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

certifying third-party verifiers or inspectors. The United States and Australia might findSouth Korea’s approach of providing incentives for exceeding the minimum standards ina structured, integrated way to be innovative. Some APP countries might find interestinginsights from the specific requirements that have proven feasible in Australia or Japan,for example. These are just a few examples of how countries might benefit by observingwhat has worked elsewhere.5 ConclusionsAPP countries have all indicated a strong interest in improving building energy efficiency.Each APP country has one or more building energy codes. The codes have become morestringent and complex over time. The codes cover a range of issues that affect buildingenergy use. The insulating properties of the building envelope (the walls, roof, windows,etc.) make up the majority of the requirements in most countries. The codes in mostcountries also promote the efficiency of HVAC, hot water supply, and lighting systems.Many countries also include certain site-specific renewable energy options as alternativesto other requirements (for example, solar water heating).Codes in all countries provide some degree of flexibility. There are several approaches:trade-off options for building envelope requirements, scored point systems for the rangeof requirements and whole building energy performance compliance paths. Thisflexibility enables the codes to be more stringent while still allowing for a wide range inbuilding types.APP countries have taken many different approaches to implementing their codes. MostAPP countries require the review of building designs for compliance with the buildingenergy code and inspection of actual construction to ensure that it matches the design.Some countries have local building code officials conduct the reviews and inspections,while others may rely primarily on certified third-party reviewers and inspectors.Countries use both carrots and sticks to increase compliance rates. Carrots include freetraining and compliance software as well as incentives for buildings that exceed the coderequirements such as low-interest financing and relaxation of certain zoning requirements.To discourage non-compliance, some countries refuse to permit occupancy until codesare met or give fines. APP countries have also developed a range of tools to help buildingdesigners and builders comply with codes.Energy use in buildings accounts for approximately one-third of the total energy use inAPP countries. APP countries will likely account for the overwhelming majority ofprojected new construction worldwide between now and 2020. China alone will accountfor half of new global construction. Buildings in APP countries last an average of 20 to50 years, and it is much easier to change the energy footprint of a building when it is builtthan to retrofit it later. Hence, buildings constructed in APP countries in the next decadeswill have a major impact on global energy consumption trends through much of theremaining century. Building energy codes provide an effective and important tool inpromoting energy efficiency in new construction, which in turn can help APP countriesmeet their environmental and energy security goals.68