Implementationof the EPBD in

1. Introduction

In Malta, legislation and regulationrelating to energy efficiency in buildingsimposed limited extra measures due to theprevalent mild climate and relatively lowenergy use in buildings. The EnergyPerformance of Buildings Directive(Directive 2002/91/EC and its recast,Directive 2010/31/EU ‐ EPBD) wastransposed through a number of statutoryinstruments over the period 2006‐2015.

Legal Notice 238 of 2006 set out minimumrequirements on the energy performanceof buildings. These were the first everlegally binding regulations relating tooverall energy performance of buildings inMalta. Requirements for energyperformance certification were set outunder Legal Notice 261 of 2008. This legalnotice, which transposed the Directive2002/91/EC into national legislationthrough the provisions of the ‘MaltaResources Authority Act (CAP 423)’, alsoset out requirements for the inspection ofheating and Air‐Conditioning (AC) systems.Following the Directive 2010/31/EU, LegalNotice 376 of 2012, titled ‘EnergyPerformance of Buildings Regulations2012’ was issued in October 2012 throughthe provisions of the ‘Building RegulationAct (CAP 513)’ and the ‘Malta ResourcesAuthority Act’. This transposed Directive2010/31/EU into law and superseded allprevious legal notices. This legal noticehas been instrumental in implementingenergy performance requirements inMalta.

This report illustrates the process bywhich Malta implemented the EPBD. It alsogives a detailed picture of the status ofimplementation of the EPBD up until late2015. The aspects described in this reportinclude the systems for energyperformance certification of buildings,training of energy performance assessors,current energy performance minimumrequirements, cost‐optimal studies carriedout and emanating proposals, steps takentowards upgrading minimum requirements,inspection of heating and AC systems,training of inspectors, quality control andauditing, information campaigns,incentives and subsidies.

Since October 2012, the responsibilitiesfor the EPBD implementation lay with theBuilding Regulation Office (BRO) and theBuilding Regulation Board (BRB), within theMinistry of Transport and Infrastructure.

2. Current status ofImplementation of the EPBD

I. ENERGY PERFORMANCEREQUIREMENTS

Prior to the first steps towards theimplementation of the EPBD, no particularlegislation treated energy efficiency inbuildings in Malta. This was partially due tothe mild climate and the traditionalvernacular buildings, which due to theirhigh thermal mass and other designfeatures are not particularly avid energyusers. Legal Notice 238 of 2006 introduced

NATIONAL WEBSITE www.epc.gov.mt

STATUS IN DECEMBER 2015Malta

AUTHORSMatthew DeGiorgio,Carmelo Barbara,Building RegulationOffice (BRO)Ministry forTransport andInfrastructure (MTI)

minimum requirements for all buildings(Figure 1). These minimum requirementstackled various aspects ranging fromconstruction of the building envelope tolighting systems and other technicalcomponents. In view of Malta’s warmclimate, these minimum requirementsintroduced limits for the size andpositioning of glazing to reduceoverheating (Table 1). Requirements tolimit thermal losses through the buildingfabric included maximum thermaltransmittance values for all buildingelements. The adopted requirements forwalls reflected the local practice ofconstructing external cavity walls withtwo 150 mm thick stone leafs. Thispractice was at the time being replacedby a system of a single hollow concreteblock wall and therefore was reducing thethermal performance of the buildingenvelope.

Due to the lack of freshwater available onthe island and the dependency ongroundwater and desalinated water, therequirements also included mandatoryrainwater conservation through thecompulsory construction of water cisternsand use of the rainwater for flushing andirrigation purposes in all new buildings.

I.i. Progress and current statusThe minimum energy performancerequirements that were introduced in2006 for all new residential and non‐residential buildings, were in the form oftechnical guidance documents. Theseminimum requirements take a broadlyelemental approach to energyperformance and are identical for bothresidential and non‐residential buildings.The minimum requirements are alsoapplicable to existing buildings wherethese are subject to major renovations.The latter was clearly defined in the“Energy Performance of BuildingsRegulations LN 376” of 2012 whichsuperseded previous legislation. Whereexisting buildings undergo suchrenovation, the minimum energyperformance requirements for therenovated parts of the building are thesame as those for new buildings.

