MARIE

The "Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)" approved by the 2010/31 / EU European directive, aims to speed up energy saving policies in the building sector in order to achieve a 20% reduction of energy consumption in the European Union . Among many other measures, the Article 9 of the directive stipulates that from December 31, 2020 the new buildings must be nearly zero in energy consumption, and on December 31, 2018 for occupied buildings and/or public property buildings. In relation to this measure, the board recommends to the Member States establish intermediate objectives in 2015 and gradually adopt the goals until 2020 to ensure the compliance the objectives set. In relation to the rehabilitation of buildings, where the present study is framed, a serie of measures must be taken to ensure that a minimum requirements are complied when renewing at least 25% of the building or its surroundings. The same policy explains that to adjust and set the minimum requirements for energy efficiency, all methods must be based on a cost benefit analysis, in order to achieve optimal levels of profitability methods.

In the Catalan context, the MARIE project, led by the Department of Territory and Sustainability of Catalonia, has the overall aim to define a strategy for improving energy rehabilitation of the Mediterranean buildings. One of the objectives of MARIE is the revision of the legislative framework of Catalonia, in order to speed up the achievement of the European objectives. During the MARIE a characterization of the current state of the included Mediterranean regions, and more specifically in Catalonia has been developed. Similarly, the stock of buildings in Catalonia has been characterized and analysed its overall impact in the different scenarios of action (Potential Impact Evaluation). Finally, the main barriers (legislative and structural, technical, financial, knowledge and behaviour) which are difficulting the objectives compliance were identified.

In this context, the study aims to provide the necessary management to be able to set the minimum criteria for energy rehabilitation, ensuring optimal levels from an energy and economic point of view, and propose solutions adapted to the particular building characteristics of Catalonia (climate and construction).
Thereby, the overall objective of the project is to conduct a technical study of optimizing the energy rehabilitation of housing in Catalonia. The results will allow to use the knowledge gained to propose the minimum requirements for the energy efficiency of homes and assess how to gradually achieve near-zero energy buildings (NZEB).