Major Change to HVAC Design Requirements

Now the European Parliament has approved the final revision of Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), where does this leave you?

In early April 2018, the EU Parliament reviewed and then approved the final text of the revised EPBD. This was first proposed back in late November 2016, branded as ‘Clean energy for all Europeans’. The revisions are put in place to help the EU meet its 2030 energy and climate goals. The current 2010 Directive will maintain the main features already in place, but also modernise and streamline some other requirements.

One of these additional requirements is to “encourage high-efficiency alternative systems, in so far as this is technically, functionally and economically feasible”, and to “address the issues of healthy indoor climate conditions”.

Another requirement is that “the energy needs for space heating, space cooling, domestic hot water and ventilation shall be calculated in order to optimise health, indoor air quality and comfort levels”. The shift of including health, indoor air quality and comfort into the calculation is a significant expansion of the scope of the Directive.

Although energy is at the core of EPBD, there is a now a wider aspect of overall building performance. “Energy efficiency cannot be viewed in isolation but needs to be considered as part of a holistic and systematic approach to a building”.

What does all of this mean for the HVAC industry? Industry leading expert Hywel Davies, CIBSE Technical Director, points out that “the new Directive does not come into force until December 2019, but the UK needs to take serious steps to reduce the energy demands”. He also added, “we will need to engage seriously with the revised EPBD, and it is likely to feature in the discussions in the months to come”.

To review the upcoming revised additions of EPBD, ask yourself the following questions about your current system:

1. Is it a high-efficiency alternative system?
2. Does it address issues of healthy indoor climate conditions?
3. Does it offer space heating, space cooling, domestic hot water and ventilation?
4. Does it optimise both health and comfort levels?
5. Will you be affected come December 2019?

Now ask yourself, what would you do if there was an all-in-one system that complies with EPBD? With the innovative Ingenious Air® System; a revolutionary induction indoor air distribution system, it offers all the above and more. It creates the ultimate, complete and holistic indoor climate solution; a safe indoor haven. Additional benefits include:

1. Draught-free cooling with lowered relative humidity, with air that is distributed evenly, gently and continuously.
2. Comfortable heating with de-stratification, with each occupant being warmed at the same rate, within 1°C of the thermostat.
3. High specification air purification (HEPS), dramatically reduces disease-causing viruses and bacteria, allergens, fungal spores and dust. It also removes harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrous oxide, formaldehyde and other pollutants.
4. Probiotic purification produces beneficial bacteria, supporting your well-being and cleans air, surfaces and objects, especially in those hard to reach areas.
5. Compatible with all sustainable energy sources including the Ingenious Solar range, which provides all your hot water needs for as little as £26 a year.

Backed by years of experience, research and development, various case studies and installed in trusted brands such as Apple, Subway, Pandora and more, Ingenious Air continues to strive for a healthier indoor climate – one system at a time.

Davies, CIBSE. (2018). European Parliament approves revised EPBD. Published 23 April 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.