14 Nov 2022 11:30—12:30
Building envelopes
More than 110 countries lacked mandatory building energy codes or standards in 2021, meaning that over 2.4 billion m2 of floor space were built last year without meeting any energy-related performance requirements – the equivalent of Spain’s entire building stock.
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Proper building design, integrating high-performing envelopes, is the most effective way to reduce the thermal needs of buildings and deliver occupants’ thermal comfort. Compared to other solutions in buildings, the selection of envelope structure and materials is particularly important, given the long lifetime of buildings and the associated cost of the envelope.
Ongoing research is taking place in the area of supercool and smart materials, which can stay several degrees cooler than ambient temperature even in direct sunlight and thereby reduce cooling needs inside the building, with particularly promising results in hot and dry climates.
High-performance buildings such as near-zero energy buildings (nZEBs) typically make up less than 5% of construction in most markets today. However progress on constructing high-performance buildings has advanced in a several countries.
Building energy codes and standards are among the “most widely recognised, scalable” and effective policy instruments for buildings, having been implemented in over 80 countries around the world, of which 70 cover the whole buildings sector (residential and non-residential). Fortunately, many countries are considering developing or expanding building energy codes, even if no significant progresses happened in 2021.
Where building energy codes are already in place, continuous evolution of standards is essential to reflect and drive the current and future status of construction practices, materials and technologies.
Ongoing research is taking place in the area of supercool and smart materials, which can stay several degrees cooler than ambient temperature even in direct sunlight and thereby reduce cooling needs inside the building, with particularly promising results in hot and dry climates.
High-performance buildings such as near-zero energy buildings (nZEBs) typically make up less than 5% of construction in most markets today. However progress on constructing high-performance buildings has advanced in a several countries.
Building energy codes and standards are among the “most widely recognised, scalable” and effective policy instruments for buildings, having been implemented in over 80 countries around the world, of which 70 cover the whole buildings sector (residential and non-residential). Fortunately, many countries are considering developing or expanding building energy codes, even if no significant progresses happened in 2021.
Where building energy codes are already in place, continuous evolution of standards is essential to reflect and drive the current and future status of construction practices, materials and technologies.
Last updated Oct 5, 2022
Key findings
Energy service demand for space cooling and energy intensity index in the Net Zero Scenario, 2010-2030
OpenAll countries should establish zero-carbon-ready building energy codes by 2030
Building envelope performance improvements are critical to getting on track with the majority of the Net Zero Scenario milestones in heating and cooling intensity (energy use per total m2). To align with the Net Zero Scenario, the final energy intensity of space heating and cooling need to fall considerably, by at least 40% and 30% respectively in 2030 compared to today.
To be in step with the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, all countries need to establish zero-carbon-ready building energy codes for both residential and non-residential buildings by 2030 at the latest, and all new buildings should meet this standard from 2030. This also requires 20% of the existing building floor area to be renovated to this level by 2030, with annual energy efficiency renovation rates jumping from less than 1% today to 2.5% by 2030 globally.
To be in step with the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, all countries need to establish zero-carbon-ready building energy codes for both residential and non-residential buildings by 2030 at the latest, and all new buildings should meet this standard from 2030. This also requires 20% of the existing building floor area to be renovated to this level by 2030, with annual energy efficiency renovation rates jumping from less than 1% today to 2.5% by 2030 globally.
Energy efficiency investment, 2015-2021
OpenGovernment policies have helped lift efficiency investment in the buildings sector
Government policies are expected to help energy efficiency investment rise by 10% in 2021 to almost USD 300 billion. However, to be consistent with levels foreseen in the IEA Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, overall annual investment would need to triple by 2030. Recent investment growth has been concentrated largely in Europe, suggesting polices are needed in other regions to achieve global climate goals.
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Analysis
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Building Envelopes
Technology deep dive
Not on track
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There’s more to buildings than meets the eye: They hold a key to net zero emissions
Commentary — 15 February 2023
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Technology and Innovation Pathways for Zero-carbon-ready Buildings by 2030
A strategic vision from the IEA Technology Collaboration Programmes
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Residential behaviour changes lead to a reduction in heating and cooling energy use by 2030
Part of Technology and innovation pathways for zero-carbon-ready buildings by 2030
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Targeting 100% LED lighting sales by 2025
Part of Technology and innovation pathways for zero-carbon-ready buildings by 2030
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Solar thermal technologies deployed in around 400 million dwellings by 2030
Part of Technology and innovation pathways for zero-carbon-ready buildings by 2030
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350 million building units connected to district energy networks by 2030, provide about 20% of space heating needs
Part of Technology and innovation pathways for zero-carbon-ready buildings by 2030
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Solar PV and wind supply about 40% of building electricity use by 2030
Part of Technology and innovation pathways for zero-carbon-ready buildings by 2030
Our work
The EBC TCP, created in 1977, carries out research and development efforts towards near-zero energy and carbon emissions in the built environment. Activities under the EBC TCP focus on the integration of energy-efficient and sustainable technologies into healthy buildings and communities.
The DHC TCP conducts research and development as well as policy analysis and international co-operation to increase the market penetration of district heating and cooling systems with low environmental impact.
The HPT TCP functions as an international framework of co-operation and knowledge exchange for the different stakeholders in the field of heat pumping technologies used for heating, cooling, air-conditioning and refrigeration in buildings, industries, thermal grids and other applications. The mission of the HPT TCP is to accelerate the transformation to an efficient, renewable, clean and secure energy sector in its member countries and beyond through collaboration research, demonstration and data collection and through enabling innovations and deployment in the area of heat pumping technologies.
Established in 1993, the PVPS TCP supports international collaborative efforts to enhance the role of photovoltaic solar energy (PV) as a cornerstone in the transition to sustainable energy systems. The PVPS TCP seeks to serve as a global reference for policy and industry decision makers; to act as an impartial and reliable source of information on trends, markets and costs; and to provide meaningful guidelines and recommended practices for state-of-the-art PV applications.
Through multi-disciplinary international collaborative research and knowledge exchange, as well as market and policy recommendations, the SHC TCP works to increase the deployment rate of solar heating and cooling systems by breaking down the technical and non-technical barriers to increase deployment.