I.ii. Format of nationaltransposition and implementationof existing regulationsLegal Notice 376 of 2012 issued by theMinistry of Resources and Rural Affairskept the same provisions for energyperformance in buildings requirementsadopted in 2006, and transposed otherprovisions of the Directive 2010/31/EU,including cost‐optimal framework anddevelopment of plans for Nearly Zero‐Energy Buildings (NZEBs).

The minimum requirements are applicableto all new buildings, as well as thoseundergoing major renovations.

The minimum requirements includeprovisions on the following aspects:

> maximum thermal transmittance factorsfor all elements to prevent the passageof heat through the building fabric(Figure 2);

> requirements to calculate the effect ofthermal bridges and limits to preventexcessive heat loss through suchthermal bridges;

Figure 1:National

requirements for allnew buildings.

Figure 2:Maximum thermal

transmittance factorsfor all buildings.

Table 2:Provisions for the controls of heating and cooling systems

(table F.5 of building regulations).

Table 1:Provisions on minimum requirements for the limiting of

overheating enable compliance by limiting glazing areasaccording to orientation (table F.4 of the building regulations).

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> indoor air quality is ensured by minimumbackground ventilation rates, which areusually provided in the form of tricklevents, however no separate provisionsfor building infiltration rates are present;

> limits on the glazed areas to limit thepassage of heat, while providingflexibility for designers to increasethese glazed areas by further improvingthermal performance of individual itemsof the building envelope;

> overheating mitigation from solar gainsby limiting glazed areas according toorientation (Table 2), while retainingflexibility by allowing designers to usealternative methods of calculation totake into consideration elements such asshading devices. With regards to thelatter, the designer is permitted toincrease maximum glazing areas if suchareas are shaded and only the limits forthermal transmittance apply;

> controls on artificial lighting systems;> conservation and use of rainwater

collected on the roofs and sites;> controls and insulation of heating and

cooling systems.Since Malta adopted, at that time (2006),an elemental approach towards buildingenvelope energy performance and not anoverall energy demand approach, complianceto the minimum energy performancerequirements does not consist of calculationswith set thermal comfort parameters.After 1 January 2016, the different overallperformance benchmarks for differentcategories of residential units and otherbuilding types enter into force through newlegislation issued at the end of 2015.

The BRO is responsible for setting QualityAssurance (QA) procedures and strategy.The Malta Environment and PlanningAuthority has been involved in the strategy

and procedures for QA. These strategieshave been designed to tackle any issuesidentified at very early stages in buildingdesign. As such, the BRO is in some casesconsulted by the Malta Environment andPlanning Authority during early stages ofdesign of new buildings.

I.iii. Cost­optimal procedure forsetting energy performancerequirementsMalta has carried out cost‐optimal studiesfor residential and non‐residential buildings.The studies for residential buildingsidentified 7 reference typologies for newbuildings and 14 for existing ones, takinginto consideration a wide spectrum ofbuilding typologies and constructionsystems. Existing reference buildingsincluded a variety of constructions built overthe last century, thus mirroring practicallyall parts of the current building stock.

Energy efficiency measures applied to thereference buildings included measuresrelated to heating, cooling, Domestic HotWater (DHW) and lighting, together withcontribution from Renewable EnergySources (RES). Cost‐optimality studiesincluded the application of 225permutations of energy efficient packagesfor each residential reference building.

An elemental analysis was carried out todetermine the cost‐optimal level ofbuilding elements (e.g., parts of thebuilding fabric), or systems in majorrenovations or replacement.

Results showed that the then currentminimum requirements were cost‐optimalfor some elements (e.g., roofs), whilelower than cost‐optimal level for otherelements (e.g., glazing). Where it ispossible to install solar RES, these arecost‐optimal in all situations affectingoverall energy demand considerably.

Figure 3:Graph showingprimary energyagainst global costfor a referencehouse.

