Energy efficiency in buildings

Abstract

Generally existing buildings are responsible for over 40% of the world's primary energy consumption and account for 34% of world CO2 emissions. Currently, most of the housing fund of Kazakhstan falls on old energy inefficient buildings constructed during the Soviet Union, in a period between 1956-1989, is found to be inefficient by international standards. Their energy consumption reaches 13.5% and 24% of electrical and heating energy consequently. At the same time the statistical data of 2009 shows that the housing fund of Kazakhstan is about 160 million square meters and it projected to continue growing in the next 5 years. The expected increase in housing construction will lead to higher energy consumption coming from space heating and air-conditioning systems, higher GHG emissions, and development of unsustainable energy supply that will result to energy insecurity.