ABSTRACT
In 2006, the gross inland consumption in the European Union (EU-27) Member States was 1825.2 Mtoe and the EU final energy consumption was 1177.4 Mtoe, of which 483.92 Mtoe was in the buildings sector (41.1%) (Figure 1) (EC 2009 European Union Energy and Transport in Figures). Energy consumption in buildings in developed countries comprises 20-40% of the world’s total final energy consumption (PérezLombard et al. 2008). The residential sector consumed 25.9% of the total final energy consumption in the EU-27 in 2006. Energy used in residential buildings constitutes about 63% of the total energy consumption in the European buildings sector (Balaras et al. 2007, Poel et al. 2007). The EU-27 residential sector contributes 9.4% of the total greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. In 2006, total GHG emission was 5142.8 million tonnes CO2 equivalent in the EU-27 countries. The structure of GHG emissions by sectors in the EU and in Poland is illustrated in Figure 2. In 2006, the total annual CO2 emissions from the EU-27 buildings stock was 731.4 million tonnes, of which 64% was from the residential sector and 36% was from the tertiary sector (non-residential buildings and agriculture) (EC 2009 European Union Energy and Transport in Figures).
