Search results

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8832 — Knauf/Armstrong) (Text with EEA relevance.)

  • Published: 2018-10-24
  • Corporate Author(s): European Commission
  • Subject: building insulation, building materials, economic concentration, merger control
• Case T-777/16: Action brought on 4 November 2016 — Isocell v EUIPO — iCell (iCell. Insulation Technology Made in Sweden)

  • Published: 2016-11-04
  • Corporate Author(s): General Court (Court of Justice of the European Union)
  • Subject: building insulation, building materials, EU trade mark, registered trademark, trademark law
• 

  Achieving the cost-effective energy transformation of Europe's buildings
  Combinations of insulation and heating & cooling technologies renovations : methods and data

  This report aims to answer the following question: Which are the most cost-effective ways to decarbonise the existing EU building sector through energy renovations? Replying this, we provide a method and a dataset to investigate the cost-optimal level of energy efficiency measures in combination...

  This report aims to answer the following question: Which are the most cost-effective ways to decarbonise the existing EU building sector through energy renovations? Replying this, we provide a method and a dataset to investigate the cost-optimal level of energy efficiency measures in combination with low carbon heating and cooling solutions. To showcase the application of the method, two EU Member States (Germany and Greece) are examined and targeted renovation solutions are discussed as examples. This work begins with the characterisation of the current state of the very diverse EU building stock. Information is collected from European projects and the EU Building Stock Observatory (BSO). This information is analysed and restructured to provide a harmonised and ready-to-use dataset. This dataset is presented for the two exemplary cases, Germany and Greece. Next, the method developed to assess the combination of insulation measures and efficient heating and cooling supply technologies for the existing residential EU building stock is presented. The method uses the basic principles of Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) from an economic perspective. It allows the evaluation of the energy performance of different energy renovation options and their global costs. Through its application, we identify the cost effective and cost optimal solutions and how much primary energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions they achieve. The study is performed on the existing EU building stock and explores the effect of both the current and future energy system fuel mixes. We consider the 2020 and 2030 fuel energy system mixes to better understand the impact of the power sector to the heating and cooling in the building sector. By testing this method in Germany and Greece, we reach valuable results that contribute to a better understanding on how optimal energy building renovation strategies differ in southern and central Europe — when both heating and cooling are considered. The cost-optimal solution requires moderate thermal insulation in southern Europe, while efficient heating and cooling technologies should be prioritised. In other words, deep building envelope renovations are not always cost-optimal, nor do they necessarily maximise the environmental benefits. On the other hand, in central Europe deep energy efficiency improvements are cost-optimal and should be combined with efficient heating and cooling technologies. Based on the outcomes from the two countries we tested, it is concluded that a holistic approach incorporating both energy efficiency and sustainable heating and cooling should be considered when planning the decarbonisation of the building sector. In other words, the transformation of both the energy system and the building stock in particular, has to be designed in coordination to avoid lock-in effects in terms of investments, or over investments in less than cost-optimal energy efficiency renovations, and the shortening of the renovation cycles of buildings. Ultimately, our work aims to set the fact-basis to reply to challenging policy questions on how to transform the existing building stock in the EU.

  • Published: 2019-11-05
  • Corporate Author(s): Joint Research Centre (European Commission)
  • Personal Author(s): Jimenez Navarro, J.P ; Filippidou, F
  • Subject: air conditioning, building, building insulation, cost-effectiveness analysis, energy technology, Europe, heating, research report
• 

  Innovative materials for seismic and energy retrofitting of the existing EU buildings
  

  The seismic and energy retrofitting of existing European buildings with innovative materials is addressed in this report. The need for retrofitting of old buildings emanates from their substandard design in terms of both earthquake resistance and thermal insulation. This is revealed during stron...

  The seismic and energy retrofitting of existing European buildings with innovative materials is addressed in this report. The need for retrofitting of old buildings emanates from their substandard design in terms of both earthquake resistance and thermal insulation. This is revealed during strong earthquakes that result in collapses and damages of old buildings and consequently in economic losses, severe injuries and loss of human lives. Moreover, the poor energy performance of old building envelopes increases their energy consumption. The objective of this report is to explore innovative solutions for seismic and energy retrofitting of existing buildings. Towards such an objective, this report conducts a state-of-the-art review on advanced materials and solutions for enhancing the safety, energy and resource efficiency of the deficient EU residential buildings. Following the consideration of the conventional and state-of-the-art building materials and solutions, the report goes beyond the state-of-the-art by introducing. At the end the main challenges that need to be addressed in building retrofitting projects are listed (cost, sustainability, durability), and recommendations for future research activities towards sustainable buildings retrofitting are proposed. Finally, the socio-economic and environmental impact expected from such research projects is preliminary assessed.

