Comparing energy efficiency labelling systems in the EU and Brazil: Implications, challenges, barriers and opportunities

Abstract

In the last 30 years, voluntary and mandatory environmental or energy certification schemes have been introduced in the building sector in most developed countries. During the last decade, in Brazil, the document Energy Efficiency Rating Technical Quality Regulations for Commercial, Service and Public Buildings (RTQ-C) was introduced to classify buildings according to their energy efficiency level. This paper aims to assess how Brazilian RTQ-C could learn from the European Union (EU)'s experience of implementing the Directive 2010/31/EU. The implementation of the RTQ-C in Brazil has been examined and compared with the EU's Directive. Technical, economic and social issues as well as barriers and challenges behind the initial stage of the Directive 2010/31/EU implementation were examined. The difficulties and weaknesses of the calculation methodology, scope and labelling of the Brazilian RTQ-C regulations, and potential areas that require further research have been identified and summarised. In order to increase the impact of RTQ-C regulations, improvements to the existing calculation methodology and tools, provision of numerous supporting measures, such as an increase in training, education, public awareness and incentives, and enforcement through building regulations or standards are essential. The valuable experience from the EU's implementation of the Directive could be used to guide the development of energy policies and certification regulations in Brazil.

A Comparison of Energy Efficiency Certification in Housing: A Study of the Chilean and Spanish Cases

“…The owner should know that certification is not merely "by order", and the client is aware of the investment needed to buy a dwelling that is more efficient in terms of energy saving. Therefore, it is necessary to accompany certification with an educational plan to make people aware [11], turning them into active promoters of and participants in the changes needed in the housing industry.…”

“…In the EU, the EEC has evolved from Directive 2002/91/EC, which establishes the requirements for reducing the CO 2 (Kyoto Protocol), dealing not only with insulation, as in the pre-Kyoto era [10], but also with the need for a methodology to evaluate the energy performance of housing [2], including the obligatory minimum amounts of renewable energy that new or existing buildings (major renovation) must comply with, as well as the use of efficient climate control systems [5,10]. Similarly, if energy saving is to be successful it must involve the consumers, whose awareness and commitment can only be engendered through a campaign of public information and education [11].…”

“…In the particular case of Spain, the EEC began with the Royal Decree 47/2007, which initially made regional comparisons difficult as they tended to act independently of each other [12]. This was corrected by Royal Decree 235/2013 (defining housing types for the different climatic regions of the country and homogenizing certification), and was extended to existing buildings, becoming obligatory in housing for rent or sale (implementing Directive 2010/32/EU [11]) with a validity of 10 years. Among its most important defining parameters are the calculation method, the number of occupants per dwelling and its climate zone [4]; it is currently used in commercial transactions of buying, selling or renting a building in order to know its environmental impact and energy performance.…”

“…Observing other EEC evaluation systems on an international level, Latin American countries such as Brazil have pioneered their implementation (Ley 10.295 [1]), aiming to reduce total housing electricity consumption (initially 50% of the national total) from 2001 onwards. The Technical Quality Regulation for energy efficiency in residential buildings (RTQ-R) [11] evaluates exclusively the energy consumption of lighting and air-conditioning, as well as the effect of cladding; it uses two methods of calculation-simulation and prescription. The RQT-R, in the 2010 report [16], shows the previous inefficiency of the Regulations in terms of significantly reducing the country's energy consumption.…”

A Quantitative Method for Prediction of Environmental Aspects in Construction Sites of Residential Buildings

“…13 and Resolution 307 CONAMA. (b) Emissions of gases and particulate matter Construction sites in Brazil also contribute significantly to urban environmental pollution due to the dust and particulate matter released during the construction and demolition process, besides the volatile organic compounds (VOC) associated with the use of paints and solvents [15,54]. These emissions can be easily dispersed depending on factors such as meteorological conditions, the layout of the site, and distances between the storage areas and places of the activities [55].…”