Assessing Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) development in Europe

Abstract Decarbonising the energy sector is crucial to reach future climate and energy goals. As established by the Energy Performance of Building Directive recast, Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) are the mandatory building target in Europe for all new buildings from 2021 onwards. In the light of the approaching deadline, this paper assesses the development of NZEBs in Europe based on the most recent collected data and information. This paper provides an overview of the implementation of national definitions and energy performance values for new, existing, residential, and non-residential buildings in Member States. It evaluates the differences with the established European benchmark and cost-optimal levels. An overview of the most commonly implemented technologies in NZEBs is given together with costs and the relative projections over next decades. Finally, quantitative data on the NZEBs diffusion in Member States are given as recently assessed. The evolution of the NZEB concept and the future NZEBs role is also forecasted. The results assume a strategic value in the light of future targets for the building sector, showing the progress made by Member States in relation to different NZEBs aspects. They provide a comprehensive analysis of the European NZEBs implementation depicting a positive overall progress improvement for NZEBs definitions, uptake, technology development, and energy performance levels. Next challenges and barriers are outlined and appear mainly related to NZEBs retrofit

Review of 50 years of EU energy efficiency policies for buildings

The reduction of energy demand in buildings through the adoption of energy efficiency policy is a key pillar of the European Union (EU) climate and energy strategy. Energy efficiency first emerged in the EU energy policy agenda in the 1970s and was progressively transformed with shifting global and EU energy and climate policies and priorities. The paper offers a review of EU energy policies spanning over the last half century with a focus on policy instruments to encourage measures on energy efficiency in new and existing buildings. Starting from early policies set by the EU in response to the Oil Embargo in the 1973, the paper discusses the impact of EU policies in stimulating energy efficiency improvements in the building sector ranging from the SAVE Directive to the recently 2018 updated Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and Energy Efficiency Directive. The review explores the progress made over the last 50 years in addressing energy efficiency in buildings and highlights successes as well as remaining challenges. It discusses the impact of political priorities in reshaping how energy efficiency is addressed by EU policymakers, leading to a holistic approach to buildings, and provides insights and suggestions on how to further exploit the EU potential to save energy from buildings

Impact of climate change on the energy performance of building envelopes and implications on energy regulations across Europe

This paper delves into the potential impact of a changing climate on the energy performance of European buildings. Research aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of current energy requirements focusing on the envelope, considering existing regulations in national policies. Energy simulations are conducted at 94 locations across the European Union to cover the climatic variability and Koppen climate classification. The research analyzes future climate scenarios for the years 2030, 2050, and 2070, using three different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP 2.6, 4.5, 8.5). According to a comprehensive analysis of heating, cooling, and overall energy performance, climate plays a significant role in buildings’ energy balance. In moderately cool climate countries, the demand for air conditioning is projected to decrease in the years ahead. Conversely, in countries with a warm climate, there is a projected increase in the overall energy demand. Consequently, a revision of current energy regulations should be a priority. Providing insights into the relation between building design, energy efficiency, and climate change, the research identifies policy adjustments to ensure buildings can effectively respond to changing climatic conditions. A holistic and dynamic approach can support building design accounting for long-term impacts of climate change to create resilient and energy-efficient structures

Progress of the Member States in implementing the Energy Performance of Building Directive

Overall, the EPBD policy framework laid down the foundation for:i) setting cost-optimal minimum energy performance standards in new buildings and existing buildings under major renovation;ii) ensuring that prospective buyers or renters are well informed through Energy Performance Certificates and thereby encouraged to choose higher than minimum standards in their decision making processes;iii) speeding up the rate at which investors engage in energy efficiency projectsthrough national long-term renovation strategies and financemechanisms.In accordance with the policy assessment of 2017 it is expected that the EPBD islikely to deliver the expected impacts by 2020, with 48.9 Mtoe additional final energy savings and a reduction of 63 Mt of CO2.However, the new Climate agenda set higher ambition targets and together with the Covid-19 crisis, the scenario has changed consistently and the next decade will be very challenging. The energy renovation of buildings can be a pillar of both the European decarbonisation process and the economic recovery after the pandemic.This report provides a snap shot of the EPBD implementation progresses by Member States over the last years. In particular, the focus is mainly on: cost-optimal calculations to set minimum energy performance requirements, Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEB), financial incentives and market barriers, Long-term Renovation Strategies (LTRS). In order to contextualize the European scenario, some general trendsare presented and discussed in the introduction

