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Energy certification in Italy

Energy efficiency is becoming an important issue over the whole globe. Giuliano Dall’O’ describes the new body in Italy that aims to unite Europe in a common aim

In the European Union the energy certification of buildings is seen as one of the most effective strategic actions to promote the energy quality of buildings. It is one of the requirements included in the European Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD), which aims to orient the member states to adopt policies for the reduction of energy consumption in the civil sector, which currently absorbs about 40 per cent of the whole energy demand.

In accordance with EPBD, strategies in place target not only new buildings, but also existing ones. The performance class of every building is made evident on a formal document – generally measured on a scale ranging from ‘A’ (performing well) to ‘G’ (not well) – so an element of transparency concerning energy certification is introduced.

This is where the effectiveness of certification lies: an individual is informed in a simple and direct way of the energy quality that a building will bear during its operation, therefore making clear the consumption or energy costs involved. So, the most interesting facet is not in certification itself, but in everything which can result from its application on a large scale. Moreover, this is of course magnified by an economic situation where the energy cost seriously worries those engaged in the purchase of a building.

The market for new buildings in Italy has been shifting for a long time to high-performances building trades, comprised within the ‘A’ and the ‘B’ energy classes. Obviously, building quality isn’t the only issue at stake in purchasing decisions, but it is becoming an element which is almost never disregarded.

The fresh generation of new energy-efficient buildings highlights the poor energy quality of existing buildings. For instance, the first 40,000 energy certificates issued in the Lombardy region between 2007 and 2008 showed that the majority of buildings ranked in the lowest certification classes of ‘F’ and ‘G’. There’s considerable difference between the energy consumption of a new building and that of an existing one, with the latter possibly consuming even up to four or five times more than the former.

However, the energy performance of existing buildings can be improved, by, for example, the installation of more efficient thermal plants and, where technically and economically feasible, by resorting to renewable sources, such as thermal solar energy or photovoltaic solar energy.

Thanks to these actions the energy quality of a building can be enhanced and certification can demonstrate the new performance.

The progress so far

Energy certification is important and strategic; it would be a mistake to neglect the complexity of its correct application. Indeed, the system works well only if the classification granted with the certificate is reliable. To ensure this, as a minimum, there are two essential requirements:

• the energy auditor must be competent and the certification must be supported by an accreditation system able to manage in a correct manner, also through specific assessments, the certifier’s job
• all EU member states' approved laws, standards and regulations must use the energy certification to enforce the directive.

Regrettably, as far as Italy is concerned, the legislative process has not been completed yet. Even though an Italian law which enforces the EPBD is currently in effect, the national guidelines which will direct implementation of the certification have not been published yet. This delay has left great scope for regions to adopt different certification programmes, even though they are always fully compliant with national regulations.

The Lombardy region was the first to approve an operational and mandatory certification programme in accordance with the directive. The region established a body for the accreditation of energy certificators, setting up an official register of qualified energy auditors. Other regions have acted in a similar way, though with some variations.

As a result, the application of energy certification in Italy is not homogeneous, neither in calculation procedures nor regarding the classification criteria. A building with the same energy-performance characteristics can obtain a different classification depending on the region where it is situated, which certainly doesn’t help the building market and confuses the end-user.

Notwithstanding these critical aspects, the majority of which could be resolved when the national guidelines are finally published, certification in Italy met, and is still meeting, a great deal of interest, even when proposed on a voluntary basis.

SACERT

It is exactly in this context that SACERT, a non-for-profit association founded in April 2006 on an initiative of the Milan province, gained its experience. The aim of the organization is to promote an energy certification programme which, in compliance with the standards and regulations in force both on national and regional levels, operates according to a quality scheme.

The SACERT founder members are all public bodies or professional associations, as well as a number of private bodies who were already working in the quality certification industry. SACERT first met an increasing consensus and currently there are over 60 members which represent everyone interested in the fast-growing energy efficiency field.

So far, SACERT has organized several courses for certifiers, many of which are accredited by the Lombardy region. Out of almost 3,000 delegates who attended the courses, distributed all over Italy, almost 900 got accredited and share the SACERT mission to promote energy certification, with a high degree of expertise and competence.

In order to increase the value of certification which is recognized on a national and European level, SACERT has now requested SINCERT accreditation as a personnel certification body. It will soon be up and running as the first Italian body to operate in this strategic, yet critical, field.

About the author

Giuliano Dall’O’ is associate professor for environmental technical physics at the Polytechnic University of Milan and has been managing director of SACERT since 2006. He carries out research activities in energy efficiency and renewable sources and has contributed to the writing of the national technical specification UNI/TS 11300 on energy certification of buildings.

He is the author and co-author of several books, including the Energy Certification Handbook, and a contributor to technical magazines. Coordinator of the Kyoto Club Energy Efficiency Workgroup, he’s currently the director of Progetto Energia magazine. 

 

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