energy strategy 2050 - Energy Europe

Initiatives in the strategy
Background
The government will
Efficiency improvements in
households and in buildings
Buildings have long life spans; up to 100 years or more.
In addition, buildings are typically only renovated at 30-
40 year intervals, and perhaps only once before 2050.
Therefore, it is vital to choose future-proof solutions
when constructing new buildings and when renovating
old ones, so as to realise the full potential for savings.
Denmark currently has some of the strictest standards
for the energy performance of new buildings, and the
government has agreed to tighten these standards by
at least 75% no later than 2020. The government has
moreover stepped up preparation of a voluntary ‘low
energy rating 2020’, expected to be announced in spring
2011 However, new buildings on a yearly basis only account
for 1% of the total existing building stock. Accordingly,
increased efforts will be directed towards existing
buildings.
Existing technologies and solutions provide great opportunities
to reduce the energy consumption of existing
buildings through improved insulation, replacement of
inefficient windows etc. If the improvements are implemented
in connection with ongoing maintenance, heating
consumption in existing buildings can be reduced
by approximately 50% of consumption levels today at a
reasonable cost. Realising these opportunities calls for a
combination of ambitious standards which must be met
in connection with renovation, replacement, etc. and assistance
to carry out these projects.
Along with a reduction in energy consumption in buildings,
the buildings which today are heated by oil and
natural gas must undergo a fuel shift. This conversion
should take place when existing heating installations
wear out. In densely populated areas, district heating
may be expanded, but for a large number of existing oil
and gas furnaces, a heat pump, possibly in combination
with solar heating, will however be the most cost-effective
alternative.
• Target the saving obligations of energy companies
towards renovation of buildings and conversion of oil
and natural gas heating. Obligations will moreover be
increased by 50% from 2013 and by 75% in 2017-
2020. Efforts will be financed via net tariffs
• Future-proof the minimum efficiency standards for
building components (windows, insulation etc.) which
have to be met when renovating buildings, relative
to future challenges and expected energy prices.
Whether new components are to be included will be
examined. The standards will be determined by taking
into account the financial situation of home owners,
a healthy indoor climate and freedom of architectural
expression. Initiatives which can ensure greater
compliance with the standards will be considered
• Convert heating by oil, and eventually also natural
gas heating, to district heating, heat pumps and
other renewable forms of energy. This will be through:
• a ban on installing oil furnaces in existing buildings
from 2017, and a ban on installing oil and
natural gas furnaces in new buildings from 2012.
Derogations may be allowed in cases where no
suitable alternatives are available
• market-promotion of initiatives for energy-efficient
heat pumps and solar heating, including labelling
schemes, certification schemes, package solutions
and ESCO models
• rules on compensation for gas companies
converting from individual natural gas to district
heating
• a model and timetable for the phase-out of
natural gas furnaces, taking account of the need
for gas for production purposes in industry and
potentials for utilising biogas
• Incorporate a ‘low-energy rating 2020’ in the building
regulations with a view to promoting the establishment
of new buildings with very low energy consumption.
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Energy Strategy 2050 – from coal, oil and gas to green energy.