EPG

The Energy Performance norm Buildings (EPG) is an umbrella determination method for the energy performance of both residential and commercial buildings. The EPG applies to all construction applications from 1 July 2012. The method replaces the old EPC standards according to the NEN 5128 for residential construction and the NEN 2916 for utility construction, with which you made the Vabi Uniform Environment EPN module your calculation. You must be able to demonstrate that the building's design meets the requirements of energy performance. Vabi Elements EPG simulates and tests your building design with the requirements set in the energy performance standard, according to the NEN 7120, the NEN 8088 (ventilation) and NVN 7125 (measures at area level EMG). Vabi Elements EPG (new build) calculates for you the energy performance coefficient for design of both your home and commercial construction. Vabi Elements EPG has the generally accepted standard layout for municipalities, which is developed in cooperation with A.O. the Ministry of the Interior. The output of Vabi Elements is clear and uncluttered. Vabi Elements EPG is certified just like the Vabi EPA software, which means that a certifying body will issue its quality assurance in accordance with the BRL9501. This ensures that you are always assured of the most up-to-date software, reliable outcomes and meet the obligation of municipalities to work with tested software. The configurable reporting tools also let you define tables, create charts, diagrams, and 3D visualizations. The intelligent 3D geometry automatically determines all surfaces according to the construction decision, allowing you to quickly arrive at a reliable calculation. EPC performance requirements per zone are made transparent by means of 3D-visulatisation. Visit www.vabi.nl for news and more information about Vabi Elements EPG. Read the article below that highlights the considerations for entering EPG.

Vabi Elements EPG:

•      The intelligent 3D geometry where all surfaces are automatically determined for you, allowing you to make a reliable calculation very quickly (1 input model allows re-use of your building in other modules);

•      A generally accepted standard layout for municipalities developed in cooperation with A.O. the Ministry of the Interior;

•      Certified Software in accordance with the BRL9501, with which you comply with this obligation of municipalities;

•      Understanding performance requirements through geometric 3D visualization (see Figure 1 for a practical example);

•      Possibility to use quality declarations for valuing innovation techniques;

•      Separate recalculations (for new techniques that were not in the methodology) are past tense;

•      New minimum insulation values for separation constructions outward;

•      New use features including bed area and space;

•      New approach to heat loss through ventilation;

•      Refrigeration at utility calculated according to a standard method;

•      A new reference climate, according to NEN 5060 with softer winter and warmer summer;

•      Introduction of a building peel indicator (informative);

•      Clarity and ambiguity about building boundaries;

•      Introduction of actual occupation;

•      Possibility of valuation of energy measures at area level (NVM 7125:2011);

•      Possibility of importing coarse to fine.

References

EPG existing buidlings

The introduction of the EPG applies from 1 July 2012 to new construction. The EPG methodology for existing construction does not go on 1 January 2013. The "further regulation", developed to connect as much as possible to the EPG for new construction, appears after a study to cause too many label differences compared to the current methodology. Together with the market parties, we are now looking at how to further shape a new determination methodology towards the forthcoming European CEN standard, which is expected to become available in 2015.

For the current determination of the energy performance of existing buildings, Vabi has Vabi EPA software in accordance with the ISSO publications 75.3 and 82.3. As market leader and Knowledge Institute, Vabi participates in various standard committees. We can therefore quickly inform our customers about the current events.

Visit www.vabi.nl for news and more information about VABI Elements EPG.