GreenBuilding - enhanced energy efficiency for non-residential buildings
The GreenBuilding Programme
Energy efficiency plays a key role in European energy policies. It improves the security of energy supply, strengthens the competitiveness of European businesses and contributes to fulfilling the Kyoto commitments for the reduction of greenhouse gases.
The building sector accounts for more than 40%
of the final energy demand in Europe. One third
of this demand can be attributed to non-residential
buildings, such as offices, factories,
schools, hospitals or hotels. At the same time,
some of the largest potentials for energy savings
can be exploited by e.g. improving heating
and cooling systems of buildings as well as
by optimising the building envelope. A strong
effort is therefore needed by all Europeans,
particularly by private and public organisations,
to realise this substantial potential for energy
savings.
GreenBuilding is a voluntary programme which was initiated by the European Commission in 2005. The programme intends to raise awareness and trigger additional investments in energy efficiency and renewable energies among owners of non-residential buildings and to give advice and public recognition to those, who are ready to implement ambitious measures in their buildings, resulting in substantial energy savings.
These savings not only contribute to the European fight against climate change, but make also good business sense as it will reduce energy costs.
Who can participate in GreenBuilding?
• Owners of non-residential buildings; they can
become GreenBuilding Partner.
• Businesses from the building sector, contributing
to energy efficiency in the non-residential
building sector with their products or services;
they can become GreenBuilding Endorser.
The participation in GreenBuilding
is free of charge.
How to become GreenBuilding Partner
For becoming GreenBuilding Partner, you implement
energy efficiency measures in your
building(s):
• Refurbishment of existing non-residential
building(s): (primary) energy consumption reduced
by at least 25% (if economically viable),
total or related to the end-use or subsystem,
which is being modernised.
• New non-residential building(s): (primary) energy
consumption 25% below building standard
(if economically viable) or below the consumption
of “conventional” buildings presently
constructed.
• Building(s) already renovated or refurbished
(after 01.01.2000): (primary) energy consumption
reduced by at least 25% or the building(s)
consume 25% less energy than required by
the national building standard in force at that
time.
There are three steps in becoming a GreenBuilding
Partner:
1. Performing an Energy Audit
2. Development and submission of an Action-Plan based on the audit, describing the measures
to be performed
3. Reporting about the success of the Action-Plan implementation
How to become GreenBuilding Endorser
Businesses with products or services contributing
to energy efficiency in the non-residential
building sector can become GreenBuilding Endorser,
if they successfully assist one buildingowner
to join the GreenBuilding Programme
and actively promote GreenBuilding among
their customers.
Further information on the participation in
GreenBuilding is available in the downloadable
Partner and Endorser Guideline (see "Downloads").
How GreenBuilding assists you
On the GreenBuilding website you will find the GreenBuilding guidelines and the technical modules, the newsletter registration, the Best Practice Inventory and also the links to the GreenBuilding websites in national language. The National Contact Points will assist you in joining GreenBuilding.
How you gain from GreenBuilding
There are many benefits in the participation in
GreenBuilding, e.g.
• Saving money through reduced energy bills
• Increasing the value of the building
• Improving working conditions
• Growing attention of consumers and investors
• Enhanced publicity through press coverings,
presentations on the internet, brochures and a
catalogue of success stories
• The right to use the GreenBuilding logo.
Contact in Austria:
ÖGNB - Österreichische Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen
c/o IBO - Österreichisches Institut für Baubiologie und - ökologie
Alserbachstraße 5/8
1090 Wien
Tel. 01/319 20 05
Dr. Tobias Waltjen, DW -21
Ing. Mag. Maria Fellner, DW -13
DI Cristina Florit, DW -26