NOVAL APPROACH OF COOLING REQUIREMENTS

IN RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

ACCORDING TO THE FORTHCOMING GREEK BUILDING ENERGY CODES

Building codes are an essential part of the construction industry. They provide rules and
regulations for the construction of residential and non-residential buildings while taking into
consideration the energy conservation as well as the energy demand. Their main objective is to
determine requirements, methodology and design procedures for the assurance of efficient energy
use in buildings as well as the estimation of the energy consumption for heating and cooling.

Following numerous consultations with authorized personnel locally and abroad, new building
regulations regarding energy use are soon to take effect in Greece after the intensive pursuit of
people actively involved in the construction industry. They are based on the European Standard
(EN 832) describing the calculation of energy use for heating in residential and non-residential
buildings. For estimating the energy needs of the examined buildings, during heating period, the
utilization factor for heat gains has been used according to the methodology that has been
developed for the needs of EN 832. It should be noted that the utilization factor is defined
independently of the heating system characteristics because it takes into account the gain to loss
ratio as well as the thermal capacity of the simulated building, assuming perfect temperature
control and infinite flexibility.

According to the methodology introduced, which was developed for the Greek Building
Regulations, heating energy requirements are to be estimated by using the European Standard
EN832 while cooling energy requirements can be met by the usage of the utilization factor for
heat losses. Calculation of the utilization factor for cooling is complicated and no acceptable
methodology has ever been agreed upon. In the present study all details of the methodology
followed are described and analyzed. This innovative procedure shall be developed to an
international standard and will be followed for the estimation of monthly and yearly building
energy consumption.