Continuous population growth is leading to massive consumption of energy resources, with major consequences for climate change. Energy production and use account for two thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions. Global warming is not just an increase in average temperature, but the cause of imbalance in global weather patterns, increasing the incidence of a variety of natural disasters.

Faced with these risks, many countries are actively pursuing the transition to a clean, smart, and secure energy systems through the development and implementation of energy-saving technologies, particularly in the design and construction of energy-efficient and low-carbon buildings.

The transition to energy efficient (EE) and low-carbon (LC) construction varies from country to country. From 2019, all new buildings in the European Union (EU) must meet passive house building standards, and from 2021 these standards will also apply to other buildings. There are already several thousand low-energy houses in Europe and this number is growing.

The main concept of a passive house is to minimise the heat loss that normally occurs in buildings through walls, roofs and windows, through high quality thermal insulation on the external surfaces of the building walls, triple-glazed windows, an airtight building, and ventilation system with heat recovery. A passive house uses energy from the sun, internal heat sources and heated air from the ventilation system (recuperation) to heat the building.

It is also possible to improve energy efficiency in buildings that were built in the last century without energy-saving technologies. In Berlin, Germany, for example, a construction company renovated an eight-storey building from the 1950s. The renovation project included upgrading the ventilation systems, insulating the facade walls, as well as installing solar panels on the roof and facade of the building. The electricity generated by the solar panels is stored in batteries. This electricity is used for appliances and lighting, as well as for heating water and the heating system. Through new construction technologies and materials, the heat consumption in the flats was reduced by up to 85%, providing 100% independent heating for the house and 50% of the electricity needed.

Energy-efficient multi-family housing in Berlin after renovation

In the Netherlands, the government in turn increases the energy efficiency of existing buildings through the Energiesprong program launched in 2010. Under this programme, existing buildings are being upgraded to higher energy efficiency standards and then become zero energy-consuming buildings. Zero energy consumption is the ability of a building to generate all the energy needed to support its residents, without delivery of fuel or electricity from outside the building. Modernization takes less than 10 days.  Pilot projects to upgrade buildings under this program have already been launched in the UK, Canada, USA, and France.

Modernized houses in Sneinton, Nottingham, England

According to the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, all buildings under construction in the EU must comply with the minimum or net zero energy standards. Also, energy performance certificates in the EU are mandatory for buildings and must be shown to tenants and buyers. A number of studies across Europe, including Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden, show that rents or sales values are higher for more energy-efficient houses than for conventional ones.

Solar settlement in Schlierberg, Freiburg, Germany.

Uzbekistan has become the first country among the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to join the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). By joining the institute, Uzbekistan aims to undertake joint projects focused on stimulating sustainable economic growth while mitigating the risks posed by climate change.

Since 2017, Uzbekistan has also been actively pursuing a transition to green construction. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Construction of Uzbekistan, with grant support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), have been implementing a six-year joint project “Market Transformation for Sustainable Rural Housing in Uzbekistan.” The first component of the project promotes the use of “green” mortgage by banks of Uzbekistan to stimulate demand for EE and LC housing.

Under the third component of the UNDP/GEF and Ministry of Construction project, a new building code "Passive House" and its manual are planned for development in 2022. It is worth noting that one of the first passive houses in Uzbekistan was built in 2011 on the shore of the Charvak reservoir near the village of Burchmulla, designed by Mansur Zakhidov, Associate Professor at the Tashkent Architecture and Construction Institute.  

Although the government has taken active measures to introduce “green” policies into the economy and construction, there is further needed to raise public awareness and participation in the development and use of energy-efficient solutions. Measures towards thermal modernization and energy efficiency of a house can be taken by anyone who plans to renovate a dwelling. These activities include installing high-quality thermal insulation of walls, ceilings, and floors, and replacement of windows and doors. Private house owners can also install an innovative heating system with room temperature control.

Four-storey EE-house with solar panels, Gijduvan district, Bukhara region

The project has also launched the construction of a pilot Nearly-Zero Energy Building (house) in “Yoshlik” mahalla in Nurafshan town of Tashkent region. Zero energy consumption will be achieved through increased thermal insulation of the building using insulation materials with high heat transfer resistance. Nearly whole electricity for this house will be generated by the solar panels installed on the roof of the building.

In addition, the project plans to contribute to the energy efficiency of selected houses in Yangi Uzbekistan neighborhoods, whose construction will start in 2022. The construction of these houses will use design solutions tailored to the climatic characteristics of each region.