Implementationof the EPBD in

1. Introduction

In Spain, responsibility for the EnergyPerformance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)lies with the Ministry of Industry, Energyand Tourism, the Ministry of Public Worksand Transport, and regionaladministrations.

Spain began to implement the energycertification of buildings in 2002, thoughdifferent methodologies already existedfor the energy evaluation of newlyconstructed buildings, as did requirementsfor energy efficiency in new buildings.

It was not until 2007 that theLIDER/CALENER tool, the official toolcreated to simulate and evaluate energyefficiency in Spanish buildings, wasproduced. Use of the tool becamecompulsory for practitioners, in order todemonstrate compliance with the Spanishregulations also issued in 2007 (RoyalDecree 47/2007), in response to Directive2002/91/EC.

From 2007‐2012, energy certification inSpain was mandatory only for newbuildings. In 2013 the requirement wasextended to apply to the sale or rental ofexisting buildings (through Royal Decree235/2013).

The Technical Code for Construction(Codigo Technico Edificación) waspublished in 2006. This document set outthe rules and minimum requirements fornew buildings. This included requirementsfor the envelope, the systems ofproduction of cold and heat (heatingsystem regulations), ventilation, etc.

As a supplement to the Technical Code forConstruction 2006, a regulation (Royal

Decree 1027/2007) on heating systems waspublished in 2007. It is known asRegulation of Thermal Installations inBuildings (RITE)[1], and it addresses moretechnical issues related to heating andcooling systems. It not only establishedproduction systems’ energy efficiencyrequirements, but also established theobligation to carry out maintenance andschedule inspections of air conditioning(AC) systems in buildings in Spain.

Since all laws and regulations, namely theTechnical Code for Construction and RITE,must be updated every five years, therewere several publications in 2013. Inparticular, Royal Decree 235/2013 set outthe new procedure for buildingcertification and the RITE (Royal Decree1027/2007) was updated through RoyalDecree 238/2013, with tightening ofenergy efficiency requirements, and thereview of the scope of the maintenancesystem. The Technical Building Code wasupdated through the Order 1635/2013.

2. Current status ofImplementation of the EPBD

I. ENERGY PERFORMANCEREQUIREMENTS

I.i. Progress and current statusThe 2006 publication (Royal Decree314/2006) of the minimum requirementsof energy efficiency for the constructionof new buildings was a milestone becauseuntil then requirements of energyefficiency in building construction hadonly been set by general rules.

AUTHORAitor Domínguez Martín,Instituto parala Diversificacióny Ahorro de laEnergía (IDAE)

NATIONAL WEBSITES www.minetur.gob.es, www.fomento.gob.es, www.idae.es

STATUS IN DECEMBER 2014Spain

[1] RITE – Reglamento de Instalaciones Térmicas de los Edificios

The Technical Code for Construction 2006set out the requirements for heat transferin new buildings, following an analysis ofthe climate conditions in the variousregions of Spain (both for heating andcooling).These requirements thereforedepend on several factors, e.g., theclimatic zone and percentage of glazedarea in the building envelope. The codealso covers structural requirements andlimitations to prevent moisture.Requirements are also applied to theproduction of heating and cooling systemsand lighting, and to the use of RenewableEnergy Sources (RES).

All these parameters have evolved inrecent years, and the requirements havebecome more restrictive, in order toincrease the energy efficiency ofbuildings. In 2013, these parameters werefurther updated following the completionof the cost‐optimal study.

I.ii. Format of nationaltransposition and implementationof existing regulationsThe rules and regulations governingenergy efficiency requirements in Spainare contained in the Technical Code forConstruction, which was last updated byOrder 1635/2013. This document containsall the information necessary to meet theminimum requirements for energyefficiency in new buildings, as well asenergy rehabilitation of existing buildings.

These minimum requirements are relatedto all aspects of the thermal envelope ofthe building, systems of cold and heatproduction (supported by the specific andtechnical document RITE) and renewableenergies, and they have been specificallycalculated following the methodology andcriteria established by the EnergyEfficiency Directive (Directive 2012/27/EU‐ EED).

