NET ZERO ENERGY BUILDING: A REVIEW OF CURRENT DEFINITIONS AND MARKET STATUS IN BELGIUM
ERWIN MLECNIK12, SHADY ATTIA3, STEFAN VAN LOON1, IRENA KONDRATENKO1
1 Passiefhuis-Platform vzw, www.passiefhuisplatform.be
2 Delft University of Technology, OTB Research Institute for the Built Environment
3 Architecture et Climat, www-climat.arch.ucl.ac.be
ABSTRACT
The recast of the European Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires the uptake of a definition of so called ‘nearly zero energy’ buildings (nZEBs). The Belgian Monarch is one of the first countries that set a definition for a ‘net zero energy house’ (NZEB) in 2009. However, this definition is not cast in stone. Every year the definition is revised for consistency with shortcomings and emerging issues. In fact, the Belgian definition raised many questions regarding (1) the net balance, (2) the application and calculation method (3) the indoor air quality and comfort, (4) energy use included in the balance, (5) the type of buildings, (6) the accepted renewable energy supply options, (7) the quality assurance and monitoring and (8) energy storage and the connection to the energy infrastructure. Therefore, the paper presents a review on the current Belgian definition and its market status in comparison with the international context. The aim of the paper is to review the current definition and proposes a more consistent definition.
