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PrinciPles For neArly Zero-energy Buildings :  Paving the way for effective implementation of policy requirements / Ecofys Germany GmbHThomas Boermans, Andreas Hermelink, Sven Schimschar, Jan Grözinger &#38; Markus Offermann, Ecofys ;  Kirsten Engelund Thomsen, Jørgen Rose, Søren O. Aggerholm, Danish Building Research Institute (SBi). Building Performance Institute Europe, 2011, 124 p.http://www.bpie.eu/nearly_zero.htmlThe European Union aims at drastic reductions in domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. The building stock is responsible for a major share of GHG emissions and should achieve even higher reductions. The re-cast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires that from 2019 onwards ‘all the new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities are nearly zero-energy buildings’ (nZEB) and by the end of 2020 ‘all new buildings are nearly zero- energy buildings’To support the EPBD implementation the Building Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) launched a study in cooperation with Ecofys and the Danish Building Research Institute (SBI) on principles for nearly Zero-Energy Buildings.At the present moment, the European Commission, EU Member States, stakeholders and experts are discussing the different aspects of nZEBs. Overall, there is an urgent need to establish common principles and methods to be taken into account by EU Member States for elaborating effective, practical and well thought-out nZEB definitions.The study builds on existing concepts and building standards, analyses the main methodological challenges and their implications for the nZEB definition, and compiles a possible set of principles and assesses their impact on reference buildings. Subsequently the technological, financial and policy implications of these results are evaluated. Finally, the study concludes by providing an outlook on necessary further steps towards a successful implementation of nearly Zero-Energy Buildings. (source and copyright : Ecofys)