Prospective evaluation of minimal residual disease in the phase II FORTE trial: a head-to-head comparison between multiparameter flow cytometry and next-generation sequencing

Background: Limited data are available on the concordance between multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in a large trial for multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Methods: MRD was explored in the FORTE trial for transplant-eligible MM patients randomised to three carfilzomib-based induction-intensification-consolidation treatments and carfilzomib-lenalidomide (KR) vs R maintenance. MRD was assessed by 8-colour 2nd-generation flow cytometry in patients with ≥very good partial response before maintenance. NGS was performed in case of suspected complete response (CR) in a correlative subanalysis. Biological/prognostic concordance between MFC and NGS, conversion to MRD negativity during maintenance, and 1-year/2-year sustained MRD negativity were explored. Findings: Between September 28, 2015 and December 22, 2021, 2020 samples were available for MFC and 728 for the simultaneous MFC/NGS correlation in the "suspected CR population". Median follow-up was 62 months. Biological agreement was 87% at the 10-5 and 83% at the 10-6 cut-offs. A remarkable prognostic concordance was observed: hazard ratios in MFC-MRD and NGS-MRD-negative vs -positive patients were 0.29 and 0.27 for progression-free survival (PFS) and 0.35 and 0.31 for overall survival, respectively (p < 0.05). During maintenance, 4-year PFS was 91% and 97% in 1-year sustained MFC-MRD-negative and NGS-MRD-negative patients (10-5), respectively, and 99% and 97% in 2-year sustained MFC-MRD-negative and NGS-MRD-negative patients, regardless of treatment received. The conversion rate from pre-maintenance MRD positivity to negativity during maintenance was significantly higher with KR vs R both by MFC (46% vs 30%, p = 0.046) and NGS (56% vs 30%, p = 0.046). Interpretation: The significant biological/clinical concordance between MFC and NGS at the same sensitivity suggests their possible use in the evaluation of one of the currently strongest predictors of outcome. Funding: Amgen, Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

Lenalidomide-based induction and maintenance in elderly newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: updated results of the EMN01 randomized trial

In the EMN01 trial, the addition of an alkylator (melphalan or cyclophosphamide) to lenalidomide-steroid induction has been prospectively evaluated in transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma patients. After induction, patients were randomly assigned to maintenance treatment with lenalidomide alone or with prednisone continuously. This analysis (median follow-up of 71 months) focused on maintenance treatment and on subgroup analyses according to the International Myeloma Working Group Frailty Score. 217 patients in lenalidomide-dexamethasone, 217 in melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide and 220 in cyclophosphamide-prednisone-lenalidomide arms were evaluable. 284 (43%) patients were fit, 205 (31%) intermediate-fit and 165 (25%) frail. After induction, 402 patients were eligible for maintenance, (lenalidomide arm: 204; lenalidomide-prednisone: 198). After a median duration of maintenance of 22.0 months, progression-free survival from start of maintenance was 22.2 months with lenalidomide-prednisone vs 18.6 months with lenalidomide (HR 0.85,p=0.14), with no differences across frailty subgroups. The most frequent grade ≥3 toxicity was neutropenia (10% of lenalidomide-prednisone and 21% of lenalidomide patients; p=0.001). Grade ≥3 non-hematologic adverse events were rare (<15%). In fit patients, melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared to cyclophosphamide-prednisone-lenalidomide (HR 0.72,p=0.05) and lenalidomide-dexamethasone (HR 0.72, p=0.04). Likewise, a trend towards a better overall survival was noted for melphalan-prednisone-lenalidomide and cyclophosphamide-prednisone-lenalidomide, as compared to lenalidomide-dexamethasone. No differences were observed in intermediate-fit and frail patients. This analysis showed positive outcomes of maintenance with lenalidomide-based regimens, with a good safety profile. For the first time, we showed that fit patients benefit from a triplet full-dose regimen, while intermediate-fit and frail patients from gentler regimens. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT01093196

Improving energy efficiency in buildings: challenges and opportunities in the European context

