Construction and energy efficiency, in search of nearly zero consumption

Too often, changes in the way of working in construction and energy efficiency are not met until some law rewards its application or forces the sector to implement them. In Spain, it can be clearly seen with the Passivhaus standard, which has been widely discussed in the media but whose application does not reach 1% of new construction in the country.

However, in Spain we are about to see a very important change that will affect the desirable union between construction and energy efficiency. It is the obligation that all public buildings be of "nearly zero consumption" before the end of 2018. Two years later, all private buildings must also be.

In this way, the construction sector will be forced to make a change towards sustainability. And that represents a very big challenge for builders, but also a benefit for citizens and society.

Directly and indirectly, it is considered that approximately 40% of what is spent on energy comes from buildings. Therefore, it is necessary to bet on energy efficiency and consume only what is necessary. Now, in the construction sector, it will be mandatory to work on this efficient consumption.

What is "nearly zero consumption" in construction and energy efficiency?

To achieve the goal of "nearly zero consumption", all regulations had to be adapted to this criterion of construction and energy efficiency. The regulations have been modified, but studies conducted by the European Union have detected that this way of building has not been successful. Because it was optional, more than anything, and there was no obligation.

To build a nearly zero energy consumption building, several processes must be considered. The energy demand must be met almost entirely with renewables, and all strategies must be interconnected. These are the main ones:

1. Reduce air conditioning. The first thing to do is to use passive architectural technologies. This will significantly reduce the need for air conditioning in summer and heating in winter. The intention is for the building to be able to adapt to the environment and not be affected by temperature changes. For this, specific materials must be used, insulation layers installed, insulating glass mounted, and much more. The orientation of the building is also important.
2. Less lighting. The consumption of lights represents about one-tenth of total spending, so natural lighting must be a priority. Fire protection systems and sensors that regulate the turning on and off of lights must also be installed.
3. Lower ventilation demand. 30% of a building's energy consumption comes from ventilation. That's why ventilation systems must interact properly. Therefore, compared to traditional methods, double flow ventilation becomes increasingly important to enhance energy efficiency.

This type of improvements, along with others such as ventilation systems installing motors that meet sustainability requirements, will reduce supply needs. Now more than ever, we can say that construction and energy efficiency are the present and no longer just the future.