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For the vast majority of cases, the newresidential reference buildings with cost‐optimal overall energy demand inkWh/m2.year was found to be lower thanthat for the reference buildings builtaccording to then current minimumrequirements. The gap between currentminimum requirements and cost‐optimallevels due to the building fabric andbuilding systems was found to be slightlyabove the 15% threshold. Amendments tocurrent minimum requirements were beingprepared, which include a total buildingenergy performance indicator together withlimits for elements. By means of statutoryinstruments introduced in late 2015, thesenew revised minimum requirements enterinto force as of 1 January 2016.

For non‐residential buildings, studies havealso shown that the new referencebuildings with cost‐optimal overall energydemand in kWh/m2.year are more energyefficient than the reference buildingsbuilt according to current minimumrequirements. The overall gap betweencurrent minimum requirements and cost‐optimal levels due to the improved fabricand systems varies between 20% and 45%,according to the building typology.Proposals for the improvement of currentminimum energy performancerequirements were formulated.

I.iv. Action plan for progressiontowards Nearly Zero­EnergyBuildings (NZEBs)Legal notice 376 of 2012 requires a shifttowards NZEBs by 2018 for new buildingsoccupied and owned by public authorities,and 2020 for all new buildings. Studies todevelop a NZEB plan for Malta, undertakenrecently, where carried out in close

coordination with the studies carried out forcost‐optimality. A number of energyefficiency measures were applied inpackages to reference buildings in such away to achieve nearly zero energy levels.Such packages were analysed from afinancial point of view to determine whichmeasures are capable of achieving these twoenergy levels at the lowest cost over thebuilding life‐cycle. NZEB levels were shownto be tighter than cost‐optimal levels.

Over the past few years, the MaltaResources Authority in collaboration withthe BRB and the BRO have been responsiblefor drawing up the National EnergyEfficiency Action Plan (NEEAP), togetherwith other national plans in order to ensurean increase in the number of NZEBs, and toincrease the integration of RES in newbuildings and buildings undergoing majorrenovation. The latter is consideredessential in reaching NZEB levels locally.

A NZEB plan has been developed andapproved with input from all authoritiesconcerned. The plan defines and setsparameters for NZEBs in Malta. The NZEBdefinition is based on requirements for theoverall primary energy balance. Forresidential buildings, this varies from55 kWh/m2.year to 115 kWh/m2.year.The overall energy demand is calculatedaccording to the national calculationmethodologies, thus creating a level ofcorrelation between minimumrequirements and energy performancecertification methodologies. The NZEB planincludes requirements for the integrationof RES for all buildings (Figure 5).

The plan outlines existing incentives andschemes and those that are shown to beable to create the best possibleenvironment to achieve NZEB levels.

Figure 4:Graph showing thecost­optimal range

for an office (centralenergy price, 5%

discount rate).

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The role of the central government insetting an example for the construction ofNZEB has been particularly concentratedin the construction of low‐energy schoolsand educational buildings. This sector hastraditionally set an example in Maltawhere, in the post‐war period, the use ofnatural light and ventilation in schoolswas shown to be capable of reducingenergy use drastically. A number ofschools on the island have shown that it ispossible to create positive energybuildings, particularly with the integrationof solar RES within the building, ornearby. Non‐state schools have also showna capability to attain low energy levels,where 13 church schools have undergonerenovations and integrated RES, reducingdelivered energy demand by 647 MWhannually.

In the private residential sector, 27% ofnew houses in 2012 have a primaryenergy demand of less than60 kWh/m2.year.

Financial incentives in the form of grantsand feed‐in tariffs have been adoptedover the last few years and have beentargeted at those measures capable ofachieving NZEB levels. A scheme is beingimplemented to create financialincentives for achieving NZEB levels.Positive fiscal measures and advantageousbank loans for retrofitting energy efficientbuildings have also been available overthe past few years.

I.v. Implementation of the EnergyEfficiency Directive (EED)regarding building renovationand the exemplary role of publicbuildings

In line with Article 4 of the EnergyEfficiency Directive (Directive2012/27/EU ‐ EED), data has beencollected and compiled about buildingsoccupied by the central government. Thisincluded on‐site surveys, such that thelatest available information about energycharacteristics was collected. Energyaudits have been carried out on most ofthe buildings occupied by the centralgovernment, making information aboutenergy use and intensities available.Analysis of this data has shown that 77%of buildings have an actual deliveredenergy use of less than 107 kWh/m2,which is considered as good practice.Buildings with higher energy use will beprioritised for renovation, which willachieve minimum savings of 555 MWh ofdelivered energy.

