ZEROCO2 Towards zero emissions buildings

The European Directive on energy efficiency (Directive 2012/27/EU) and on energy performance of buildings (Directive 2010/31/EU) create a breakthrough in European (sustainability or climate) policies. The objectives as well as tools of intervention and verification oblige member states to immediately adopt a clear strategy for the improvement of performance of the buildings. The EU Directive stipulates that after 2020 all new buildings must be zero energy buildings and those buildings will also be near zero CO₂ emission buildings (NZCO2EB) due to energy use. Although there has been much recent focus on measures to reduce the emissions from new buildings, the existing building stock remains largely untouched and many refurbishment projects miss opportunities to reduce emissions to deliver low CO₂ buildings. The newly approved Interreg Europe project - ZEROCO2- comprises partners from eight member states. ZEROCO2 is led by Local Energy Agency Spodnje Podravje, Slovenia, and is joined by partners from Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Germany, Finland and France. The project partners will define near zero CO₂ emission buildings due to energy use (NZCO2EB) and present the various benefits resulting from this innovation. The main subjects addressed in the ZEROCO2 project are regional policies concerning environment and energy that will support the EU targets.

This project was initiated in April 2016 with the commencement of each partner’s regional policy report in respect of NZCO2EB and the execution of a cost benefit analysis based on applied examples in each of the partner’s regions. In executing the cost benefit analysis, exchange activities will create the process of presenting different options of energy sources and different technologies that can be used locally, regionally and nationally that will contribute to decrease of CO₂ emissions, while supporting regional development. The methodology uses an interregional approach that will engage and target policy makers from different European regions to reduce CO₂ emissions while simultaneously accelerating the transition towards sustainable development at local, regional, national and European levels. Through this interregional cooperation regions will identify, share and transfer innovative methodologies, technologies, processes and good practices in developing and implementing NZCO2EB policies, targeting new constructions and retrofitting of existing buildings.

ZEROCO2 places special emphasis on greening the building sector through enhancement of various ecofriendly energy sources and technologies, consequently serving as an incubator for new markets in the field of energy, technologies, services and business models. ZEROCO2 will represent and implement NZCO2EB in policies addressed in a similar fashion to that which was done for near zero energy buildings, which means that buildings do not produce CO2 emissions due their use. The ZEROCO2 partnership will meet the flagship initiative: “Resource efficient Europe” to help decouple economic growth from the use of resources, supporting the transition towards a low carbon economy. All in all, ZEROCO2 will support the growth in the use of renewable energy sources and promotion of energy efficiency through improved regional policies.

Contact details:
http://www.interregeurope.eu/zeroco2/
https://www.facebook.com/ZEROCO2Project
https://twitter.com/ZeroCo2_Project
Email: tea.potocnik@lea-ptuj.si