New Directive Champions Energy Efficient Lighting
13-05-2020
The Manchester-based commercial lighting specialist, Hilclare, has welcomed the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) 2018/844 that recently came into being. The Directive forms part of the EU’s Energy Union ambitions to reinforce efficiency in the building sector including lighting. The new Directive incorporates a number of measures that will accelerate the rate of building renovation towards more energy-efficient systems, and is set to strengthen the energy performance of new buildings; making them overall much smarter. EU countries will have to transpose the new elements of the Directive into national law within 20 months.
Chris Pearson, Managing Director at Hilclare explains the Directive’s impact:
“Until Brexit is clarified, this latest Directive impacts on us both now and in the future, and it means that energy efficient lighting will now take on even more importance. The latest LED lighting for commercial and public sectors not only makes substantial energy savings, in some cases up to 60%, it lasts significantly longer; thereby reducing the problem of waste.“
Chris continues:
“Lighting consumes about 20% of the overall electricity used in commercial and industrial buildings in the UK and plays a more significant role in sectors such as retail and hospitality. Companies mistakenly believe that the capital outlay required for a new lighting system is beyond their reach. However, by making small improvements such as switching to LED, or installing lighting controls, sensors, and timers, businesses can reduce energy consumption quickly and without compromising profit.“
Chris concludes:
“Better performing buildings will not only provide higher levels of comfort and wellbeing for occupants, but they will also improve health by reducing illnesses caused by poor indoor climates. Likewise, we will all enjoy better protection of the environment, and investments in energy efficiency will stimulate the construction industry, which currently generates about 9% of Europe’s GDP and directly accounts for 18 million direct jobs.“
In addition to smart technologies, the Directive stipulates that EU countries will have to establish stronger long-term renovation strategies aimed at decarbonising national building stocks by 2050, plus the health and well-being of building users is to be promoted through an increased consideration of air quality and ventilation. E-mobility will also be supported by introducing minimum requirements for car parks over a certain size and other minimum infrastructure for smaller buildings. Finally, EU countries will have to express their national energy performance requirements in ways that allow cross-national comparisons.
The revised Directive is the first of the eight legislative acts in the Clean Energy for All Europeans package to be adopted.