The methodology used for the preparationof these requirements included ananalysis of the best solutions per type ofconstruction in Spain, and simulateddifferent scenarios of climates, types ofconstruction and production systems usingthe LIDER/CALENER tool, the official toolcreated to simulate and evaluate energyefficiency in Spanish buildings. The toolresults were then used to determinewhich limit values should be used in thenormative documents Technical Code forConstruction and RITE.

LIDER/CALENER is consistent with theestablished methodology and it is based

on the European standards in force at thetime of the creation of the programmes.It includes in its calculations the buildingenvelope, thermal bridges, infiltrations,solar shading, thermal inertia, and hoursof operation, as well as the technicalcharacteristics of the heating and coolingsystems.

The requirements are set in terms of both(non‐renewable) primary energyconsumption and CO2 emissions. Thesevalues are calculated through theLIDER/CALENER tool and are based on thefinal energy consumption and theapplication of specific factors that arepublished officially by the Ministry ofIndustry.

Support guides, energy factors, supportfor the application of the regulations, aswell as other documents of interest arepublished at the website of the Ministry ofIndustry, Energy and Tourism[2].

I.iii. Cost­optimal procedure forsetting energy performancerequirements

The cost‐optimal calculations andcomparison with current and futureenergy performance requirements inSpain were completed in 2013, in order tocomply with the obligations establishedby Directive 2010/31/EU and DelegatedRegulation 244/2012. The calculationswere based on six reference buildings forexisting buildings and ten referencebuildings for new buildings, taking intoaccount the existing building databaseand typical characteristics of buildings inSpain. The calculations also considereddifferent orientations, six climatic zonesand many individual measures defined foreach subcategory of multiple buildingcombinations, in order to find the cost‐optimal values.

The exercise produced the cost‐optimalprimary energy consumption, which setthe minimum requirements for the newTechnical Building Code in 2013. Thecalculated cost‐optimal weighted energydemands were met for all the climaticzones, except for the warmest one (α‐zone, corresponding to the CanaryIslands). In this region, the cost‐optimalmeasures have not been implementedyet. The results for this case indicatedthat in five out of six buildings, theminimum requirement for energydemand for cooling (there is no heatingdemand in climatic zone α) is either lessthan 15 kWh/m2.year, or lower than 15%

[2] www.minetur.gob.es/energia/desarrollo/EficienciaEnergetica/CertificacionEnergetica/Paginas/certificacion.aspx

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of the outcome of the cost‐optimalresults. Thus, it is not justifiable toestablish more demanding minimumenergy performance requirements forexisting buildings located in the warmestclimatic zones. That fact is applied toseveral climatic zones based on theseverity of the climate in summer.

Some conclusions for the new minimumrequirements are as indicated in Tables 1and 2.

I.iv. Action plan for progressiontowards Nearly Zero­EnergyBuildings (NZEBs)

National application of the NZEBdefinition

In Spain, the definition of Nearly Zero‐Energy Building (NZEB) has not yet beenestablished, although work was in progressat the end of 2014. The plan is to set outthe NZEB values alongside the revision ofthe Technical Code for Construction,which will take place in 2016‐2017 and willbecome compulsory in 2018.

Figures and statistics on existing NZEBs

Spain still does not have a definition ofNZEB, therefore it cannot identifybuildings that comply with theserequirements.

I.v. Implementation of the EnergyEfficiency Directive (EED)regarding building renovationand the exemplary role of publicbuildingsSpain has developed and submitted astrategy for the energy efficientrehabilitation of the national buildingstock, which focuses on an analysis of therehabilitation of the building sector inEurope and specifically in Spain[3].

Considering the barriers as well asopportunities for energy rehabilitation inSpain, the strategy has developedmeasures in order to achieve the finalobjectives of energy savings and reducedemissions, based on the following points:

> policy measures;> administrative measures;> measures of finance and operations;> information and communication

measures;> measures to develop business strategies,

specifically focusing on communities ofbuilding owners;

> specific measures to deal with energypoverty.

The goals set for Spain depend on certainscenarios and alternatives. In particular,the building sector has a global goal forthe period from 2014‐2020 that varies,depending on the forecast savings of finalenergy consumption for both residentialand non‐residential buildings, between2.652 ktep and 7.087 ktep.

