Shaping the Energy Efficiency in New Buildings - Building Energy ...

3.2 Size Threshold for Compliance in New BuildingsKey Findings APP countries have different size thresholds for compliance with building energycodes. This difference can result in important discrepancies in the energyefficiency of buildings that do not need to comply. The codes in China and India cover only large buildings. South Korea has minimum mandatory insulation requirements for all buildingsand the BDCES provides additional requirements for large-scale buildings. Japan has recently lowered the compliance threshold for commercial buildingsfrom 2,000 to 300 square meters Australia, Canada and the United States do not have a minimum size threshold forany type of conditioned building, although large residential buildings areregulated under the “commercial” code.Countries maintain different size thresholds for buildings covered by their buildingenergy codes. Australia, Canada and the United States have many single-family homes,and these countries typically have different sets of requirements for small residential andother buildings. In these cases, there may not be a minimum requirement; however, if aresidential building is large, it may fall under the “commercial” or “building” code. Indiahas a single code for large buildings. China has separate requirements for residential andother types of buildings, but both sets of requirements cover only large buildings. Japanhas two separate codes – much like Australia, Canada and the United States – but it onlyregulates non-residential buildings of more than 300 square meters (it recently loweredthis threshold from 2,000 square meters. Its residential code covers all residentialbuildings, and the difference of size is handled through envelope calculations that factorin the number of stories. Table 8 summarizes the compliance thresholds in the APPcountries.Table 8 Minimum Size of Buildings Regulated by Building Energy CodeResidentialOther BuildingsAUS No minimum No minimumCAN No minimum No minimumCHN Large buildings, but code hasno specific definitionLarge buildings, but code has no specificdefinitionIND Approximately 1,000 m 2 Approximately 1,000 m 2JAP No minimum 300 m 2KOR 50 households in building(BDCES)Minimum insulation for allbuildings (RBFCO)Depends on type: ex. offices, education andresearch: 3,000 m 2 , hotels/motels 2,000 m 2(BDCES)Minimum insulation for all buildings (RBFCO)USA No minimum No minimum33