The impact of buildings to European final energy consumption has been assessed at 40% in 2012, making the building stock responsible for 36% of CO2 emissions. The reduction of energy consumption in buildings is the focus of the European 2020 strategy to ensure that climate and energy targets are reached by the end of this decade. Essential policy instruments that encourage energy efficiency, retrofit measures and renewable production are: the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD and EPBD recast) and the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). One of the major initiatives promoted by the EPBD recast is the implementation of nearly zero energy buildings (NZEBs) as the building objective from 2018 onwards. NZEBs represent a great opportunity to obtain a significant energy saving potential in Europe. The Directive also requires the assessment of cost-optimal levels related to minimum energy performance requirements in buildings. After an overview on European energy consumption and policies for energy efficiency, this chapter focus on NZEBs and cost-optimality to assess the progress of implementation in Member States. It analyses main debates arisen around NZEBs as well as barriers and challenges in relation to both retrofit and new buildings. The report also discusses policies and measures to overcome barriers identifying best practices in Member States. The chapter illustrates how new efficient technological measures are evolving to address a new building concept in the light of EU requirements. It stresses how the integration between cost optimality and high performance technical solutions underpins the deployment of NZEBs. However, the analysis shows that reaching buildings requiring nearly zero energy at the lowest cost is not yet reached through Europe, especially at a retrofit level. In conclusion, the chapter demonstrates how the attention given to energy efficiency in buildings increased over the last years, but the achievement of widespread saving targets remains one of the main challenges that Europe has to face. Member States are required to further adopt specific actions to exploit the potential energy savings deriving from the building sector.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Assessment of the progress towards the establishment of definitions of nearly zero energy buildings (nZEBs) in European Member States

The European Climate and Energy package foresees a substantial reduction of energy consumptions in buildings by 2020. The implementation of nearly zero energy buildings (nZEBs) as the building target from 2018 onwards represents one of the biggest challenges to increase energy savings and minimize greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the European status towards the implementation of nZEBs. The main open issues are presented together with categories, definitions, and calculation methodologies. The paper reports the progress made by Member States (MS) towards the adoption of nZEBs definitions through the analysis of National Plans, templates submitted to the Commission, as well as information from the EPBD Concerted Action (CA) and Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAP). Different aspects to be outlined, such as balance, boundary, energy uses, and renewables are taken into account in the study. Results show that progress is evident in many MS compared to first attempts to launch a national definition, but coherency cannot yet be found. The current situation is discussed to contribute to the clarification and the establishment of agreed definitions. The paper underlines the effort to integrate the nZEBs notion into National Codes and International Standards. It also shows how this topic has gained a growing attention in the last decade, but the achievement of a common nZEBs concept is far to be reached.JRC.F.7-Renewables and Energy Efficienc

Data on roof renovation and photovoltaic energy production including energy storage in existing residential buildings

This data article refers to the paper "Optimizing photovoltaic electric generation and roof insulation in existing residential buildings” [1]. The reported data deal with roof retrofit in different types of existing residential buildings (single-family, multi-family and apartment complex) located in Milan (Northern Italy). The study focus on the optimization of envelope insulation and photovoltaic (PV) energy production associated with different building geometries, initial insulation level, roof constructions, and materials. The data linked within this article relate to the modelled building energy consumption, renewable production, potential energy savings, and costs. Data refer to two main scenarios: refurbishment (roof in need of replacement and insulation) and re-roofing (energy intervention for roof improvement). Data allow to visualize energy consumption before and after the optimization, selected insulation level and material, costs and PV renewable production (with and without energy storage). The reduction of energy consumption can be visualized for each building type and scenario. Further data is available on CO(2) emissions, envelope, materials, and systems

Impact of appliances and lighting for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs) in Europe

As established by the recast of the European Union (EU) Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD), all new buildings should be nearly zero energy buildings (nZEBs) within the EU by the end of 2020. However, reaching this result at the lowest possible cost remains an important challenge. Balancing renewable power generation with energy efficiency will be vital in Europe. We describe results obtained from the use of energy optimization software BEopt developed at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The model performs detailed hourly sequential simulations using the energy performance software EnergyPlus showing how to best achieve very low or zero energy home designs at the lowest possible cost in 36 representative locations across Europe. We have adapted the model to run using European hourly climatic data, using relevant construction methods, cost data and unit energy consumption. A novel aspect is the inclusion of the likelihood of future climate change relative to cooling loads estimated. This anticipates building design changes necessary to address the challenges to be faced in a changing world. A key finding of the research is that energy reductions of 80% and beyond are economically feasible for new construction, although the mix of selected measures varies strongly with climate. Results show that a broad approach to efficiency mixed with renewables performs best, while a narrow focus on building thermal performance can be counterproductive. In particular, we illustrate how exclusion of lighting and appliances results in sub-optimal solutions, especially for electricity use which has a disproportionate impact on greenhouse gas emissions.JRC.F.7-Renewables and Energy Efficienc