The blind spot in Europe’s energy strategy: almost all of its building data is based on approximations and averages |
Europe is once again eyeing international energy markets with unease. The war in Ukraine, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the extreme volatility of gas prices are all stark reminders of a painful truth: the continent’s energy security is still at the mercy of external factors.
The standard response to energy crises is to hunt for new suppliers, bolster reserves, or accelerate the roll-out of renewables. While necessary, these strategies often overlook a less visible but equally critical lever: reducing how much energy our buildings actually use in the first place.
But there’s a major roadblock to making this happen, as Europe does not accurately measure thermal and energy properties. Instead, the continent’s energy efficiency ratings rely on generic data, usually derived from averages or regulatory default values of construction materials as opposed to a building’s actual thermal behaviour.
This makes it almost impossible to clearly predict how well energy-saving measures will work. What buildings need is something akin to the nutritional information we find on food packaging, which rigorously lists ingredients and nutrients. Just as we know exactly what we’re buying and eating, we should also know exactly how every building behaves – as opposed to an estimated average.
To achieve true energy resilience and sovereignty, we therefore need more than........