The Ministry of Finance and PublicAdministration is responsible forupholding the exemplary role of thepublic administration. The Spanishnational institute for the diversificationand saving of energy (IDAE) has preparedan inventory of the buildings that will beaffected, the total number of which is2,184 (as of June 2015). The strategy forthe renovations takes into account thepotential savings based on the measuresrecommended on the Energy PerformanceCertificate (EPC).

The Ministry also intends to amend thelegislation of public sector contracts toapply Article 6 of the EED in such a waythat the central administration onlypurchases products, services and buildingsthat have high energy efficiency. Thiswould also depend on profitability,economic viability, sustainability in abroader sense, and technicalconsiderations, as well as sufficientcompetition, ensuring the multiple optionsthat consider the best technologies.

Table 1:Comparison ofThermalTransmittance (TT)of windows onexisting buildings(W/m2.K)*.

[3] ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/2014_article4_es_spain.pdf

Table 2:Comparison of Thermal Transmittance (TT)of side walls on existing buildings (W/m2.K)*.

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II. REQUIREMENTS FORTECHNICAL BUILDINGSYSTEMS (TBS)

II.i. Coverage of heating,domestic hot water, air­conditioning and large ventilationsystemsIn Spain the regulation of buildings’technical requirements is included in theregulation of thermal facilities as part ofthe Royal Decree 238/2013.

This regulation is applied to fixedinstallations (e.g., lighting), Heating,Ventilation and Air‐Conditioning systems(HVAC), and production of Domestic HotWater (DHW), and is designed to meet therequirements for thermal comfort andindoor air quality. The requirements apply:

> to new buildings or renovations ofexisting buildings;

> to elements of existing buildings thatare undergoing renovation (only therelevant parts).

II.ii. Regulation of systemperformance, distinct fromproduct or whole buildingperformanceThe regulation of energy efficiency ofTechnical Building Systems (TBS) in Spainsets requirements depending on the typeof system. In the case of heat production,RITE regulates HVAC systems, as well aspumps, fans, etc.

As an example, the regulation of heatproduction systems is developed using anapproach based on performance orobjectives, laying out the requirementsthat must be met by the systems, butwithout imposing the use of a particulartechnical solution, or preventing the

introduction of new technologies andconcepts, in terms of design (Table 3).

In this sense, rather than regulate theoverall system, the regulations set limitson energy performance and energy lossesin distribution. In the latest update to thisregulation (Royal Decree 238/2013), thefollowing changes were made:

> increase in requirements for thermalinsulation of pipes, equipment,accessories and ducts;

> global distribution losses are limited to4% of the maximum carrying capacity ofthe pipework or ductwork used;

> development of two procedures(simplified or alternative procedure) forthe calculation of the thickness ofthermal insulation, according to thenominal thermal power of generation ofcold or heat installed.

For fans, the Specific Fan Power (SPF) isregulated, according to the powerabsorbed by the motor divided by thetransported fluid flow rate (Table 4).

Lighting is regulated in a specific section ofthe Technical Building Code. In this case, aminimum lighting efficiency is required andthe maximum power installed is limited.

The efficiency indicator is called “VEEI”[4]

and is a function of the power, the area,and the medium illuminance in the room.As an example, an office lighting system hasto meet the requirements set in Table 5.

II.iii. Applicability to new,replacement and upgradedsystems in existing buildingsIn Spain any requirements concerning theenergy efficiency of installations affectboth new installations and parts that havebeen replaced during the renovation ofexisting systems.

Table 3:Minimum

performancerequirements for

boilers according toRoyal Decree

238/2013.

Table 4:Specific Fan Power.

Table 5:Lighting efficiency indicator and maximum allowed

installed power for office lighting systems.

