Implementation of EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) / Energy Efficiency Code for Buildings Revision

The Greek building code was revised in January 2006 to provide the framework for the revision of older measures and introduction of new measures and procedures for energy conservation in buildings, especially in the areas of: o Energy certification for new and existing buildings o Energy audits for new and existing buildings o Regular inspection of central heating systems o Energy management o The setting of minimum energy efficiency standards for new buildings o Thermal insulation of new buildings. Establishment of a new integrated energy study for the thermal requirements (heating, cooling, hot water and maybe lighting) of new buildings (comprising the contribution of both thermal insulation and bioclimatic and passive/active energy systems/equipment). The revision coincides with Greek transposition of the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings 2002/91/EC. The Joint Ministerial Decision, D6/B/5825/20.04.2010 (Official Gazette B '407), "Endorsement of Energy Performance Buildings Regulation", issued in April 2010, regulates among other things the issues of energy certificate for public and private buildings, the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new buildings and for existing buildings exceeding 1000 m2 undergoing major renovation, as well as the regular inspection of boilers and air-conditioning systems. More specifically it determines: 1. the calculation methodology of the energy performance of buildings in order to evaluate the energy consumption of buildings for Heat, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (H.V.AC), lightning for the tertiary sector and Hot Water (H.W), 2. the minimum energy performance requirements and the classification of buildings according to their energy performance, 3. specifications for bioclimatic architectural design, the thermal properties of the structural elements in building envelope and the electro/mechanical systems installations, 4. the content of building energy performance study, 5. the format and the content of the energy performance of buildings certificate, 6. the energy audit procedure and the procedure of regular inspection for boilers, heating and air-conditioning systems.

The Presidential Decree 100/2010 (Official Gazette A '177) 'Energy Auditors Register ', issued in October 2010, provides the conditions and the requirements for the registration and the certification of energy auditors. The Law 3661/2008 "Measures for the reduction of buildings energy consumption" harmonises the Greek legislation to the 2002/91/EC Directive. Article 10 of the Law 3851/2010 (Official Gazette A '85) extends the scope of the Law 3661/2008 and imposes: 1. minimum energy efficiency requirements for existing buildings exceeding 50 m2 undergoing a major renovation, 2. the submission to the town planning authorities a technical, environmental and financial feasibility study, on the installation of at least one alternative system for energy supply for all new buildings, 3. 60% coverage in hot water needs, by solar hot water heat system for all new buildings after 01.01.2011.

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