Reducing the use of fossil fuels and senseless consumption has come up in discussions for years. In addition to climate change, the geopolitical situation has become an important factor. Why are thermal modernization and energy efficiency important? What determines their rapid development? What should we emphasize? We talk about this with Dr. Małgorzata Fedorczak-Cisak of the Cracow University of Technology.
Wiktor Bochenek: What does the Malopolska Center for Energy-Efficient Construction do?
Malgorzata Fedorczak-Cisak: The Malopolska Center for Energy-Efficient Construction is an innovative unit of the Cracow University of Technology, which was established to initiate cooperation between scientists and companies and local governments in the area of energy-efficient construction. The staff of MCBE is a team of experts with competence and experience in conducting service, consulting, information, training, promotion activities in the field of transfer of innovative technologies, entrepreneurship and stimulation of innovative projects in the field of low-energy construction. The interaction of scientists and MCBE's group of experts enables the development and implementation of modern, innovative technologies in the field of energy-efficient construction. We have to our credit many innovative products and technologies developed jointly with companies.
Wiktor: What do the terms thermomodernization and energy efficiency really mean?
Margaret: Thermomodernization and energy efficiency have been very important and also catchy buzzwords recently. Since the 1970s, that is, since the oil crisis, also known as the fuel crisis, energy crisis or oil shock, which involved all highly industrialized and oil-dependent countries and all areas of the world economy, a slow process of introducing energy-saving measures in sectors with the highest energy intensity rates, such as construction, began. Energy prices began to become an important component of the budget. At the same time, the noticeable depletion of natural resources and increasing environmental pollution caused the topic of energy efficiency to begin to be discussed at political levels.
We now have a clear direction, adopted by European Union member states - Europe is to be the first zero-carbon continent by 2050. To achieve such ambitious goals, countries are introducing new standards and regulations. As of 2021, a near-zero-energy building standard became mandatory in the EU. Today, an incredible challenge is to improve the energy efficiency of the existing building stock, i.e. the thermal modernization of buildings.
Thermal modernization involves a series of measures aimed at reducing the energy demand for heating and cooling of existing buildings. These measures include insulating walls, replacing windows, replacing plumbing systems, improving the energy efficiency of lighting by replacing incandescent bulbs with LED lighting or introducing building automation. All these measures, improve the energy efficiency of buildings. However, the scope of thermo-modernization measures, or the order in which they are carried out, is very important for them to bring tangible results. This is precisely the kind of advice and expertise that experts from the Malopolska Center for Energy-Efficient Construction provide.
Thermomodernization and energy efficiency are an increasingly important part of the construction industry
Photo: Kindel Media © Pexels
Wiktor: Are changes visible in architecture and construction in terms of thermal modernization and energy efficiency?
Margaret: Yes, of course these activities are visible. However, they are very dependent on financial support systems, especially for thermomodernization measures. Thermal modernization of the building stock is one of Poland's biggest infrastructure challenges, with the long-term goal of achieving zero-carbon by 2050.
However, while buildings put into use in the twenty-first century have good energy efficiency, older buildings have high energy demand and require thermomodernization. Therefore, in order to accelerate the process of thermomodernization, Poland is implementing comprehensive measures to support the renovation of buildings, which include both legislative changes, but also financial support from both national and EU funds. Thermomodernization of building stock is supported with its activities by BGK(the Thermomodernization and Renovation Fund) or the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (e.g. the "Clean Air" program). Additional activities, such as the introduction of quality requirements for solid fuels, requirements for solid fuel boilers, the start of work on the creation of a Central Building Emission Register , the launch of the "Clean Air" and STOP SMOG Programs, provide support for long-term improvement of energy efficiency in buildings, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions or improvement of air quality. Returning to the question, there are many examples of thermal modernization of residential or public buildings in our environment.
Installation solutions such as heat pumps, photovoltaics or other renewable energy sources are beginning to dominate in newly designed buildings, mainly due to the stringent requirements of the near-zero energy building standard.
Renewable energy sources are an important element in modernization processes
Photo: Kindel Media © Pexels
Wiktor: These topics are recurring more and more in the context of not only climate change, but also Russia's war with Ukraine and the shift away from fossil fuels. Can the development of thermal modernization and energy efficiency realistically translate into reducing the use of fossil fuels?
Margaret: Obviously, becoming independent from the supply of energy resources from other countries means switching to renewable energy sources. This is also what is required by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, where a definition is given for the near-zero energy building standard in effect from 2021. It is worth quoting it here.
A near-zeroenergy building means a building with very high energy performance. The nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should come to a very high degree from renewable energy, including renewable energy generated on-site or nearby.
However, the first step is to reduce the energy consumption demand of the building, i.e., to retrofit it, and the next step is to meet this low energy demand with renewable energy sources. This is the key to becoming independent of external energy supplies.
Wiktor: Moving on to certifications, do documents such as BREEAM or LEED make sense ?
Margaret: Certification or multi-criteria assessment of buildings, such as BREEAM or LEED, allows a building to achieve high quality both in terms of energy efficiency, ensuring occupant comfort and minimizing environmental impact.
However, these certifications are lengthy and expensive consulting processes, mostly used for public buildings. In Poland, for example, LEED certification is used for office, industrial, retail, hotel and school space. To answer your question, yes they make sense, as they provide a guarantee of a reliably designed and constructed building.
Wiktor: MCBE is also the creator of the certificate. How does it work, what makes it different?
Malgorzata: The Malopolska Center for Energy Efficient Construction, a unit of the Cracow University of Technology, together with partners Malopolska Energy Efficient Construction Laboratory, the National Energy Conservation Agency and the Polish Academy of Sciences (Institute of Mineral Raw Materials and Energy Management) developed the first Polish Energy Efficient Construction Certificate. Scientists and experts took into account regional climatic conditions and determined the guidelines that such a building should meet in order to be considered energy efficient, healthy and environmentally friendly.
The MCBE PK certificate is the first developed in Poland to certify energy-efficient buildings that meet the Polish definition of near-zero energy buildings. The MCBE Certificate is based on the assumptions that the building must be energy efficient - this will bring financial benefits to the Investor through lower operating costs; it must be well executed, with no execution errors, so MCBE experts will participate with the Investor in the construction, providing their advice; the built building must have a good microclimate and good indoor air quality, i.e. be a healthy and comfortable place where we spend most of our lives, and finally be friendly to the external environment, thus contributing to nature conservation.
An issue that has precipitated policy discussions on thermal upgrading and energy efficiency is the war in Ukraine
photo by Magda Ehlers © Pexels
Wiktor: What is blocking the development of this technology and transformation today from a legal and technological perspective? What directions should be taken in the development of thermomodernization and energy efficiency?
Margaret: The most important element in the development of thermo-modernization and energy efficiency is a consistent system of financial support, guaranteed by the government or other government bodies. Also important is the development of innovative technologies, which is supported by funding programs, for example, by the National Research and Development Center, PARP or regional programs.
It is worth mentioning here programs such as Life or the Małopolska program SPIN - Knowledge Transfer Centers, implemented at the Cracow University of Technology by the Małopolska Center for Energy-Saving Construction, among others. Thanks to these programs, you can receive support in terms of consulting or assistance in writing applications for financing measures to promote energy efficiency.
Wiktor: Thank you for the interview.
