Building code; regulation of energy performance

The regulation of energy performance in the building code is a part of the implementation of EU-directives which connects to the Paris Agreement and the European goals for energy efficiency and decarbonization of the building stock.

The main goal is to regulate the energy demand in the building sector, in a cost efficient way. The expected outcome is that the national building stock achive a sustainable energy demand, regarding the delivered energy, the primary energy and the grade of renewable energy usage.

 The minimum energy perfomance standard in the building code is set to the cost optimal level. This ensures a balanced resource efficency between the usage of building and installation materials and the energy use during the buildings life span. The resource efficiency and CO2 emissions are reflected in the prices of building materials and other resources used when constructing a new building, mainly due to taxes. This is also the case for the energy that is consumed during the buildings life span. The cost optimal calculations does in this way define a balance between the differens aspects of resource efficiency, from a life cycle perspective.

 The weighting factors are set to support sustainable choices for heating like district heating, efficient heat pumps and biofuels. High weighting factors on fossile fuels delivered to buildings together with the minimum energy performance standards makes it nearly impossible to install fossile fuel boilers, and supports transition från fossile boilers to more sustainable heating systems in buildings undergoing renovation. The high weighting factor on electric energy supports efficient use of both electric energy and electric power in buildings, both being important matters for a sustainable energy system and the decarbonization of other sectors, such as transport and industry sectors.

 Several other policy instruments are connected to the regulation of energy performance of buildings in the building code, amongst others the regulation on energy performance certificates and different governmental granting systems. In this way the regulation in the building code also supports the transition to sustainable energy consumption in the total building stock, not only those targeted directly by the requirements in the building code itself.