Portugal - Overview information
This information of Portugal includes the general state of the adoption of the Directive 2002/91/EC till now. It is presented the principal dispositions of Portugal regarding the energy performance of buildings (three laws SCE, RSECE, RCCTE). It also includes overview information for each article regarding the degree of implementation of the buildings’ Directive 2002/91/EC.
Table of Contents
· The implementation of Directive 2002/91/EC in Portugal is composed by a number of measures aiming to promote the energy efficiency in buildings
· The main objectives of the energy performance regulation are the following:
o To determine a calculation methodology of the integrated energy performance of buildings
o To apply minimum requirements for the energy performance of new buildings
o To apply minimum requirements for the energy performance of the large existing buildings
o To apply a methodology for the energy certification of buildings
o To determine a procedure of the regular inspection of boilers and air-conditioning installations in buildings
· There are three main laws (which are in force since the 4 April 2006):
o The SCE (law no 78/2006) which is the energy certification system of buildings in Portugal
o The RSECE (law no 79/2006) which is the regulation that concerns the energy systems and air-conditioning in large buildings
o The RCCTE (law no 80/2006) which is the regulation that concerns the characteristics of the thermal behaviour of buildings
· SCE (energy certification system) concerns the transposition of the Portuguese legislation according to the Directive nΊ 2002/91/CE, of the European Parliament and Council of 2002, 16th December, related with energy performance of buildings
· The main objectives of SCE are:
o To assure that the under evaluation building respects the requirements included in RCCTE and RSECE related to energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy systems of energies and the indoor conditions mainly from the indoor air quality point of view
o To certify the energy performance and the indoor air quality in buildings
o To identify the appropriate measures or necessary improvements of the building and systems energy performance in respect to the energy performance and indoor air quality requirements
· RSECE (energy systems and air-conditioning regulation) defines hygienic and thermal comfort conditions; it imposes rules for the air conditioning systems efficiency, for its maintenance and for keeping the quality of interior air, to achieve a better global energy efficiency of buildings
· The main objectives of RSECE are:
o To assure the thermal comfort and indoor air quality conditions in buildings
o To limit the energy consumption in buildings (by determining the maximum limits)
o To assure the quality of HVAC equipment in buildings (design, installation and maintenance)
o To ensure the placement of energy certificates, not older than 10 years, in public buildings with a total useful floor area over 1000 m2
· RSECE determines 2 phases related to the energy use:
o During the design stage (appropriate sizing of equipment, estimation of the energy consumption, …)
o During the operation stage (verification of the estimated consumption)
· RSECE mainly concerns large public buildings with centralized air-conditioning systems
· RCCTE (characteristics of the thermal behaviour of buildings) improves the already existing code, almost duplicating the thermal performance request in the new and renovated buildings and imposing the usage of solar thermal collectors for hot water production if there is favourable conditions for this application
· RCCTE is the part of the regulation that concerns all residential buildings and large buildings without centralized air-conditioning systems
· The main objectives of RCCTE are:
o To set the limits in the energy consumption of buildings
o To set the requirements of thermal comfort, during the heating and the cooling period as well as the requirements that concern ventilation in order to assure acceptable indoor air quality levels
o To set the requirements the concerns the energy consumption for sanitary hot water production
Article 3: Adoption of a methodology
· Energy Performance Building Regulation (EPBR) is already implemented in Portugal since April 2006
· EPBR is a national regulation that uses CEN standards
· EPBR concerns both new and existing buildings
· The assessment method is based on the asset rating approach for new buildings and asset and operational rating for existing buildings
· The energy efficiency indicators are mainly based on the energy consumption per floor square meter
I. Asset rating
· The energy demand of the building is determined as function of the local climate where the building is located and the corresponding climatic zone
· The energy demand of the building should be lower to a set of reference values according to the climatic zone where the building is located
Article 5: New buildings
· EPBR in Portugal concerns both residential and non-residential buildings
· The compliance check is performed during the design stage (appropriate sizing of equipment, estimation of the energy consumption, …) and during the operation stage (verification of the estimated consumption)
I. Requirements
· Final energy consumption
· U-values according to climatic zone where the building is located
· EPBR requires a minimum contribution of solar thermal systems based on the type and size of the building
Article 7: Energy performance certificate
· The certificate approach of the EPBR is implemented in national level and covers all type of buildings new and existing (exceptions are buildings used as places for religious activities, military facilities, industrial buildings, …)
· The certificate is produced before the construction (project level phase) and during/after the end of construction (inspection level phase)
· The compliance check includes the total performance of the building as well as the efficiencies of the components (e.g. U-values)
Article 8: Inspection of boilers
· The inspection of boilers is based on the assessment of efficiency under real time conditions
· The inspection frequency takes place every 1, 2, 3 and 6 years depending on the fuel used and the capacity of the boiler
· The cost of the inspection is covered by the final users
· The basis of the methodology depend on national and CEN standards
Article 9: Inspection of air-conditioning systems
· The inspection of air conditioning systems is based on the assessment of efficiency under real time conditions
· The inspection frequency take place every 1 and 3 years depending mainly on the system capacity
· The cost of the inspection is covered by the final users
Article 10: Independent experts
Mainly engineers and architects are involved in the certification and inspection processes