II. REQUIREMENTS FORTECHNICAL BUILDINGSYSTEMS (TBS)

Energy efficiency requirements forTechnical Building Systems (TBS) wereintroduced along with the first issue ofminimum energy performancerequirements. These includedrequirements for the control of heatingsystems, the control of cooling systems,conventional hot water storage systems,artificial lighting systems, display lightingin buildings and conservation of rainwater.

A new set of minimum energyperformance requirements for TBS havebeen drawn‐up and will come into forcefrom January 2016 (Figure 6). These arebased on the UK building servicescompliance guides (both residential andnon‐residential buildings). The BRO hascommissioned this new document toaddress in a better way the EPBDrequirements, namely the requirement forproper installations, adjustments andcontrols of the TBS. This document will bepart of the new minimum energyperformance requirements in Malta.

III. ENERGY PERFORMANCECERTIFICATES (EPCs)REQUIREMENTS

III.i. Progress and current statuson sale or rental of buildingsEnergy Performance Certificates (EPCs)were first introduced in Malta by means ofLegal Notice 261 of 2008, and were mademandatory for houses when built, sold or

Figure 6:TechnicalDocument F ­ part 2­ Minimumrequirements forbuilding services.

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Figure 5:Possibilities for the defining inclusionof renewable technologies in proposed NZEB plan.

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rented after 2 January 2009. For all otherbuildings, an EPC was made mandatory asfrom 1 June 2009. A seller or landlord isrequired to produce an EPC (Figure 7),and to hand it over to the prospectivebuyer or new tenant at the date ofentering the contract of promise of sale orrent agreement at the latest.

A methodology called ‘EnergyPerformance of Residential Dwellings inMalta (EPRDM)’ has been developed and isthe only approved methodology for theissue of EPCs for housing.

Where a building is not yet constructed,the EPC is based on a ‘design rating’, whileEPCs for completed buildings are based onan ‘asset rating’ (Figure 8). In either case,the EPC is valid for 10 years from the dateof issue. All EPCs are stored in a singlecentral database, with 10,580 certificates

issued up to the end of 2015. In the case ofmulti‐family buildings, a certificate isissued for each residential unit as anindividual entity.

An EPC is accompanied byrecommendations applicable specificallyto the building in question. Theserecommendations are not generatedautomatically, but drawn up individuallyby the assessors, who are all building orengineering professionals, or accreditedassessors in other EU countries. Suchrecommendations provide the actualbenefit in improving the overall energyperformance of the building stock in thelong term.

In case of houses, a schedule ofspecifications and building characteristicsis included within the EPC. When abuilding under construction is certified,the assessor is involved at design stage,giving valuable advice regarding energyefficiency, which in small projects wouldotherwise not be available.

The owner of a residential unit (single‐family house or apartment) being soldtypically pays from 225 €, in case of anapartment, to 450 €, in case of morecomplicated houses, for the issue of an EPC.This fee includes the registration chargelevied by the BRO, which covers part of theexpenses used to run and update the EPCweb portal and certificate auditing systems.

An owner who fails to produce thecertificate to the authorities within60 days from when requested to do so,can incur a fine of between 500 € and1,500 €. No fines have been issued to dateas strategy is aimed towards compliance.

In Malta, prospective assessors have tosuccessfully undertake a period of trainingon the assessment of the energyperformance of buildings constructed inMalta and the methodology adopted forcertification of buildings. The training

Figure 8:Extract from data

reflection reportsubmitted by

assessors andreceived by BRO. This

document givesdetailed information

about the buildingwhich is useful forquality assurance

purposes.

Figure 7:‘Asset’ energy

performancecertificate for houses.

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course and course content is subject toapproval by the BRB. Successfulparticipants have to obtain an overall passmark of at least 80% after having attendedat least 80% of the course lectures. Most ofthe course participants have qualified andregistered to become assessors. Assessorsfor building energy performance registeredin other EU Member States (MSs) canregister directly with the BRO. Most of theassessors for non‐residential buildingcertification are also assessors for theresidential buildings, with just over180 assessors in total. Training is currentlyunderway with 150 new assessors expectedto be registered by the end of 2015.

