GREENBUILDING


The goal of substantially improving end-use energy efficiency and promoting the use of renewable energy sources is a key
component of the EU energy and environmental policies, The European Commission Directorate General Energy and
Transport contributes to this goal through a series of actions under the "Intelligent Energy - Europe" Programme. In addition,
given the large share of energy consumption in buildings and the large cost effective energy saving potential, special
attention has been dedicated to the building sector. The GreenBuilding Programme is one of these actions, aimed
specifically at private and public non-residential buildings.
The GreenBuilding Programme is a European Commission voluntary programme through which non-residential building
owners and occupiers, being private or public organisations, are aided in improving the energy efficiency and to introduce
renewable energy sources into their building stock. Any enterprise, company or organisation (hereinafter defined as
“organisation”) planning to contribute to the GreenBuilding Programme objectives can participate.
Organisations, which occupy on long term lease or own non-residential buildings, can acquire "Partner" status. Through the
GreenBuilding, Partners will receive:
• aid in defining and carrying out an Action Plan, to reduce energy related operating expenses, while maintaining or
improving the building comfort level, indoor air quality and the related services;
• public recognition for their contribution to achieving the objectives of the European Union's energy policy
By reducing energy use, companies contribute to:
· minimising environmental impact, and in particular reducing CO2 emissions;
· improving the competitiveness of European economy;
· reducing dependence on imported energy sources, thus improving the security of European energy
supplies.
An organisation wishing to join the GreenBuilding programme and to acquire GreenBuilding Partner status will proceed by
the following 4 step process.
1) Energy Audit of the organisation's building, which are selected to participate in the GreenBuilding programme
2) Formulation of an Action Plan, defining the scope and nature of the organisation's commitment.
3) Approval of the Action Plan by the Commission in consultation with the National Contact Point; Commission grants Partner
status to Organisation.
4) Execution of the Action Plan, report to the Commission and to the relevant National Contact Point.
A partner could also be a company with only new buildings or buildings already (and recently) refurbished.
The organisation's engineering and/or maintenance staff may be qualified to carry out the four steps of the GreenBuilding.
1) Energy Audit of Building(s).
The GreenBuilding Programme and the National Contact Points (will propose specific materials to aid the organisation in:
• establishing the energy use and the current state (hours of operation, climatic data, etc.) of the organisation's
building(s);
• evaluating the potential energy savings of building systems and equipment enhancements and replacement,
including the introduction of renewable energy sources.
The building audit is a mandatory step to start the GreenBuilding Programme participation. The building audit should identify
the major energy efficiency/savings opportunities, should prioritise them with regards to their cost-effectiveness and should
also indicate interactions between possible measures undertaken in different part of the buildings between insulation and
boiler sizing). If the organisation decides, following the whole building audit, to upgrade only a specific subsystem (i.e.
lighting, HVAC, etc.), then it is strongly encouraged to make a more detailed audit for the chosen subsystem to identify the
most important and cost-effective efficiency opportunities, as well possible interactions between different measures and/or
subsystems.
2) Formulation of an Action Plan to achieve energy savings On the basis of information collected in step 1, the organisation
decides on an Action Plan laying out the energy saving measures that correspond to the enterprise's criteria for profitable
investments. This plan must define the building or site at which energy efficiency and renewable energy actions will be
undertaken. The commitment has to apply to the building’s total energy consumption (electricity, WW and heating). The
organisation will identify, within the chosen building, the types of end-use equipment, systems, and/or services it chooses to
upgrade. The scope should in principle include the systems responsible for the major part of the energy consumption.
Partners are supposed to select more than one module.
Technical Modules):
• Building shell (insulation, windows, etc.);
• Lighting;
• Office equipment;
• Electric appliances (commercial refrigeration, washing, cooking, lifts etc.);
• Distribution transformers and UPS;
• Ventilation;
• Air-conditioning and passive cooling;
• Heating and water heating;
• Solar hot water and heating;
• Co and tri-generation;
• Energy management (mandatory module)
Organisations wishing to become GreenBuilding Partners will receive aid, advice and technical assistance from the
Commission and from participating National Contact Points in formulating and carrying out a building energy saving and
renewable "Action Plan". The GreenBuilding Programme focuses on non-residential buildings, for which it has been
demonstrated that large technical and economic potential for energy savings exist. By carrying out the Action Plan,
organisations will be able to:
• maintain or improve comfort levels, indoor quality and the quality of the service of the systems concerned;
• realise technically and economically feasible energy savings. The plan must satisfy the criterion of economic
efficiency, so that the allocation of scarce financial and human resources is justified from the viewpoint of the
organisations.
Furthermore, Partners will receive public recognition for their efforts, through theProgramme's promotion campaign, aimed at
raising public awareness of energy issues.
• Partners may use the GreenBuilding Programme logo. Partners may post signs, artwork of which is provided by the
European Commission, publicising their energy saving actions and the contribution they are making to the environment.
• The list of GreenBuilding Partners, including a description of their specific contribution to the Programme will be published
widely (brochure, Internet, etc.). The Commission will send the list of Partners to the national GreenBuilding representative
(see paragraph 4 below) and to the Member State representatives in the IEE Programme Committee.
• Partners will be invited to provide documentation of showcase buildings/systems that the European Commission can
publicise, providing details on baseline energy use, what was done, and the resulting energy use after the upgrade. The
European Commission will provide estimates of pollution prevented.
• The organisation's relevant activities may be included in GreenBuilding promotional activities, such as Awards and the
Catalogue.
• GreenBuilding Programme Awards will be made to outstanding GreenBuilding Partnerships in several categories.

Questions.

1) What company received green building certificate recently. A little help (building is located in Warsaw)
2) What are other energy saving certificates you can get.
3) Is it possible that already existing building can get a green building certificate? If yes what are rules.
4) How much energy you must save to become green building partner.