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German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV)
What does the German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) stipulate?
- Energy performance certificates for buildings.
- Minimum energy requirements for new buildings.
- Minimum energy requirements for modernisation, reconstructions and extensions of existing buildings.
- Minimum requirements for heating, cooling and air-conditioning systems as well as hot-water systems.
- Energy inspection of air-conditioning systems.
For which buildings does the German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) apply?
- For all heated and cooled buildings and/or parts of buildings.
- Special stipulations apply for buildings which are not heated, cooled or used regularly (such as holiday homes), which are erected only for a short period of time (such as tents, air halls) or which are used for special purposes, such as stables and greenhouses.
- Small buildings with a floor space of less than 50 m2 and historic monuments protected by German land law are not obliged to produce energy performance certificates.
Requirements for commercial buildings
Like residential buildings, the requirements for new commercial buildings are defined by the annual primary energy demand. However, in addition to the energy demands for heating, hot water and air conditioning, the balance sheet also includes the proportion of energy for cooling and lighting installations. The new comprehensive calculation method is defined in the new German standard DIN V 18599. The requirements are defined by means of a reference building which corresponds to the real building in terms of geometry, net floor area, orientation and utilisation, but whose technical structure is defined according to Enclosure (2) of the German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV). The energy quality of the building cladding and the limitation of the insulation parameter are prescribed as ancillary requirements.