Enforcement of the system has beencarried out since the system was launched.To better enable enforcement, a jointaction has been initiated by the BRO andthe Authority responsible for the issue ofbuilding permits, whereby planningapplications may be viewed in the veryearly stages, to ensure that all EPCrequirements have been met. Statistics forcompliance by sector are not available.

Auditing of the EPCs has been entrusted tothe Malta Competition and ConsumerAffairs Authority (MCCAA). A statisticallysignificant sample of certificates isroutinely audited on a yearly basis. For2014, a sample of just over 300 EPCs wasaudited. A smaller sample is audited to ahigher detail and may include locationvisits. EPCs may also be audited if valuesare out of range, if issued on the sameaddress as other certificates, or if they arethe first certificates issued by a specificassessor, or following complaints fromclients. Policy has been targeting at the re‐issue of certificates if these are found tobe lacking, with levy of re‐issue fee.

III.ii. Progress and current statuson public and large buildingsvisited by the publicInformation sessions and seminars havebeen delivered regarding therequirements for the issue of EPCs forbuildings larger than 500 m2 occupied by apublic authority and frequently visited bythe public. Up to 2014, 52 EPCs have beenissued for central government buildings. Anumber of other entities are in theprocess of commissioning an EPC during2015. A list of all buildings occupied bythe government has been compiled.Available data includes floor areas of thebuildings and the actual energy use.Enforcement of the display of the EPCs inpublic buildings is being carried outaccording to this data, and QA is carriedout as part of the overall auditing system.

III.iii. Implementation ofmandatory advertisingrequirementAs from 2012, legislation requires theowner or agent of a building offered forsale or rent to display the energyperformance indicator of the EPC incommercial media. Information sessionsand day conferences have been carriedout with the association of real estateagents, to inform estate agents of theserequirements. The BRO is in the processof intensifying operations to increaseuptake of energy performance indicatorsin commercial media.

III.iv. Information campaignsThe implementation of the EPBD in Malta ispart of a greater picture where energyefficiency is promoted at all levels andacross all sectors of energy use. Theauthorities acknowledge that informing thepublic about energy efficiency facilitatesthe implementation of the EPBD bypromoting public awareness leading to ademand for energy efficient buildings. TheBRO, in some cases in conjunction withother government authorities, hasorganised and participated in severalevents in relation to the implementation ofthe EPBD including:

> prominent roadside advertisements(Figure 9) encouraging persons toadvertise a sale of property by providingthe EPC to estate agents;

> articles in local printed media topromote energy efficiency and outliningrequirements of the EPBD (Figure 10);

Figure 9:Roadsideadvertisementswere installedthroughout Malta aspart of promotioncampaigns.

Figure 10:Article in localmagazineshowing principles ofenergy efficiency andsimple energyefficiency techniques,and informing thepublic on how theserelate to EPCs.

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> participation in radio and televisionbroadcasts by members of the BRO withlive phone‐ins from the public to promotevarious aspects of the EPBD, e.g., thecontribution of EPCs to energy efficiency;

> advertisements in local printed nationalnewspapers encouraging persons toadvertise a sale of property by providingthe EPC to estate agents;

> delivering a series of in‐service coursesfor teachers regarding climate changeand energy efficiency, where teachersmay then impart knowledge to studentslater in science lessons, creating amultiplier effect;

> delivering lectures regarding the EPBDand energy efficiency to the public atlocal level in events organised by thelocal councils;

> promoting energy efficiency themes viabrochures and videos during variousevents, through a supporting campaigncalled the Switch campaign;

> distributing brochures informing aboutthe requirements for EPCs when sellingand advertising a property (Figure 11);

> updating the BRO’s website to provide thelatest information about various aspectsof the EPBD and energy efficiency.

