Tag Archives: energy efficiency

The European Union’s new strategy on heating and cooling explores the potential of natural cooling methods

On February 16, 2016, the European Commission announced a new initiative in its community strategy on issues such as heating and cooling systems inside buildings.  The objective is to propel and accelerate the renovation of these new mechanisms.  For this, a list of natural cooling methods has been created that present great opportunities for energy saving.

The European Commission presented the first strategy for heating and cooling elements never before approached in the European Union.  The initiative’s objective is to create the most intelligent, most energy efficient and sustainable heating and cooling systems in buildings and the industry ever.  This may represent a great opportunity for the industry of natural cooling methods, as Europe wants to free its stock of community buildings from carbon derived elements by the year 2050.

90% of houses in the European Union are currently inefficient energy-wise.  This is easily understood as half the building stocks in existence were built before there were community regulations on this issue, and Europe has a building refitting rhythm that does not even reach 1%.

To prepare the transition toward low carbon consumption heating and cooling, the European Commission will review the Directive on energy efficiency, the directive on energy efficiency in buildings, and the initiative of intelligent financing for smart buildings launched in 2016.

For more information click here.

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The European project School of the Future has demonstrated the viability of creating energy efficient schools

The School of the Future project has arrived at last, financed by the European Commission under the FP7 framework and has counted upon four pilot schools in all of Europe and located in different regions (Denmark, Germany, Italy and Norway).  The project emphasizes how schools may be sources of exceptional energy efficiency, providing a high quality interior environment, while also being economically viable.

Through the renovation of existing schools and their power systems, the integration of renewable energy solutions and the creation of advanced management systems, the project wanted to demonstrate that the complete use of energy may be reduced by a factor of 3.

On the other hand, a 75% reduction in the power usage for heating may be achieved with an investment of less than € 100 for cubic meter, addressing the results obtained by the project.

Another of the project’s objective was to disseminate the results obtained through the students themselves from the schools that served as pilots, consociating families to the activities of energy efficiency and its results.

It has also equipped the classroom with tools to educate students, the faculty and service personnel in energy efficiency topics with the objective of expanding knowledge on an area with much relevance for the European Union such as environmental sustainability.

http://www.school-of-the-future.eu/

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