still embryonic in South Europe since there are still many barriers: difficult access to financing, limited investors’ confidence in EPC models, scarcity of flagship projects, lack of certification schemes and financing mechanisms, especially for the tertiary sector (hospitality, tourism, healthcare), which presents a huge potential for Energy Efficiency (EE). The Trust EPC South project, funded by Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, aims to scale up investments in EE solutions in the private tertiary sector in South Europe, by delivering a robust investment standardization and benchmarking framework and a pipeline of bankable EPC projects in 6 countries (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece); its results will eventually be extended to the Balkan. Tailored capacity building activities will allow an easier access to third-party financing, thus unlocking the large tertiary sector EE and Renewable Energy market potential. Initially, national market analyses took place (EPC providers, beneficiaries-clients, and financial institutions) to identify the market potential. National Discussion Platforms were set up to develop the national roadmaps addressing mechanisms for mitigation of policy, legal, and especially financial barriers. An investment standardization and benchmarking framework, built upon an established real estate assessment tool (Green Rating™), is actually setting up in order to build trust amongst all parts of the EPC value chain. The methodology will be upgraded including a financial assessment model.

AbstractThe European Union has set ambitious targets for 2020 and even more ambitious for 2050. In order to reduce the domestic GHG emissions by 80-95% -compared to 1990 levels- till 2050, the building sector has to do its part and to pass through a deep restructure. In this frame, the hospitality industry, responsible for 2% of the world's CO2 emissions can play a crucial role contributing to the 2020 energy targets in the Member States.This paper presents the scope and rationale of the European project “Nearly Zero-Energy Hotels” (NEZEH). The NEZEH project, co-financed by the European Commission aims to reinforce businesses operating in the hospitality sector to meet the challenges of competitiveness, reduction of energy consumption and adoption of green energy technologies, providing technical support and advice to selected hotels in order to develop sustainable and feasible large scale renovations towards Near Zero Energy consumption levels. The project covers six (6) Southern European countries – Spain, Greece, Italy, Romania, Croatia and France –locally and nationally. This need becomes more urgent as European law (Energy Performance of Building Directive recast) requires that -by 2020- all new buildings will be zero energy consumption (NZEB). However, the concept of NZEB is still not well developed in most EU countries and Member States should adopt specific policies and measures to accelerate the rate of large scale refurbishments of existing buildings.

The high photovoltaic (PV) market growth rates, which are further favored by the EU supporting policies and the national regulatory frameworks, may result to a threat for the PV industry due to the lack of adequately skilled workforce for PV installation and maintenance. This fact may result in poorly installed systems with negative impact on the industry’s credibility and development. The PVTRIN, an Intelligent Energy Europe project, addresses to these issues by developing a training and accreditation scheme for technicians/engineers focusing to the installation and maintenance of small scale PV systems. The training and certification will incorporate the criteria set by the 2009/28/EC Directive regarding requirements for certified training courses and training providers, providing a supporting instrument for EU Member States to meet their obligations for acknowledged certifications for RES installers till 31/12/2012. Creating a qualified PV installers workforce, the increased confidence of potential PV owners will lead to market growth.

Abstract A key factor hampering the delivery of high energy performance renovations in buildings is the under-qualification of the construction sector's workforce with regard to energy efficiency and renewable energy sources systems. Towards this direction, this paper proposes an integrated methodological framework, determining measures for the case of Greece, which are delivered in the form of a national qualification roadmap. These measures aim to enhance the qualifications of the blue collar workers and generally empower the Greek construction sector. They also facilitate the adherence of Greece to the European Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources Directives and support the attainment of the national energy objectives for 2020. The methodological framework is initiated with the analysis of the status quo of the Greek building sector and the skills and qualifications gap of the workforce, as well as the identification of the corresponding barriers that impede growth. Subsequently, a number of diverse measures are proposed and evaluated, using a synergy of decision analysis and evaluation methods. The measures that are assessed as of high priority are afterwards specified to concrete actions. Throughout the whole modular procedure, multiple relevant national bodies were actively engaged via transparent consultation procedures and multilateral discussions. Finally, 44 acknowledged organisations declared their endorsement to the roadmap by signing an official letter.

