Training courses for building end users

Targeting the increasing demand for quality consumer-oriented information about NZEBs, new short training programmes for non-professional groups are developed. Tailor-made to cover the needs and expectation of public officials (governmental agencies, experts from regional and local administrations, city planners and architects in municipalities), managers of public buildings, policy makers, SMEs, private investors, school and university teachers, NGOs, media representatives, facility managers and end users, they are of great practical help to anyone interested in making their new building project a success. Before the actual roll-out, a set of demonstration courses were conducted in order to test and improve the training concept and to raise the capacity of the trainers to work with non-professional audiences.  As an outcome, a special emphasis is put on financing and administration issues in the execution of energy efficiency projects and on energy management for public authorities and SMEs.
Taking into account the experience gained from the demonstration classroom courses, a concise e-learning course is developed addressing the non-specialist audience. It offers an additional powerful path to spread the word as it effectively fights off existing time constraints, enabling executives with tight agendas to use occasional spare time to build up a solid NZEB-related knowledge base. 
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Main topics covered by the training programmes:

Climate change and sustainable development:

• Basic concepts: energy saving and efficiency in buildings (main definitions) / energy efficiency & RES / energy efficiency in city planning / energy efficiency vs energy poverty / energy efficiency for sustainable development / climate and energy policies – national specifics and EU directives / energy consumption and climate change
• Planning principles: the “bioclimatic” approach / the “Passive House” concept / basic design rules (orientation of buildings, building shape / natural vs artificial lighting / indoor air quality: natural vs artificial hearing, cooling and ventilation, etc.) / building materials

Implementation of nZEB building standard

• Introduction to nZEB / Passive House basic knowledge: Optimal solar gains / Superinsulation / Highly efficient windows / Airtightness /Minimum thermal bridges / Ventilation with heat recovery / Cost effectiveness / Planning and design software

Renovation of existing buildings (building retrofit):

• Characteristics of the existing building stock / specific issues in various categories / energy auditing of buildings – regulations and practices / most frequent (typical) energy saving measures / room for introduction of “step-by-step” approach in retrofitting / role of players – investors (building owners), financiers, designers (architects, engineers), tradespersons, occupants

Integration of RES in buildings and minimization of GHG emissions

• Use of solar energy (Photovoltaics (roof- and façade-mounted) / solar collectors for DHW (domestic hot water) / solar cooling systems);
• Use of geothermal energy (Geothermal systems / heat pumps / air-water heat pumps;
• Use of biomass (Cogeneration and/or three-generation using biomass / pellets-fired boilers, etc.)

Economic viability

• New builds: Current cost of energy and energy price development theories / sustainable economic development with reference to buildings, long-term yields / comparison of capital costs vs saved energy costs / life cycle costs analyses of a Passive Houses in comparison with standard buildings.
• Retrofits: Costs incurred in any case and costs of energy conservation measures: the principle "if it has to be done, then properly"; Calculation of cost-effectiveness of energy saving measures: (a) individual measures: thermal insulation, windows, airtightness, ventilation system in refurbishment with Passive House components (EnerPHit) (b) sets of measures, documentation based on the costs charged in refurbishment with Passive House components; (c) step-by-step renovations

User information and user support

• Ecology and comfort: energy consumption and global warming, CO2, energy saving potential; living comfort and a healthy indoor climate, incl. air quality / opening windows: influence during winter and summer / temporary shading: influence during winter and summer / ventilation unit, special features, maintenance / prevention of dry air in winter / Information sources 

See more about the specific training offers and the contact points at the national BKHs pages

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