A simplified framework to assess the feasibility of zero-energy at the European community scale in 2030

One of the major objectives of the European Union by 2030 is to reduce energy consumption at the building level. Aware of this fact, the main goal of this study is to propose some strategies more adapted to the temperate climate aiming to modernize the existing residential districts towards zero energy and low carbon emissions by 2030. A total of 454,994 dwellings (terraced houses; semi-detached houses; detached houses and apartments) were investigated for this purpose. These are spread over 5 provinces in the Walloon region in Belgium and
grouped into 5 types of the neighbourhood (isolated rural, peripheral rural, peri-urban, suburban and in urban
neighbourhoods). The technique of reducing energy consumption in the buildings studied in this research is centred on the implementation of scenarios related to climate, renovation, transport and renewable energy. In addition, several energy optimization models are being tested for this purpose. The results showed that the objective “near-zero energy neighbourhood” can be achieved in temperate zones. In fact, current energy consumption is reduced up to 91% by simultaneously applying a heavy renovation of residential buildings,
renewable energy and green mobility. By applying the heavy renovation (100%) on these residence buildings, the heating energy decreases from 230.6 to 23.7 kWh/m2 in the terraced houses; from 239.7 to 24.6 kWh/m2 in the semi-detached house; and, from 202.1 to 20.8 kWh/m2 in the detached house.