By Angelo Baggini / Published on Tue, 2008-09-09 09:00
Year: 2006
Policy Status: In force
Portugal legislated new efficiency Regulations on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems in Buildings in 2006, revising the national RSECE building code of 1998. This revision complemented the Portuguese implementation of EU Directive 2002/91/CE on the Energy Performance of Buildings.
The 2006 revisions establish strict standards for
- HVACs' energy use; enumerating energy consumption limits in utilities of large buildings.
- indoor air quality; assuring a reference indoor air renovation rate (legally fixed) and limiting the pollutant concentrations inside the buildings.
- HVAC units design; limiting the installed power on HVAC systems and establishing a number of energy efficiency requirements on the design of new HVAC systems.
- maintenance; mandating the performance of energy audits, every six years, to large utility buildings and of periodic inspections to boilers and air conditioning systems. Energy units and equipment must have preventive maintenance plans.
Compliance with RSECE 2006 version is mandatory whenever a permit is requested for building a new or renovating an existing building.
In addition to the above, the Regulations on Thermal Behaviour of Buildings (RCCTE) define the requirements for new residential and small service buildings without HVAC systems, namely in terms of wall and floor insulation, types of glass coverings and surfaces, limiting heat loss and controlling excessive solar gains. These regulations set limits on the energy requirements for air-conditioning and hot water production, making it compulsory to install solar energy systems and favouring the use of other renewable energy sources.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Thu, 2007-11-29 19:32
By Roeland De Meulenaere and Bohdan Soroka
Buildings account for 40% of energy consumption in Europe, so their inherent efficiency is very important.
Efficient space heating requires a properly insulated and sealed building, together with a correctly sized heating system. The choice of system is also important; best practice includes gas-fired condensing boilers and ground-water heat pumps.
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By Stefan Fassbinder / Published on Fri, 2007-10-05 18:32
How much energy does it cost to save energy? In this 4-star hotel each room is equipped with a distribution panel including an RCD (very good for electrical and fire safety) and a transformer 2*12V, rated no less than 24VA. Obviously the transformer supplies the door chime, some electronic control gear e. g. for the air conditioner, the electro-magnetic lock and the auto-shut-off: When the key card is removed the room lighting is switched off automatically in 2 groups with different time lags. This requires relays which also need to be powered, although 0.5W for each should suffice.
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