Endeavour Scholarships

Full-Time Ph.D. Study in Sustainable Energy

Analysing the Performance Gap between Energy

Performance Certificates and Actual Energy Consumption of
on-Residential Buildings in Malta
Ing. Paul Vassallo

Institute for Sustainable Energy

University of Malta
Principal Supervisor: Eur Ing Dr Charles Yousif
Co-supervisor: Dr. Ing. Alan Abela, BRE, UK
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Project Overview
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) were introduced in
Malta in 2009 under the Energy Performance of Buildings
Directive Regulations under Legal Notice 261 of 2008 which
was later updated by Legal Notice 376 of 2012. By now
some 16,000 EPCs had been lodged on the Building
Regulations Office (BRO) database.
The EPC Asset Rating of nondwellings compares the buildings
rating on projected carbon dioxide
emissions to a reference building,
(run concurrently on
the same
programme) of same category and
geometry but built to our local
Document
(F)the projected
Technical
It does not
compare
energy to be used to some fully
actual operational benchmarks
such as those listed in TM46
Energy Bench Marks of UK.
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Project Overview
Maltas energy sources are totally imported, which leaves
the Island dependent, insecure and vulnerable to price
fluctuations and other political and environmental
concerns.
One effective way of reducing this dependency is to
manage and control energy consumption in buildings.
Often, the existing energy wastage in building stems
from three main reasons namely:

excessive energy flow through the building envelope

uncontrolled use of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning
(HVAC)

Lack of awareness with regards to energy conservation measures

As such the obligation to do EPCs is a step in the right

direction not only from the sustainability point of view
to conserve the finite fossil fuel resources or to contain
the global warming effects, but as well financially
and economically to preserve the completions in
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sustaining jobs in our industries.

Project Overview
This EPC methodology for the projected performance of
such buildings is quite often unrealistic when compared to
the actual energy consumed in these buildings.
A case in point is the Mater Dei
Hospital which was recently built to
high standards, has a large and
constant inertia working 24 hours a
day to full capacity all year round and
properly maintained, but was rated
with a very pessimistic EPC, while its
actual energy consumption
was
EPC rating of 351kg CO2/m2, (G)
significantly lower than that
to the actual CO2 emissions based
on actual fuel and Enemalta bills
for 2014 and 2015 with projection
to primary energy consumption, it
is seen that the resulting values of
159 and 163 kg CO2/m2

Project Overview
Mater Dei Hospital which was built under tough specifications
and a built process which included;

An integrated design team

Optimised energy efficient brief
Optimised plant selection
Effective use of building management (BMS) controls.
Intricate handover
Computerised maintenance Management programmes (CMMS)

Mater DEI Hospital Electricity Consumption

Mater DEI Hospital Fuel Consumption

Project Overview
So, there is a mismatch between the predicted and
actual measured values actual energy consumptionknown as the Performance Gap.
This phenomenon is not restricted to Malta but has been
observed as far afield as the other countries including the UK..
In UK they use a different methodology for such nondwelling buildings known as the Display Energy
Certificate (DEC)
The (DEC) is a certificate that incorporates
a numerical indicator of performance,
known as the Operational Rating (OR),
which is the ratio of actual measured energy
use of the building over a year to a
benchmark figure for buildings of that type
and given a grade from A to G, all based on
carbon dioxide emissions TM47 Operational
Ratings and Display Energy Certificates

Project Overview
Operational Benchmarks are smartly designed and constructed
Buildings which statistically in Malta not available as they
responsive to the requirements of occupants, organisations
and society
Sustainable in terms of energy and water consumptions.
low polluting in terms of emissions and waste
healthy in terms of wellbeing for the people living and
working within them
Functional according to the user needs.

Adopting UK Benchmarks which are based on:

Degree Day Method

Predominantly heating with 2021 degree days
15.50 C Base temperature
Grid conversion factors
electricity 0.550 kgCO2 /kWh
fossil-thermal 0.190 kgCO2 /kWh

Project Overview

Typical Operational Ratings of 196 type of buildings in 29 categories

Adopting Available Benchmarks & Modelling to Local Climate.

Degree Day Method

Changing to predominantly cooling

Select the ideal base temperature

Allow for ventilation and infiltration air energy

Allow for mix-mode operation i.e. ventilation only.

Grid conversion to local factors

Cooling
8 Load as Function of
Outdoor Temperature to

Project Overview
Results
The final product would produce sufficient knowledge that
will primarily answer the following questions:
What is the optimum methodology to achieve energy
efficiency in non-residential buildings?
Which models are adaptable to rate the energy
performance of the different types of Maltese nondwellings?
What criteria should typically be applied to achieve a
minimum level of energy efficiency in buildings?
This will ensure that predicted energy performance during
the design stage is achieved. Thus not only saving energy
but achieving a better fit in the Cost Benefit Analysis for
prospective financers, building owners,, and entrepreneurs
to invest and create jobs.
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Project Overview
Work Plan

Year 1
Analyse existing non-residential buildings or projects which have an
EPC and compute the actual energy bills with primary energy
projections and compare the predicted energy t measured.
Compare to the UK and possibly other European benchmarks
Review literature and on-going studies and finalise a report.

Year 2
Build a typical meteorological year for Malta
Calculate the ideal base temperatures for summer, winter and midseasons
Compute the number of local degree days both for heating and
cooling
Compute and adjust the benchmarks in the UK operation rate
database (or other benchmark that may fit best for Malta).
Liaise with BRO and decide on which software to use for the DEC
Evaluate the software and propose any modifications that may need
to be made for incorporating the new benchmarks as well as another
module for the latent load gain in the cooling mode.
Test the software on the buildings initially studied 10
in Year 1

Project Overview
Work Plan

Year 3
Explain the Benefits of the DECs and its relevance for achieving
energy efficient buildings in Malta
Liaise with BRO for its implementation.
Finalise the Ph.D. Thesis.

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Relevance of Study to Maltas Strategic Priorities

and the EU2020 Strategy
The Cohesion Policy for Malta 2014-2020 clearly puts a priority
on the need to shift to a low carbon economy, through the
support for measures that foster
energy efficiency
smart energy management
renewable energy in in buildings.
Such measures cannot be implemented in the void but such
specialised studies need to be made to ensure that :
Correct and adequate energy efficiency measures taken
contribute towards enhancing knowledge and confidence
so that the strategic priorities are aligned in such a way
that buildings will achieve low and even zero net-energy
status in the shortest possible time.
to bring new ideas and approaches with regards to the
achievement of zero energy buildings in Malta.
Not to be over design as the current EPC outputs are
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giving.

Impact of Study on the Development of Malta

Energy use in buildings in Malta is rather high - < 35% of
our total final energy consumption.
Efficient use of energy in buildings is an issue which will
permanently affect and influence all of us unless: we
compromise the quality of life of future generations;
Sustainability by reducing Global warming
Better security to existing finite fossil fuel resources
Social security in sustaining the standard of loving.

If implemented, the proposed methodology will also help to

enhance interest in energy efficiency because the values
given for the energy rating of buildings will be realistic,
factual and sensitive to any variations in the building
envelopes structure and its energy systems.
This will help Malta achieve its targets for energy efficiency
and kick start the design of real zero net-energy buildings
beyond 2020
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Thank You

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