Energy performance ratings

In 2006, Kingspan launched a whole building energy/CO₂ modelling service for compliance with Part L2 of the Building Code in England and Wales, covering all non-domestic residential buildings, during which Kingspan performed energy modelling on 23 buildings. This has been greatly expanded and in 2007 a total of 88 buildings were modelled. This allows building designers/owners to use a combination of many different technologies to achieve regulatory compliance, and Kingspan’s unique offering strongly positions it to provide very flexible and alternative solutions. Kingspan Insulation Boards division provides an equivalent service for housing, to advise on compliance with the building regulations in the UK and Ireland.

Kingspan’s Off-Site division provide Building Energy Rating assessments (BER) for residential dwellings in Ireland, which is now a requirement under the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. An integral part of Off-Site’s offering is to conduct airtight testing on all residential building systems supplied, together with thermographic imaging, delivering compliance assurance to its customer base. In the UK, Kingspan Off-Site offers a full Code for Sustainable Homes assessment service, on the back of its experience in delivering UK's first level 6, zero carbon home.

Through the development of the Zero Carbon home (the technology which can equally be applied in commercial buildings), which in itself already meets the 2016 zero net carbon target outlined in the UK’s Code for Sustainable Homes, Kingspan demonstrated the innovation that it can deliver. The spirit of the UK code is expected to be replicated around the globe as the importance of the climate challenge gains momentum, and with this will come much higher insulation standards, rainwater recovery, use of renewables such as solar hot water and power generation, all products currently in the Kingspan suite.

With the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in effect across the European Union since 2007/8, pressure is growing to create the most sustainable buildings with the lowest energy usage. This directive requires all buildings to carry an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when built from new and when the subject of a transaction, sale, lease etc.

A draft revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive was published in November 2008. It requires national plans for increasing the number of very low energy buildings (new and refurbished) by 2020. The European Commission will develop common principles for defining such buildings. The Commission is to develop a methodology for calculating the cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements. Member States may not provide incentives after mid 2014 to construct or renovate buildings that do not meet these minimum energy performance requirements. Member States minimum performance requirements must conform to the Commission’s calculations by 2017. The 1000m² threshold for major renovation of existing buildings has been removed completely. For existing buildings, minimum requirements must be respected for new, replacement or retrofit of technical buildings systems.

Displays of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) must be prominent in all buildings over 250m² occupied by public authorities, and private buildings which have acquired a certificate. In the case of public buildings, a separate target must be set by 2020 when providing details of low carbon buildings. Tenants must be given details not just of rating, but also recommended improvements through the EPC. There will be stricter enforcement of implementation of EPBD via penalties, and the transposition into national law must happen by 31 December 2010.

Increasingly stringent national government regulations across Europe are anticipated in the future. These regulations will place tighter limits on energy consumption, energy sources, building design and operating processes not just in respect of new construction but also the existing building stock right across Europe. Kingspan is ideally placed to meet the requirements of the EPBD as it exists and the November 2008 draft. Kingspan products are designed to maximise performance of the buildings in which they are used, not just in the immediate aftermath of the building work being completed but for the life of the building thereafter. By using Kingspan insulation (both Panels and Boards), for either new build or refurbishment, the building owner can be sure that the building will comply with the standards to which it is designed for the whole life of the building and will therefore reduce the costs involved in compliance and maintain the market value of the buildings.

http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/08/st15/st15929.en08.pdf

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