On the “cost-optimal levels” of energy performance requirements and its economic evaluation in Italy

Abstract

The European energy policies about climate and energy package, known as the “20-20-20” targets define ambitious, but achievable, national energy objectives. Among the directives of the package, the Directive 2010/31/UE on the energy performance of building reports: “Member States shall calculate cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements using the comparative methodology framework established in accordance with paragraph 1 and relevant parameters, such as climatic conditions and the practical accessibility of energy infrastructure, and compare the results of this calculation with the minimum energy performance requirements in force”. The “Commission delegated regulation (EU)” n.244/2012 and “Guidelines accompanying Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) n.244/2012” 2012/C 115/01 define a comparative methodology framework for calculating cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements for buildings and building elements to apply at “Reference Building” for EU State Member. The aims of Cost-Optimal Level are to supply EU Member States in order to define the national energy requirements level, which are economically feasible, that could reduce energy consumption until 2020.

The Italian regulation framework has two levels of measurements: one national and on regional , but all Energy Performance of Building Simulations EPBS must be calculated with standard UNITS 11300, which represent the Italian transposition of European and CEN Standard EN 15615 (CEN Umbrella). Following Italian legislation, the EPBS have to be calculated with UNITS 11300 standard procedure. The energy building behaviour is referred to standard and not to real use, nor climate or dynamic energy evaluation.

Following this procedure, the energy cost depends on several conditions and most of them are not indexed at national level. In the other hand cost of improvement depends on local variable ad contract tender. In this paper a case study is described and the Cost-Optimal Level EU procedure in an Italian context is analysed, in order to highlight the difficulties to apply EU rules.