Towards nearly zero-energy residential neighbourhoods in the European Union: A case study

The European Union (EU) aims to establish a guideline that requires all new buildings comply with nearly zero-energy (NZEB) by 2030. This decision involves technologies based on concepts meet international standards. research review the literature ‘net building’ and analyses possibility of applying this nine statistically representative neighbourhoods building stock'in Belgium, depending built density. All areas, grouped into four categories (urban, peri-urban, suburban, rural neighbourhoods), were used for current energy consumption analysis evaluate prospective scenarios major challenges, namely climate change, renovations, photovoltaic panels, sustainable mobility. In addition, approach combining several further improve needs at neighbourhood scale is also highlighted. different types studied are commonly found in countries across EU. average reduction (buildings + daily mobility) 2040 (compared reference year 2012) will likely reach 5.69% attributable 20% distances travelled, 6.48% 12.95% annual renovation rate, 18.76%–100% electric cars, 22.26% doubling 31.62% 63.25% light or heavy entire stock, respectively. Moreover, installing 20 m2 solar panels rooftops each residential would produce renewable equivalent 6.53% global consumption. Finally, results show more than 90% can be reduced buildings, vehicles, panels. scenario allows reaching ‘nearly zero-energy’ target scale.