Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Admitting holistic approach to building design, delivery and operation and a paradigm that envisions buildings as energy producers and not solely or primarily as energy sinks, UNECE develops framework guidelines for energy efficiency standards in buildings, conducts research on existing energy efficiency standards and technologies in buildings in the UNECE region, etc.

Framework Guidelines for Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings

UNECE promotes development and dissemination of international standards in energy efficiency, and specifically, the Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing and the UNECE Framework Guidelines for Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings (the Framework Guidelines). Endorsed by the UNECE Committee on Sustainable Energy and the Committee on Housing and Land Management, the Framework Guidelines call for:

• Dissemination to ensure that national, regional and municipal leaders in the public, private, research and education sectors must be made aware of the framework’s vision, logic, practicality, and advantages.
• Education to provide information and guidance to all players to foster local development of building standards, codes and practices that are aligned with the Framework.
• Research through a collaboration among leaders in science and technology to focus on challenges in such areas as: (1) building components and materials; (2) building design, construction and monitoring; (3) energy generation and distribution; (4) integrated urban systems and life cycle management; and (5) strategies for each country and climate zone to be carbon-free by 2050.
• Consultation to establish formal and informal communication channels with local policy, market, and knowledge stakeholders for evaluation of impact, dialogue on in impact strategy, addressing discovered or unanticipated challenges, and cultivating global consensus in support of the Framework.
• Participation through institution of networks of support and engagement among leading corporations, foundations, universities, professions, civil society and others with the array of resources – intellectual, experiential, financial, and relational – that will be required to enable deep transformation.

In accordance with its Work Plan for 2020-2021 (ECE/ENERGY/2019/8, Section II.B) the Group of Experts on Energy Efficiency reviewed the Framework Guidelines for Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings and proposed an updated version of the document. The document was considered and approved by the Group of Experts at its seventh session (22 and 25 September 2020).