Abstract The European strategy for the coming decades sets specific targets for a sustainable growth, including reaching a 20% share of renewables in final energy consumption till 2020. To achieve this target, a number of initiatives and measures have been in force. Europe, is currently the largest market for PV systems with more than 75% of the annual worldwide installations in 2011. The favourable European policies as well as the Member States’ supporting legislations have resulted in high market growth for photovoltaics. Applying PV technologies however, requires high qualified technicians to install, repair and maintain them. Until today, national markets have been growing faster than the skilled PV installers force can satisfy. The PVTRIN, an Intelligent Energy Europe action, addresses these issues by developing a training and certification scheme for technicians active in the installation and maintenance of small scale PV systems. During the implementation of the action, a market research was conducted in the six participating countries in order to record the stakeholders’ attitudes, perceptions and considerations and to adapt the training methods, tools and materials to the national PV industry requirements and markets’ needs. Indicative results of this analysis as well as the current situation regarding relevant training and certification schemes are presented in this paper.

Abstract The European Union targets for 27% renewable energy share by 2030. At the same time, all new buildings should be nearly zero energy buildings from 2020 onwards. A major obstacle to these objectives is a combination of current economic stagnation and limited investors' confidence, which leads to low investment proportion. Despite many renewable energy technologies are already at a competitive level, the implementation rate in buildings is still low. In this paper, we focus on advances in efficient mechanisms to overcome non-technical barriers to the increase of renewable energy applications in buildings, such as Energy Performance Contracting (EPC). Tertiary sector holds a huge untapped potential for such applications, especially in Southern Europe. The Trust-EPC-South European initiative, implemented in six southern EU countries with a mix of beginner and intermediate energy service markets, aims at encouraging the financing of sustainable energy solutions in the tertiary sector, by creating a framework for standardization, assessment and benchmarking, thus improving trust and confidence in the financing parties. This paper presents three case studies in Greece, a Mediterranean family resort hotel, a resort and spa hotel and an office building. The installation of renewable energy measures, including photovoltaic systems, solar thermal systems and heat pumps, was examined and their EPC potential was rated, by using the described standardization and benchmarking methodology. Their economic savings range from 3 to 23% on yearly energy costs, at a discounted payback of 3–6 years, depending on the measure. A sensitivity analysis shows the impact of the variation of technical and economic parameters on the EPC projects feasibility. The standardization practice applied is expected to support the project actors in securing appropriate financing and eventually proceed with the renewable energy installations through the EPC.

In Mediterranean areas, during summertime, the demand for electricity greatly increases due to the extensive use of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, increasing the peak electric load, causing major problems in the electric supply. The seasonal temperatures have a direct impact on the pattern of the power demand in the area, so most buildings are cooled by electrically powered, conventional, vapour compression systems. The European Policy (EPBD recast, Energy Efficiency Directive) motivates the Member States to establish a long-term strategy for mobilizing investment in the renovation of the national stock of residential and commercial buildings, both public and private. This paper presents the first results of the actual performance of Mediterranean hotels in Greece, Croatia, Italy and Spain analyzed in the framework of the nearly Zero Energy Hotels (neZEH) project putting emphasis on the cooling demand due to their seasonal summertime operation. The applied methodology consists of providing technical advice, demonstrating the feasibility and sustainability of investments towards zero energy, undertaking training and capacity building activities, as well as promoting front runners at national, regional and EU level. Amongst the measures which will improve the HVAC consumption, simple interventions are also included offering the most attractive payback (i.e installation of thermostatic valves or stop leaks improvements). The most common economically appealing are Building Energy Management System (BEMS), the replacement of current heat pumps by more efficient ones, but also the outdoor redesign for improved microclimate.