This event has passed. You can find the presentations here and watch the recording of the webinar below.

When? January 11th, 4-5.45pm CET | 10-11.45am EST

At just 1% annually, the current renovation rate of Europe’s building stock is off track to reaching carbon-neutrality by 2050 – 97% of existing buildings are currently inefficient. Reaching EU targets will therefore require ambitious action. Projected scenarios show that achieving climate-neutrality by 2050 will require the annual renovation rate to increase to 3%, with 70% of total renovations being “deep” renovations.

To date, renovations largely take place on a voluntary basis – there is no uniform obligation on member states and local authorities to renovate buildings, and engaging both building owners and the financial sector is a lengthy and uneven process. However, building standards and codes, which can be defined as a comprehensive set of interconnected regulations that are designed to govern new construction or renovations, are potential paths to support and boost renovations. 

The EPBD (2018) launched the discussion of making minimum requirements mandatory, as they can be effective instruments to achieve the European Union’s long-term targets of achieving a highly efficient and decarbonised building stock by 2050.

Speakers from both sides of the Atlantic discussed the status of standards and codes in the EU and the US and how they can be key for achieving highly energy-efficient buildings, new and renovated. 

Agenda:

Introduction to codes and standards

• Overview of European codes and standards in buildings – Dimitrios Athanasiou, Energy Efficiency Policy Officer, DG ENER, European Commission

• American building codes and standards – David Nemtzow, Director, Building Technologies Office, US Department of Energy

Session 1: Codes for new construction

• Codes for New Construction: Setting the Baseline for Performance – Amy Boyce, Associate Director, Codes and Technical Strategy, Institute for Market Transformation
• European energy performance of buildings standards: Jaap Hogeling, Manager for international standards at ISSO, Expert at EPB Center
• Q+A session

Session 2: Standards for building renovation

• The use of minimum energy performance standards to renovate Europe’s existing buildings – Louise Sunderland, Senior Advisory, Regulatory Assistance Project
• Michael Freedberg, Senior Advisor for High performance Building, US Department of Housing and Development, Office Energy and Environment
• Q+A session

Closing remarks – Oliver Rapf, Executive Director, BPIE

Speakers:

Dimitrios Athanasiou, Energy Efficiency Policy Officer, DG ENER, European Commission

Louise Sunderland, Senior Advisory, Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)

David Nemtzow, Director, Building Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy

Amy Boyce, Associate Director, Codes and Technical Strategy, Institute for Market Transformation

Jaap Hogeling, Manager for international standards at ISSO, Expert at EPB Center

Michael Freedberg, Senior Advisor for High Performance Buildings, Office of Environment and Energy, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development