III.v. Coverage of the nationalbuilding stockFor the 152,000 households in Malta,about 9,400 EPCs have been issued till theend of November 2015, translated intoaround 6% of all households. Withapproximately 500 EPCs issued eachmonth, this is expected to increase at arate of around 1% per year. The system

for the non‐residential sector wasinitiated later, and the coverage at theend of 2013 was less than 1%.

III.vi. Other relevant plans

The government has taken an activeapproach, where implementation isfacilitated by a number of incentives. Oneof such incentives was the provision of anumber of energy efficient lamps to everyfamily in Malta. This increased the take‐up of energy efficient lamps, and latestdata shows 95% of households arepowered by energy efficient lighting.

Financial incentives include rebates on anarray of measures and systems including:

> solar water heaters;

> roof or wall insulation;

> double glazing;

> energy efficient appliances (A rated);

> AC with minimum energy efficiencyclass A and an output equal to or lessthan 12 kW.

The installation of photovoltaic panels andmicro wind turbines are promoted by agenerous feed‐in tariff together with a grantof 50% of the initial cost of the system.

IV. INSPECTIONREQUIREMENTS – HEATINGAND AIR­CONDITIONING(AC) SYSTEMS

Requirements for mandatory inspectionswere first established in Malta by LegalNotice 238 of 2006, followed by LegalNotice 261 of 2008. These requirementswere superseded by Legal Notice 376 of2012, issued after Directive 2010/31/EUcame into effect, where mandatoryinspections have been adopted again. TheBRO has been entrusted with establishingand maintaining a system for theregistration of EPCs. The BRB hasapproved the guidance documentsoutlining methodologies proposed by theBRO and established the respectiveinspection frequencies.

IV.i. Progress and currentstatus on heating systemsInspections of heating systems are carriedout on the accessible parts of systems usedfor space heating of buildings with boilersof an effective rated output of 20 kW orgreater (Figure 12). Inspections follow themethodology issued by the BRO, which hasbeen based on MSA EN 15378:2007, andadopted to meet the requirements ofDirective 2010/31/EU. The inspectionfrequencies for boilers exceeding 100 kW

Figure 11:Advert distributed toprospective property

buyers and allpersons enteringpromise of sale.

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are set according to the type of fuel used.For boilers with an effective rated outputof 20 ‐ 100 kW, the maximum inspectioninterval is set at 4 years (Table 3).Inspection frequencies remain unchangedin the case where an electronic monitoringand control system is in place.

The essential aspects of an inspectioninclude a documentation review, a visualinspection of the heating systemequipment, including generation,distribution, emission and controls, and amandatory combustion efficiency analysis.The heating systems inspectors make anassessment of the boiler efficiency andsizing. Inspectors are also required todraw up recommendations for cost‐effective improvement of the energyperformance of the inspected system(s).

The BRO has established training ofinspectors for heating systems in line withthe methodology developed. Courses weredelivered in collaboration with the MaltaChamber of Engineers. Candidates for theinspector training course are required topossess a degree in mechanical and/orbuilding services engineering, be warrantedas engineers, and show experience in designand/or maintenance of heating systems.Candidates who successfully sit for thecourse assessment may register with theBRO to become registered heating systemsinspectors. Such registration is valid for5 years. To date, there are eleven registeredheating systems inspectors. This list is keptupdated and published on the BRO website.

The inspection reports must be submittedto the BRO for registration and qualitycontrol checks. Monitoring and QA ofinspection reports received are delegatedto the Malta Competition and ConsumerAffairs Authority which is an independentauthority, and can ensure that anadequate level of quality is maintained.

IV.ii. Progress and current statuson AC systemsInspections of AC systems are carried outon the accessible parts of AC systems withan effective rated output of more than12 KW. Inspections follow the methodologyissued by the BRO which has been based on“TM 44: Inspection of Air‐conditioningsystems”, 2012, issued by the CharteredInstitute of Building Services Engineers, UK(CIBSE).

Inspection frequencies remain unchangedin the case where an electronic monitoringand control system is in place. Thefrequency of inspections for AC systemshaving an effective rated output of morethan 12 kW have been approved by theBRB, and are shown in Table 4.

The inspections of AC systems addresscollection of data and compiling of allnecessary system documentation,appropriate maintenance of the systems,energy efficient operation of the system,recommendations for the cost‐effectiveimprovements to the system. Inspectionsalso include an assessment of the ACefficiency and sizing, compared to thecooling requirements of the building.

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Table 3:Required frequency of inspections for heating systems.

Table 4:Required frequency of inspections for AC systems.

Figure 12:Process adopted for determiningif inspection for heating system is warranted.

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The BRO has been organising trainingcourses for AC inspectors. Entryrequirements for the AC inspectors courseare a degree in mechanical and/orbuilding service engineering, a warrant topractice as engineers, and experience indesign and/or maintenance of AC systems.Training courses were entrusted to theChamber of Engineers, and were deliveredin collaboration with the CharteredInstitute of Building Services Engineers,UK (CIBSE).

Candidates who are successful in the finalassessment, may then proceed to registerwith the BRO as AC system inspectors fora period of 5 years. A list of registered ACsystem inspectors is kept updated andpublished on the BRO website.

The BRO receives the submitted ACinspection reports which are thenregistered and validated. The MaltaCompetition and Consumer AffairsAuthority has been entrusted with thesetting up of an independent qualitycontrol system for monitoring and QA ofthe AC inspection reports.

3. A success story in EPBDimplementation

The EPBD was introduced in Malta within acontext where energy performanceregulation was scarce and resources,human or otherwise, were very limited.The authorities responsible for theimplementation of most of the aspects ofthe directive initially encountered variousproblems including lack of awareness,resistance from the industry to newsystems, lack of resources to ensure thatprivate industry was adhering torequirements of the EPBD. Eventually, aprocess was initiated were variousauthorities started to collaborate in sucha way that information and someresources could be shared. This improvedthe level of implementation considerably.

4. Conclusions, future plans

The introduction of the EPBD in Malta wasimplemented together with a general shifttowards energy efficiency. The impact ofthe implementation of the EPBD has yetto be quantified, and when this is done itis very difficult to qualify which increasedefficiencies are due to the EPBD. For newbuildings, the improvement due to the

introduction of minimum requirementsaccording to the EPBD has been estimatedat somewhere between 15 and 25%.However, with a very large existingbuilding stock compared to new buildingsbeing built, the improvement may besmall overall.

An analysis of a sample of EPCs for housesshows that the energy performance of newhouses has shown a slight improvementover the last few years. Across all sectorsof energy use, a reduction of CO2 emissionswas attained where, according to Eurostat,2013 values were 6.8% lower than in theprevious year.

Statistics show that houses were builtover various periods, with only just about1% of the current stock being added everyyear. The energy use for residentialbuildings has been shown to be lowoverall, and therefore the reduction inCO2 emissions from this sector is expectedto be low.

On the other hand, offices andcommercial buildings are beingconstructed at a higher rate, due to thedevelopment in the services industry.These buildings have been shown to useenergy much more intensively in Malta.The requirements of the EPBD for thissector were implemented at a later stage,and as a result its effects cannot bequantified as yet. This sector is expectedto contribute to a greater effect towardsenergy efficiency.

Large energy savings are expected toaccrue from renovation of existingbuildings, since a large fraction of theexisting houses have been built during aperiod when energy efficiency was notconsidered important and relied heavilyon fossil fuels to obtain comfort levels.

Following the completion of cost‐optimality studies, it is expected that theminimum requirements will be revised inthe near future. If an overall energydemand is included in the revisedminimum requirements as planned, thiswill improve correlation betweenminimum requirements and EPCs, makingthe latter much more useful.

The NZEB plan has been approved and hasdefined NZEBs in Malta to act as a catalystfor the improvement of the building stockin the mid‐term future. The NZEB plan isexpected to provide a clearer picture ofthe way forward from the present date to2020 and beyond.

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The sole responsibility for the content of this report lies with the authors. It does notnecessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EASME nor theEuropean Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the informationcontained therein.

The content of this report is included in the book “2016 – Implementing the EnergyPerformance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) Featuring Country Reports”,ISBN 978‐972‐8646‐32‐5, © ADENE 2015

More details on the IEE Programme can be found atec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent

This individual report and the full 2016 book are available atwww.epbd‐ca.eu and www.buildup.eu

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