Indicators Toward Zero-Energy Houses for the Mediterranean Region

Abstract

The European Union has framed ambitious CO₂ reductions and energy-efficiency goals for the next decades. In 2050 the built environment should be nearly carbon neutral, with GHG emissions of 88–91% lower than in 1990. With the current trends, the national climate protection energy targets are unattainable without energy upgrading of the housing stock. Residential buildings account for the 63% of the total energy consumption of the building stock. The existing residential building stock exceeds the number of newly built dwellings in most developed countries. Therefore, the energy-efficient renovation of the existing housing stock is imperative in order to reduce the building energy consumption.

This chapter aims to define the average buildings in Cyprus and create a database that can be used for energy-efficient refurbishment studies for the Mediterranean countries. The energy performance indicators of residential building stocks evaluate the existing empirical data of a building stock and the input and outcome of building stock modeling toward zero-energy houses. The study underlies the procedure and the effectiveness of the average building approach and the use of monitoring energy performance indicators for developing energy reduction strategies toward zero-energy houses. The ultimate goal is to achieve the future energy target of 2030.