Understanding building renovation passports: customised solutions to boost deep renovation and increase comfort in a decarbonised Europe

摘要

Increasing the current EU annual renovation rate from 1.2 % to 2-3 % is essential to ensure a highly-efficient and fully decarbonised building stock by 2050. Increasing building renovation rates while aiming at achieving "deep renovations" is of paramount importance. Building owners face multiple barriers to improve the energy performance of their buildings. Together with difficulty in accessing finance, one of the most often cited barriers is the lack of knowledge about what to do, where to start, and which measures to implement in which order. Despite their potential, Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) have a limited market penetration and their acceptance by the users varies across member states. Thus, their relevance for owners and their stimulating effect for the renovation of buildings is limited. While increased thermal comfort and air quality, higher levels of natural lighting and improved health of occupants are among the most important benefits and drivers for renovation, they are not currently covered by EPCs. Based on three initiatives from France, Belgium and Germany, this paper explores the notion of Building Renovation Passport (BRP) as an evolution of EPCs and initiate a dialogue to promote its introduction across the EU. Aiming at creating a comprehensive and user-friendly instrument to support building owners with personalised instructions on their renovation options, the BRP outlines a long-term step-by-step renovation roadmap for a specific building, resulting from an on-site ener- gy audit fulfilling specific quality criteria and indicators established in dialogue with building owners. Building owners receive a user-friendly, personalised renovation plan, presenting all the expected benefits of renovation, including non-energy benefits. Combined with a logbook, a repository of information on aspects like energy consumption and production and financing opportunities, BRP can become a powerful instrument to boost deep renovation.