Open Access

ARTICLE

Qualitative Comparison between the Brazilian Labeling Program for Buildings and the Portuguese Energy Certification System for Buildings: Proposals for Improving Brazilian Regulations

by Jaime Francisco de Sousa Resende^1,*, Andrea Lucia Teixeira Charbel², Teresa Cristina Bessa Nogueira Assunção³

1 Graduate Program in Energy Engineering, Federal University of São João del Rei, São João del Rei, Brazil
2 Department of Thermal and Fluid Sciences, Federal University of São João del Rei, São João del Rei, Brazil
3 Department of Electrical Engineering, Federal University of São João del Rei, São João del Rei, Brazil

* Corresponding Author: Jaime Francisco de Sousa Resende. Email:

Energy Engineering 2021, 118(3), 615-629. https://doi.org/10.32604/EE.2021.014588

Received 10 October 2020; Accepted 02 November 2020; Issue published 22 March 2021

Abstract

Buildings represent a significant share of the world’s energy consumption, and the sector has drawn the attention of governments, which have adopted policies to reduce energy expenditure. The Certifications of Energy Efficiency in Buildings stand out as one possible solution to achieve this goal, employed in several countries worldwide. The European Union presents advanced energy assessment programs for buildings, being a reference and model for several other regulations in the world. The Energy Certification System for Buildings (SCE) of Portugal is considered a success case, reflected in the significant number of energy certificates issued. The Brazilian Labeling Program for Building (PBE Edifica), first launched in 2009, does not find a broad application today in the Brazilian scenario. This work shows a synthesis of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Brazilian and Portuguese regulations’ history. A qualitative comparison is made between the SCE and the PBE Edifica to verify a European and a developing country’s regulations with a certain degree of cultural and climatic similarities. Through this comparison, proposals are made for improvements to Brazilian certification, seeking to improve its energy planning and energy policy concerning its building stock. The suggestions for improvement presented may also be appropriate for other developing countries that have started and have not yet successfully implemented their energy certification programs in buildings.

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