Indicators and Data in Spain for an Overview of the Energy Characteristics of the National Building Stock

Abstract

The decarbonization objectives outlined by Europe, coupled with the aging of existing buildings, underscore the importance of evaluating the evolution of energy characteristics of the building stock at both national and regional levels. To facilitate this evaluation in Spain, along with its regions Aragon and the Basque Country, a set of indicators is suggested in this chapter. These indicators aim to offer insights into the evolution of annual final energy consumption by building type and per end use. Additionally, the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are put forth as valuable indicators, with a focus on the number and energy class derived from these certificates. In the case of the former indicators, Spain benefits from both national and regional data sources, although enhancements are possible through improved data processing techniques and the extraction of information based on building characteristics. As for EPCs, it is recommended that the information provided by regions undergo a standardization process to ensure a more comprehensive development of the indicators. Furthermore, an additional proposed indicator involves the measurement of the quantity and surface area of nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEB). Unfortunately, the current lack of national or regional sources hampers the development of this particular indicator.