Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1477424
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 AUGUST 2022 12 COMMERCIAL Making our buildings more energy- efficient through standardisation NOWADAYS, the subject of sustainability has become a more prominent topic of dis- cussion in the general fora. This is mainly due to several factors, including the global warming factor, general pol- lution and urbanisation, rising energy prices due to the de- pendence on fossil fuels. Build- ings are responsible for a large share of the world's energy consumption and contribute towards emissions. In Malta, these directly con- tribute to around 15% of the total GHG emissions and are a key sector in our efforts to- wards a climate-neutral EU. This besides the indirect con- tribution to emissions due to use of energy including elec- tricity. The Long Term Ren- ovation Strategy (LTRS) pub- lished by the Government of Malta in 2021 sets a clear di- rection for the next 30 years providing measures to ensure carbon emissions reduction from buildings. First, one needs to understand the essence of energy-efficient design in residential, commer- cial and industrial premises. The overall scope of building energy-efficient buildings is to be able to construct buildings that are more sustainable, less expensive to operate, homes that are more comfortable to live in, and more environmen- tally friendly. All this results in a reduction in emissions. It is indeed a win-win situation. Consequently, the Building and Construction Authority is committed to start with an educational campaign with the main aim of changing our buildings to be more energy ef- ficient. This will partially support to- wards reaching the European Union target on its climate and energy goals. In this respect, the EU has in 2021 revised the directive which will help reach the building and renovation goals set out in the European Green Deal. The European Commission has proposed to move from nearly-zero ener- gy buildings to zero emission buildings by 2030. This is all compliant with the extensive work being carried out by the European Commission on transitioning towards a circu- lar economy, which includes measures along the entire life cycle of products promoting circular economy process- es, fostering sustainable con- sumption and guaranteeing less waste. This is why, in the Construc- tion and Demolition Waste Strategy for Malta published by the Environment & Resources Authority includes a number of elements which will help fu- ture buildings be more energy efficient. One element is the standardisation of dimensions of internal and external aper- tures of buildings, particularly in household dwellings. Such a measure is aimed at encour- aging the re-use of fittings and the reduction of diversifica- tion, leading to less generated waste. With such measures of stand- ardisation, the Building and Construction Authority's tar- get is to provide newly built dwellings, several benefits for the years to come. Standard- ising aperture sizes will mean that apertures may be inter- changeable and more acces- sible, whilst repairs and re- placements would be easier. To encourage the reduction of waste, consumers may also re-use older standard aperture fittings. The measures of standardi- sation also bring several ben- efits to producers and design- ers. In fact, standardisation would mean that producers can focus and stick-on stand- ard openings, and thus reduce their overall cost of produc- tion. Furthermore, these meas- ures would make life easier for designers who would work on standard sizes from the initial design of buildings. From a waste perspective, standardisation opens an op- portunity for raw materials to produce in modules, meaning that less waste of raw material would be generated. This measure, which shall eventually form part of a wid- er National Building and Con- struction Code by the Building and Construction Authority should be viewed as an op- portunity, which will set the path towards an efficient and effective construction and de- velopment waste management system. Furthermore, such measures will help protect our environment and human health from waste related pol- lution. B U I L D I N G & CO N ST R U C T I O N AUTHORITY