[4] VEEI = P * 100 /(S*Em) ­ Lighting efficiency indicator, where P is power installed (W), S is surface (m2) and Em ismedium illuminance

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In the case of a facility or building that isbeing renovated over more than 25% of itsfloor area, the requirements shall applyunder the following conditions:

> incorporation of new subsystems ofclimate control, or modification ofexisting ones;

> incorporation of new systems of DHWproduction, or modification of existingones;

> replacement or expansion of theequipment generating heating or cooling;

> change of type of energy used and theincorporation of renewable energy;

> change in the use of the building.In all these cases, the refurbished systemmust meet the requirements set in theRITE, both in terms of performance andmaximum allowable losses. Theserequirements apply to both the entiresystem, and to each partial section.

In the case of a simple generator exchange,the system must still comply with theperformance requirements, but it does notqualify as a refurbishment project.

II.iv. Provisions for installation,dimensioning, adjustment andcontrolThe installation of thermal conditioningsystems in Spanish buildings must includea technical report, which details allinformation concerning the dimensioningand control of the installation. The reportmust also include an analysis of thealternatives to the selected system (e.g.,other technologies, connection to districtheating and/or cooling, etc.).

This analysis applies only to largeinstallations of more than 70 kW.

All new facilities must comply with therequirements of energy input from RES,according to the Technical Code forConstruction. Among the requirements,the Code requires a study of the bestalternatives to cover all the energydemand for buildings using RES, wherevertechnically and economically reasonable.In particular, for large installations thatrequire more than 70 kW heating and/orcooling power installed and with a usefulfloor area over 1,000 m2, the designersshould consider the implementation ofRES with special attention to the use ofbiomass, as well as heat pumps to providefor 100% of the building’s heating needs.

The Spanish legislation also differentiatesthe scope of the analysis of dimensioningand control according to the power needsand the floor area of the building,including all the sizing, buildingmanagement systems or controls, and the

analysis of alternatives. For large systemsthere are additional requirements,including more complex control systems,maintenance, etc. The air quality systemis controlled by sensors that measure CO2or Volatile Organic Compounds.

II.v. Encouragement of intelligentmeteringMetering of consumption, especially thoseaspects related to energy, is included inSpanish legislation, which allows forflexibility in the use of different meteringsystems.

The Spanish government has taken actionin two directions:

> On the one hand, regulations such asthe Royal Decree 1110/2007 regulateand promote the introduction of smartmetering in the residential market (forelectricity consumption). Thisregulation calls for the replacement ofthe current analogue meters withintelligent or smart meters that can beintegrated into a remote managementand measurement system implementedby the electricity companies.

> On the other hand, promotion of the useof intelligent or smart meters has beenundertaken in the form of publications,e.g., guides published by IDAE.

For measurement of thermalconsumption, all buildings must have fuelcounters, as well as energy counters inthe heating and cooling networks. Newhouses belonging to a block and withcentralised heating and AC systems musthave individual counters for each house.

Spain is preparing the publication of a RoyalDecree which will regulate thermalconsumption metering according to the EEDand accounting for thermal consumption incentralised heating systems, wherebyidentifying intelligent measurement systemsas the ideal for this type of metering.

Figure 1:Spanish guides forsmart consumptionmetering.

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II.vi. Encouragement of activeenergy saving control(automation, control andmonitoring)

In line with the development ofconsumption metering systems, work isalso being done to promote theintegration of intelligent meteringsystems. All national regulations (updatedin 2013) allow for flexibility in theincorporation of this type of technologies.

The calculation methodology for energycertification accounts for the use ofcontrol systems for lighting in non‐residential buildings. The certificationmethodology includes these requirements.

Additionally, the government has alsopublished guides relating to thesesystems. Specifically, IDAE has produced aguide titled "How to save energy byinstalling automation systems in yourhome", which informs and promotes theinstallation of such energy savingequipment.

Also the “Practical Guide to EnergyEfficient and Responsible Consumption”,published in 2007 by the IDAE, containsrelated information. The guide includescontact information of professionals andbusinesses that can implement thesesystems in houses, as well as an exampleof improved installations, which includeAC, lighting and zoning controls, and canachieve savings of up to 17% on heating,and 80% on lighting.

III. ENERGY PERFORMANCECERTIFICATES (EPCs)REQUIREMENTS

III.i. Progress and current statuson sale or rental of buildings

Overview and administration system

The mechanism established in Spain forthe implementation of the EPC forbuildings includes the establishment of anational (instead of a regional) obligationthat describes which buildings must havethe certificate, which are exempt, andwhere they need to be registered.

