ISSO - Jaap

Jaap Hogeling
Editor-in-Chief

 

Reviewing this summer issue reveals that apart from the usual technical content a number of articles focus on policy and strategic issues of great importance for the HVAC sector in Europe and globally.

In Europe: the news sections report about the involvement of REHVA and allies in the revision process around the EPBD. This revision which is expected to become final by the end of 2017 is of great significance for the level of implementation of energy saving policies in Europe. REHVA and many other parties also supported by European Parliament amendment proposals asked for:

·         Ensuring high indoor environment quality and energy efficiency at the same time.

·         Ensuring quality, proper maintenance, and performance through mandatory inspection of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.

·         Promoting the harmonized and ambitious application of EPB standards in Europe.

Also important to mention is the wish for an additional Indoor Air Quality Performance Certificate for new and renovated buildings. This idea, strongly supported by EFI, may be momentarily a bridge too far as we may understand from the answers given by the MEP Mr Bendt Bendtsen. But the tone is set.

REHVA reported about the EUSEW 2017 (European Sustainable Energy Week). One of the reported highlights is the establishment of the EPB Center. The EPB Center is an initiative from REHVA and ISSO supporting the implementation of the EPBD, the developed EPB standards in Europe and beyond. The EPB Center could offer support on questions related to working out the Annex A of various EPB standards where needed. This may become feasible when the proposed EPBD revision Annex I regarding the request to describe the national calculation methodologies according to the EPB set of standards becomes enforced. The great advantage of this requirement for MS’s to report how their national procedures relate to the set of EPB standards is that they are obliged to analyse, and by doing so discovering, that some possible shortcomings in their national procedures are counterproductive. By not having this obligation, several MS’s may not feel the need to improve their national procedures. They may unintentionally report unrealistic EP declarations and assume that their energy saving policies are on the right track. Many national procedures include hidden assumptions and simplifications that may hamper further innovation as possible new technologies are not properly awarded by the national methods. This secondary effect is weakening the EU position on a global market of energy saving products and technologies. It is a mistake to assume that the very successful Ecodesign Regulation can prevent this. The holistic approach implies that we have to look at the building as a system and not as an accumulation of products. Just using A-label products doesn’t guarantee a A-label building!

Given the fact that energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality of buildings is a global issue, globalisation of the HVAC sector is to be addressed as well. The new ASHRAE president, Bjarne Olesen clearly stated, in his presidential address, the importance of going global. In this context, the signing of the renewed MoU between ASHRAE and REHVA and the establishing of a European region is no surprise. As the REHVA president, Stefano Corgnati explains in its address: REHVA is a platform through which bridges among REHVA members can be activated and connections with European institutions and international organizations can be enforced.

EditorialJaap HogelingPage 05

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