ECN: More information
Energy in buildings is consumed by installations, appliances and lighting. Mainly using natural gas and electricity, they provide us comfort with heat, hot water, ventilation, airconditioning, light and facilitate our way of living.
Natural gas is the main fuel for heating, hot water and cooking. Electricity is mainly consumed by appliances and lighting, but also by installations.
The main segments of the built environment are the residential sector (homes) and non-residential sector (all other buildings). Each segment actually presents a detailed picture, according to type of buildings/dwellings, households and energy use.
Many different buildings and dwelling types exist and will be built. These are owned or rented by a variety of private of organisational (public or commercial) households. Different technical characteristics of buildings and the behaviour of occupants make the use of energy in the built environment very diverse.
Besides the variety in end-users of energy, numerous other actors are involved in the built environment. Conventional and renewable energy is supplied by energy companies (large to small and international to local). Some end-users produce renewable energy themselves (using solar or environmental heat for example), usually supported by technical consultants. Other actors also play a role, such as housing corporations and project developers, private homeowners associations (VVE’s) in multifamily dwellings, the construction sector (contractors, installers, engineers, energy and constructional consultants, architects), parties for the market (real estate agents, notary offices, financiers), numerous representative organisations, and finally the central government, provences and municipalities and various agencies.