Once carried out by qualified experts, EPCsmust be registered in the respective region,through its registration office, which in turnwill undertake the necessary controls toensure the required level of quality.

Regional registries feed their owndatabases, and periodically (every6 months) send the information to thecentral administration, where all theinformation is being automaticallycentralised at the national level. All theinformation is used to generate statisticsthat are publicly available on the officialweb site of the Ministry of Industry, butthe databases themselves are not public.

How flats are certified in apartmentbuildings

Certification can be either for a wholebuilding, or for part of it. In the firstcase, if the heating and cooling systemsare common, certification is directlyapplied for the entire building. In the caseof individual installations, qualifiedexperts can simplify the EPC using thecharacteristics of similar apartments inthe same building.

Additionally, it is possible to certify onlyone apartment in a building. In this case,the features of the external envelope andthe real areas will be used. For anindividual apartment with its own ACsystem, the EPC is based on its specificcharacteristics. If the building has acentralised AC system, the EPC uses thecharacteristics of the centralised systemswith a power in proportion to the overallarea of the conditioned spaces.

Format and content of the EPC

EPCs in Spain contain informationconcerning the location of the building,information about the competenttechnician, building features asdimensions, transmittance, installedpower, etc., partial and global energyindicators, and finally the values ofindicators with proposed energy efficiencyimprovements.

Figure 2:Spanish guide for

automation systemsin residential

buildings

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EPC activity levels

Table 6 shows the number of EPCs byregion, for both new and existing buildings.

Typical EPC costs

The cost of EPCs in Spain derives from thefree market and is very variable. Because ofthe need to certify public buildings, theMinistry of Finance and Public Administrationhas recommended rates for the issue ofEPCs (average values in Table 7). These feesare based on estimates of the work to be

carried out and are representative for othernon‐residential buildings.

Assessor corps

The qualifications required for thecertification of experts are laid out in theRoyal Decree 235/2013. A degree inarchitecture or engineering is required inorder to obtain the qualification toinspect both residential and non‐residential buildings. Private entities canalso be registered, provided that theyhave the necessary qualified workers. Therequirements are explained in a simplifieddocument available from the website ofthe Ministry of Industry, Energy andTourism[5].

Although there is no specific exam orcourse, assessors must have the necessaryknowledge of the procedures andmethodology to produce EPCs.

Table 6:Number of EPCsissued in Spain(2014).

Table 7:Average price paid toobtain an EPC,published by theMinistry of Finance.

Figure 3:Spanish EPC cover page and label.

[5] www.minetur.gob.es/energia/desarrollo/EficienciaEnergetica/CertificacionEnergetica/Normativa/Documents/Respuestas_a_preguntas_frecuentes_CEE_18_11_13.pdf

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Compliance levels by sector

In Spain, there is no centralised analysisof the EPC data by building type. This isbecause the information that is recordedand then entered into the certificationdatabase does not contain dataconcerning the type of building.

The database is currently being expandedto allow for some additional features. From2015 onwards, it will be possible to beginto register and include more parameters ofeach certified building. Among these are:type of building, insulation levels,generation systems, energy performancecharacteristics of systems, etc.

Enforcement with building owners andreal estate actor

The Royal Decree 235/2013 establishesthe obligation for building owners toprovide information on the buildings’energy efficiency before any sale or rentalagreement is signed.

The role of the regions, as well asnotaries, is to ensure compliance with therequirements. Spain has publishedpenalties for non‐compliance, throughLaw 8/2013 of 26 June 2013 on urbanrehabilitation, regeneration and renewal.By the end of 2014, it had alreadybrought‐in more than 200 fines.

Quality Assurance (QA) of EPCs

The control system, the number of EPCsinspected, the percentage of inspectionsof EPCs, and the procedures are differentfor each region. As a minimum, adocumentary control is undertaken for100% of the records.

Control of EPCs is carried out first of allby taking into account the percentages ofthe different ratings (A, B, C, etc.) in theEPCs and in each autonomous community,and tracking advertising for the sale orrental of buildings.