  • Published: 2018-07-30
  • Corporate Author(s): Joint Research Centre (European Commission)
  • Personal Author(s): Bournas, Dionysios
  • Subject: advanced materials, building, building industry, building insulation, building materials, building safety, building technique, concrete, earthquake, energy efficiency, environmental impact, materials technology, research report, thermal insulation, urban renewal
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.8721 — Owens Corning/Paroc) (Text with EEA relevance. )

  • Published: 2017-12-23
  • Corporate Author(s): European Commission
  • Subject: building industry, building insulation, economic concentration, merger control
• COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Guidance note on Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EC, and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC Article 5: Exemplary role of public bodies' buildings Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Implementing the Energy Efficiency Directive – Commission Guidance

  • Published: 2013-11-06
  • Corporate Author(s): European Commission
  • Subject: application of EU law, building, building insulation, central government, energy consumption, energy efficiency, energy saving, energy use, heating, public building
• Council Recommendation of 9 July 2013 on the National Reform Programme 2013 of Latvia and delivering a Council opinion on the Convergence Programme of Latvia, 2012-2016

  • Published: 2013-07-09
  • Corporate Author(s): Council of the European Union
  • Subject: budget deficit, budgetary equilibrium, building insulation, educational reform, job creation, judicial reform, Latvia, poverty, stability programme, tax reform, trans-European network
• 

  Building active steel skin (BASSE)
  

  The objective of the project was to develop a biomimetic energy harvesting system having the dual function of being the enclosing envelope of the building and the main provider of heating, cooling and hot water requirements for buildings. The system should be suitable for three climatic regions,...

  The objective of the project was to develop a biomimetic energy harvesting system having the dual function of being the enclosing envelope of the building and the main provider of heating, cooling and hot water requirements for buildings. The system should be suitable for three climatic regions, Southern (Spain/Italy), Northern (Sweden) and Temperate Europe (UK) During the first half of the project technology options were evaluated based upon state of the art and a workshop held with industry specialists to gather important stakeholders’ requirements. From these inputs, Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) were developed setting the objectives for further development of the BASSE system. The BASSE system as defined comprises three main elements: A sandwich panel solar collector; A heat pump system including energy storage; A control and management system. A range of concepts were developed relating to each of these subassemblies and for the system as a whole. These were evaluated, using various methods including thermal analysis, against the key performance indicators, the expertise present within the project partners and the consideration of the existing steel sandwich panel manufacturing process. A BASSE system description including the above components was developed for a residential building, to show a real world scenario for the integration of the proposed BASSE system. A prototype of the system was developed, manufactured and installed on the Kubik test facility in Derio, Spain. The installation was used to validate the theoretical models developed to predict the system performance and refine the installation procedures for the system.

  • Published: 2019-05-21
  • Corporate Author(s): Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (European Commission)
  • Personal Author(s): Garay, Roberto ; Perry, Tim ; Lindahl, Michael ; Bertucelli, Luigi ; Francesconi, Guido ; Harper, Colin ; Elguezabal, Peru ; Vairo, Guiseppe ; Holmberg, Ted ; Fuster, Almudena ; Gisbert Rueda, Jorge ; Svensson, Holger ; Toledo, Consuelo ; Simpson, Kevin ; Boudjabeur, Samir ; Rodriguez, Pilar ; Chica, Jose Antonio
  • Subject: building insulation, building materials, building technique, heating, housing, iron and steel industry, physical process, project evaluation, research report, special steels, steel
• Case T-760/17: Judgment of the General Court of 20 March 2019 — Meesenburg Großhandel v EUIPO (Triotherm+) (EU trade mark — Application for EU word mark Triotherm+ — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Right to be heard)

  • Published: 2019-03-20
  • Corporate Author(s): General Court (Court of Justice of the European Union)
  • Subject: architecture, bolt and screw industry, building insulation, building materials, consultancy, EU trade mark, provision of services, registered trademark, trademark law
• REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Progress by Member States in reaching cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements

  • Published: 2016-07-29
  • Corporate Author(s): Directorate-General for Energy (European Commission) ; European Commission
  • Subject: building, building insulation, energy consumption, energy efficiency, energy saving, environmental standard, improvement of housing