World retrofitting strategies

In Jordan, we almost have no long-term strategies for retrofitting existing buildings and we also have limited access to retrofitting funds; therefore, an overview of world retrofitting strategies can be useful as a guideline for future planning in this respect. We shall discuss voluntary programmes first, and then move on to the more serious mandatory ones.

One of government strategies to learn from: “The Better Buildings Initiative”, launched by the US Department of Energy in 2011 to improve the energy efficiency of commercial, institutional, and residential buildings by 20 per cent by 2020. The initiative provides technical assistance, financing and recognition to participating building owners and operators.

There is also the “Energy Star” programme which is a voluntary programme established in 1992 run by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that provides energy performance ratings and certifications for buildings, as well as a range of energy efficiency resources and tools, best practices for energy management, and training programmes for building professionals.

There are also certification programmes, such as: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), run by the US Green Building Council, it evaluates and certifies buildings based on their overall environmental performance, including energy efficiency. Buildings can achieve different levels of certification based on their performance in categories such as passive architectural design, thermal insulation, energy efficiency, water use and indoor air quality. Some commercial buildings have been credited in Jordan, but not residences.

Others are the Building Performance Institute (BPI) which is a nonprofit organisation that offers training and certification for building professionals to improve the energy performance of homes and buildings; The Home Energy Score program, run by the US Department of Energy, which provides a simple and affordable assessment of a home's energy efficiency, including an energy efficiency score and recommendations for improvements.

In Canada, several programmes exist such as: “The Canada Greener Homes Grant”, launched in 2020 by the Canadian government to provide homeowners with grants of up to $5,000 to retrofit their homes to improve energy efficiency. The target aims to retrofit 700,000 homes by 2027, reduce carbon emissions, and create jobs in the green economy; the “Energy Star” programme that provides energy performance ratings and certifications for buildings, as well as a range of energy efficiency resources and tools; Canada Greener Homes Grant, a new programme launched in 2020 that provides grants of up to $5,000 to homeowners to help them make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes.

In the United Kingdom “The Green Homes Grant”, was launched in 2020 to provide homeowners with vouchers worth up to £5,000 to retrofit their homes with energy-efficient measures. The target is 600,000 homes by 2021, create jobs and boost the economy. 

In Germany “The KfW Energy Efficiency Programme”, was launched in 2006 to provide low-interest loans to homeowners and businesses to finance energy-efficient retrofits.

In France “The Energy Saving Certificate” was launched in 2005 to provide financial incentives to homeowners and businesses to undertake energy-efficient retrofit. 

In the UAE, “Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030” aims to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings by 30 per cent by 2030.

In Australia, “Green Star” is a certification programme for buildings that promotes sustainable design and construction practices. Buildings can achieve different levels of certification based on their performance in categories such as energy efficiency, water efficiency and materials.

However, there are more efficient mandatory programmes such as the California Energy Commission Energy Code which is a set of energy efficiency standards for buildings in California that includes mandatory energy performance requirements and guidelines for new construction and major renovations.

In the United Kingdom, the Energy Performance Certificates are mandatory for all buildings that are sold, rented, or constructed in the UK. They provide a rating of the energy efficiency of the building and recommend measures to improve its energy efficiency.

Similarly, the French DPE is an energy performance assessment programme for buildings in France that was created in 2006 and is mandatory for all buildings that are sold or rented out. The DPE programme aims to evaluate and classify a building's energy efficiency based on its heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and hot water systems. The evaluation results in a rating system ranges from A (very efficient) to G (very inefficient). This rating system is designed to inform potential buyers or renters about the building's energy performance and help them make more informed decisions when choosing a property.

The DPE programme is an important part of France's efforts to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. It is also intended to encourage property owners to invest in energy-efficient measures to improve the energy performance of their buildings that could lead to energy savings of up to 50 per cent. The French government has set ambitious targets for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from buildings 38 per cent by 2030, compared to 2012 levels; an admirable example to aspire for.