According to the different regions,(autonomous communities CCAA),different control types are applied:

> visual control of 100% of thecertificates: every EPC is visuallychecked to ensure that it is complete;

> detailed control of the EPC: analysis andreview of the digital file with data forthe energy rating calculation, on‐sitevisit to the building, and, if applicable,recalculation and recertification;

> external control prior to the registrationof the EPC. The developer mustdelegate technical control to anauthorised agent who must verify thebuilding data used to issue thecertificate. It is also the work of theseagents to fully verify the results

contained in the EPC. To implement thisoption, the process requires that• the external agents produce a global

quality control plan to cover thewhole construction process;

• at the end of construction, they makea detailed check of the EPC to ensurethat it corresponds precisely to whathas been built.

According to data available in July 2014,the quality control system has carried outcontrol (over a total of 567,000 EPCs inSpain) as follows:

> 560,000 visual controls;> 5,000 detailed controls;> 2,000 external controls.These figures indicate that 100% of the EPCshave been checked, and about 1% subjectedto detailed quality control procedures.Additionally, there are two autonomousregions that, in addition to the EPC, requirethe presentation of a document ofcompliance from an accredited controlentity that they use as quality control.

III.ii. Progress and current statuson public and large buildingsvisited by the publicThe certification and display of EPCs forpublic buildings and large buildings visitedby the public is still under development atthe end of 2014.

III.iii. Implementation ofmandatory advertisingrequirementThe obligation to announce any sale orrental of buildings with an energyefficiency label has been regulated inSpain since 2013.

The entry into force of the obligation topublish the EPC coincided with theobligation to certify buildings for sale orrent. As a result, it is not possible todetermine the effect of the obligation topublish the results on the number of EPCsin Spain.

The specific obligation to publish theresults is linked to the type of advertising.For example, in the case of advertising innewspapers or magazines, it is notnecessary to incorporate the completeEPC label, but to show only theinformation concerning the rating of theproperty in terms of CO2 emissions andprimary energy consumption, bothnumerically and with the letter thatcorresponds to the rating scale.

The reality in Spain is that in many casesthe information displayed states 'underdevelopment', which implies that the EPCissue has been contracted but has not yetbeen completed.

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III.iv. Information campaignsIn Spain, information campaigns forcitizens, as well as for different agentsinvolved, have been developed by IDAE,including a campaign of education andinformation, with activities in variousfields including:

> presentations and workshops in thevarious regions and at professionalassociations;

> guides, manuals and explanatorydocuments on the requirements,mechanisms and obligations for theenergy certification of buildings;

> online training courses, specifically forcitizens, and other courses for managersand real estate agents.

These activities are complemented byadditional dissemination activities in eachof the regions (e.g., websites, workshops,media communication, etc.).

All these campaigns have been developedsince 2012 and many of them are still on‐going. Both documents and coursesremain active and are updated whenchanges are introduced.

III.v. Coverage of the nationalbuilding stockΑnalysis of the Spanish building stockindicates that there are approximately19 million certifiable homes in Spain,counting primary homes, plus secondaryhousing that is used more than 4 monthseach year.

The regional distribution of certificates isshown in Table 8.

For existing buildings, the percentage ofEPCs per region is indicated in Figure 7.

It is predicted that the number of EPCswill increase sharply in the coming years,until the market is regularised, sincemany buildings were already either forsale or rent before the Royal Decree235/2013 entered into force, and so stilldo not have a valid EPC.

Figure 4:Spanish education and information campaign.

Figure 5:Online training.

Figure 6:‘Information andfrequently askedquestions for energycertification ofbuildings’ (April2013).

Table 8.EPC coverage perregion (2014).

Figure 7:EPC coverage for existing buildings per region.

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IV. INSPECTIONREQUIREMENTS – HEATINGAND AIR­CONDITIONING (AC)SYSTEMS

Spain has applied the inspection option inresponse to Articles 14 and 15 of theEPBD. This was initially done in 2007 (forArticle 8 of Directive 2002/91/EC) andupdated in 2013 by the Regulation of theThermal Systems of Buildings (RoyalDecree 238/2013).

