GREENBUILDING
Improved Energy Efficiency for
Non-Residential Buildings
main content
Welcome
In 2004, the European Commission initiated the GreenBuilding Programme (GBP). This programme aims at improving the energy efficiency and expanding the integration of renewable energies in non-residential buildings in Europe on a voluntary basis. The programme addresses owners of non-residential buildings to realise cost-effective measures which enhance the energy efficiency of their buildings in one or more technical disciplines.
In a pilot phase in the years 2005-2006, the GreenBuilding infrastructure was set up in ten European countries. In each participating country so called National Contact Points weres established for aiding organisations, which consider a participation in the GreenBuilding Projekt. The successful work is now being continued in a 2nd phase - called GreenBuildinPlus - that started December 2007. The GreenBuilding project is supported by the European Commission’s Intelligent Energy Europe Programme.
On this central project website, information will be updated and amanded continuously. Furthermore, you will find links to the websites of the ten National Contact Points and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC).
GreenBuilding Information leaflet
What is the GreenBuilding Programme about? How can I participate?
Answers to these questions provides the short GreenBuilding information leaflet, that can be downloaded.
GreenBuilding information leaflet
Information about the GreenBuilding Partner and GreenBuilding Endorser Status can be found in our so-called "Highlights":
IMPORTANT: Guidelines have changed
May 2009, The GreenBuilding Partner Guidelines had to be updated. In collaboration with the GreenBuilding Programme Manager at the EU Commission’s Joint Research Center – Paolo Bertoldi – the guidelines were updated in March.
They are available now as download and on the national websites.
New Guidelines
The updated guidelines apply for all new applications. The most important changes were:
- Rules to gain Corporate Partner Status have been redefined.
- Only the energy reduction of a whole building (DHW, heating and electricity) count for an GreenBuilding Partner Status – not the reduction for a single system.
- The partner status does not end after three years anymore.
Applicants with highly efficient buildings (70% energy reduction for a refurbishment or primary energy demand 50% below national standard for new buildings) cannot gain a GreenBuilding Certification for the building itself anymore – only the GreenBuilding Partner Status for the company possible.
Fastighets AB Brostaden is Europé’s first GreenBuilding Corporate Partner
Stockholm, May 2009
NCC Property Development, first property developer in Europe to become GreenBuilding partner at corporate level
NCC Property Development, as the first European property developer, has been approved as a GreenBuilding partner at corporate level. This entails that nearly 75 percent of the company’s projects must comply with GreenBuilding criteria.
“We were committed to GreenBuilding from an early stage and the first NCC project to be approved was Kaggen in Malmö. In May 2009 a total of six NCC projects in the Nordic region have been approved as GreenBuildings, of which three are completed. One of them is the first retail property to comply with GreenBuilding requirements in the Nordic region – Coop in Kungsbacka,” says Jonny Hellman, Environmental Manager at NCC Property Development.
Buildings and infrastructure affect the environment, both during the construction process and during the operating period. NCC’s clear objective is to accept responsibility for reducing that impact. The environment and energy are in focus within the company.
“Environmental and climate issues are becoming increasingly important and demand for energy-efficient properties will increase. Becoming a corporate partner in GreenBuilding is in line with our strategy, whose aim is that all NCC’s office properties shall comply with GreenBuilding criteria,” continues Jonny Hellman.
The EU’s goal is to reduce energy consumption and, accordingly, carbon-dioxide emissions, which is why GreenBuilding was launched. GreenBuilding criteria say that the energy consumption of new buildings must be at least 25 percent below the requirement set for energy consumption.
In Sweden, commercial properties are being classified by the Swedish Property Federation in consultation with the EU. Follow ups of NCC’s properties classed as GreenBuildings show that they comfortably meet the requirements.
Prison becomes GreenBuilding Partner
Germany: May 2009, The buildings of JVA Schwalmstadt (Schwalmstadt Prison) were built in several stages between the 12th century and 1986 and have a gross floor area of 27,468qm. JVA Schwalmstadt is a closed institution of the highest security level with an affiliated closed section of a lower security level. At present, approx. 300 prisoners are imprisoned at the JVA. The main institution is located in the count’s of Hessen-Kassel former hunting lodge and the subsequent annex building.
Lately large refurbishments in the heating, cooling, electricity, automation and energy controlling sections were performed. The energy partner is the YIT Germany GmbH, a leading European service company for building services engineering as well as construction and industry services.
The energy modernisation of the JVA Schwalmstadt reduced the primary energy consumption by approx. 60% and the annual carbon dioxide emission decreased by approx. 1,000 tons. The focus of the modernisation was the renewal of the heating facilities. The previous two natural gas boilers and the natural gas heat pump were replaced by a new 1200 KW natural gas-fired low temperature boiler and a natural 700KW gas-fired condensing boiler. In addition, in order to generate heat and electricity, a natural gas block heat and power plant with 238kWel and 363 kWth were installed.
Key Messages for Technical Modules online
The Technical Modules that should be considered for a GreenBuilding Partner Application are now available as Key Messages giving potential GB Partners a short introduction to various possiblities for improving a building's energy efficiency.
More information
Newsletter Subscription
You may subscribe to the electronic GreenBuilding Newsletter with the following link: