Green Catalogue

The “Green Catalogue” EU Save Project was realised as a practical support for the implementation of the EU-Energy Performance Directive for Buildings and agreements were reached on a number of performance demands as well as check methods for a number of techniques within the area of energy efficient building in Europe.

For each country, a number of best available technologies e.g. insulation, windows, ventilation systems, solar heating systems etc., indicators, primarily for energy efficiency, was defined, and agreements were reached concerning demands to be recommended on national, regional and EU levels.

In connection with this reference figures were defined (REF) together with figures which apply to “Best Available Technology”, BAT, which typically is the highest level (A). Further more targets were set for 2006 where the EU-Energy Performance Directive took effect (C) and for 2011 (B) when the demands should be revised for the first time.

In practice the “Green Catalogue” system was used as part of a Green Quality Building Process, and was tested in all partner countries during 2004.

In connection to the work on the “Green Catalogue” system, it was the intention to develop a certified system which can further the use of sustainable and energy efficient building using a simple quality labelling which exceeds the minimum demands applicable to each country.

Here it was the idea, similar to the techniques, to develop a system with three quality labels which exceeds “usual” building (REF). That is with a quality label (C) known as “plus” building equal to the level which was expected to take effect as from 2006 or (B) which corresponds with the demands for 2011, while (A) corresponds to best possible building, e.g. similar to the “passiv haus” standard.

The idea was to secure a high quality of such “plus” and “extra plus” buildings by using a so called Green Quality Building Process and by elaborating on the verification of various performances.

At the same time it was the intention to increase the use of more energy efficient and environmental correct building by use of a “Green Catalogue” energy and environmental point system which was developed in relation to the European Green Cities co-operation. This system can also be used as basis for an actual environmental labelling, and later perhaps to be coupled to improved financial possibilities.