This document contains theimplementation of a schedule ofinspections to verify the correct operationof the facilities and to produce a reportwith advice on ways to improve energyperformance.

The responsibility to undertake theinspections lies with the regions.

IV.i. Progress and current statuson heating systems

Overview, technical method andadministration system

Heat generation systems that use boilersmust be inspected in Spain if the power isover 20 kW, and then the inspection shallinclude:

> analysis and evaluation ofperformance;

> the official record of maintenanceinspection;

> inspection of the solar powerinstallation, if any, and inclusion of theevaluation of the minimum solarcontribution to the production of DHWand solar heating.

It is also necessary to inspect thecomplete heat generation system,especially when the heating or coolingsystem is more than fifteen years old, andthe inspection includes, at a minimum,the following:

> inspection of the entire system (not justthe boiler);

> analysis of the official record ofmaintenance inspection;

> production of a report in order to advisethe owner, proposing improvements ormodifications to the installation, toimprove its energy efficiency andconsider incorporating solar energy.

In the latter case, the technical measureswill be justified on the basis of theirenergy, environmental and economicprofitability, supported by a cost‐effectiveness calculation.

These inspections are carried out every 2‐4 years, according to the region.

Arrangements for assurance, registrationand promotion of competent persons

The responsibility for the registration ofthe inspectors lies with each region. Theregions are in charge of ensuring thequality of the inspection and theregistration of the inspection report. Inthe 10 years since the implementation ofinspections, the regions have developeddifferent systems and mechanisms tocarry out this work.

Most regions use the existinginfrastructure of inspections carried outby maintenance companies (e.g.,industrial safety), which undertakegeneral maintenance activities that caninclude this type of inspection.

Promotional activities

Different regions have launchedinformation campaigns concerninginspections of buildings’ heating systems.

Enforcement and penalties (activity leveland statistics on penalties already levied)

There is currently no informationavailable on enforcement and penalties.

Quality control of inspection reports

Every region performs an individualcontrol of every registered inspectionreport.

Inspection activity figures

Inspections are carried out by competenttechnicians who, according to the heatingsystems’ regulation, have passed a trainingtest and hold a professional license thatenables them to undertake such work.

The inspector must possess fourqualifications, obtained throughindependent tests: installer of centralheating and sanitary hot water systems,installer of AC systems, maintainer ofheating and DHW systems, and maintainerof AC systems. If someone holds only oneof these, there should be a supplementarytraining course, taught by an accreditedentity.

Figure 8.Madrid information

campaign oninspections.

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Costs and benefits

The cost of inspection ranges between50 € and 120 € depending on what type ofinstallation is being inspected. Thebenefit to be gained of the inspectiondepends on what type of corrections arerequired, and on the type of installation.

IV.ii. Progress and current statuson AC systemsThere is an obligation to regularly inspectcool generators of rated thermal inputgreater than 12 kW, and the inspectionincludes:

> analysis and evaluation of performance;> the official report of maintenance

inspection;> inspection of the solar power

installation, if any, and inclusion of theassessment of the contribution of thesolar cooling system.

3. A success story in EPBDimplementation

One of the main success stories of theimplementation of the EPBD in Spain hasbeen the development andimplementation of programmes aimed atenergy savings in buildings. One of them isthe “PAREER” programme[6], describedbelow.

In 2013, work began on the developmentof a grant‐financing scheme for buildingrenovation in Spain. The programmeconcentrated on the areas that requiredsubstantial effort from the publicadministration in order to save energy,and focused on residential buildings, thuspromoting the rehabilitation of theSpanish building stock.

This programme facilitates and promotes(since its implementation in 2013) theenergy rehabilitation of buildings withenergy‐saving measures based on theEPBD calculation methodology and theapplication of cost‐optimal criteria.

The main criterion for eligibility is thebuilding’s EPC, and application of theenergy performance recommendationsappearing on the certificate. It isnecessary to demonstrate that, after therenovations, the EPC rating will increaseat least one level.

The basic operation of the scheme, which ispromoted by the Ministry of Industry,Energy and Tourism, and implemented bythe Institute for the Diversification andSaving of Energy (IDAE), funds up to 90% of

work and renovations on heating and air‐conditioning (AC) systems and on thethermal envelope of the building, to reducethe energy demand. Between 20% and 30%of the support (only for the thermalenvelope renovation costs) is under theform of a grant, in order to reduce thepayback period of the investment. The restmust be reimbursed by the building ownerswithin a maximum of 12 years.

This programme is endowed with 125 M€and currently holds over 450 records, witheligible costs above 50 M€ for therehabilitation of such projects.

Activities included in this area are asfollows:

> Type I: Thermal envelope> Type II: Heating and lighting> Type III: Biomass> Type IV: Geothermal energy.

Figure 9:A successful energyrehabilitationprogramme forbuildings in Spain.

Figure 10:Projects submittedunder the PAREERProgramme.

[6] www.idae.es/index.php/id.858/relmenu.409/mod.pags/mem.detalle

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In all of these areas, the main criterionfor eligibility is the implementation of theEPC recommendations, resulting on theimprovement of at least one letter in theenergy rating scale of the EPC.

This programme can be considered asuccess in the implementation of theEPBD, as it actively promotes progresstowards high quality EPCs, the inclusion ofspecific measures for improvement laidout for each building, and theimprovements are undertaken followingthe cost‐optimal calculations done inaccordance with the official methodology.

It also promotes energy rehabilitation forbuildings that need it most, due to theneed to improve the energy rating by atleast one level to bring performance inline with cost‐optimal.

Additionally, the programme creates aculture of cooperation between professionalsin the building sector, citizens, and realestate agents, and improves the network ofcompanies dedicated to improving energyefficiency, and forces them to applyobjective criteria of energy efficiency to thework they carry out.

Finally the programme has brought socialbenefits as, in addition to improving thecomfort and economy of families andreducing their energy bills, it alsogenerates jobs, something needed in acountry with much skilled labour in theconstruction and renovation of buildings.

4. Conclusions, future plans

The recent work on the development ofregulations related to energy savingdirectives must be revised and updated inthe near future.

Most of the actions derived from Directives2002/91/EC and 2010/31/EU, have alreadybeen implemented. However, based on theexperience acquired in the past twelveyears (both nationally and from otherMember States through the ConcertedAction EPBD), there are still many areas forimprovement.

In the coming years, Spain will addresscertain key actions for achieving theenergy saving and emissions reducinggoals by 2020, and lay the groundwork tosecure the objectives by 2030.

First is the definition and implementationof Nearly Zero‐Energy Buildings (NZEBs).This is still work in progress, becauseSpain will reach these standards through agradual approach. The latest milestone isin 2016‐2017, when the rules forconstructing new buildings will be draftedand enforced. The contribution ofRenewable Energy Sources (RES) to NZEBshas yet to be defined, in particularregarding the minimum values to beapplied.

There will also be a review of theregulations for heating systems. This willinclude tighter requirements in terms ofenergy efficiency (for both the generatorand the complete system) in order toencourage those systems that couldachieve better performance and lowerconsumption. All types of solutions will beconsidered: individual generators,heating/cooling networks, cogeneration,integration of RES, etc. The regulationswill also include additional requirementsfor maintenance, control and inspection.

Also worth mentioning is the hard workthat remains in order to extend andimprove the energy certification ofbuildings process, bringing thepercentage of certified buildings to 100%as soon as possible, while still ensuringquality. This will require (in addition toimproving the work of the regions) morepublication, communication andawareness‐raising campaigns, as well astraining for citizens, estate agents, andbuilding administrators, withoutforgetting the key role of technicalcertifiers.

At this point, it is also important to adaptthe methodology for calculation, using thenew rules that will better coordinatemethodologies for all MSs in the comingyears, through CEN standards that arebeing revised.

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The sole responsibility for the content of this report lies with the authors. It does notnecessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EASME nor theEuropean Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the informationcontained therein.

The content of this report is included in the book “2016 – Implementing the EnergyPerformance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) Featuring Country Reports”,ISBN 978‐972‐8646‐32‐5, © ADENE 2015

More details on the IEE Programme can be found atec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent

This individual report and the full 2016 book are available atwww.epbd‐ca.eu and www.buildup.eu

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