Feasibility study of the first energy-efficient housing project in Malta

Abstract

Malta is heavily dependent on fossil fuels for energy provision, with a very low penetration of renewable energy, although the potential may be quite significant. As a European Member State, Malta has to reach 10% renewables by 2020, as set by the European Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources. Lately, the prices of fuel and electricity have increased steeply, leaving no options except to educate consumers to reduce their energy consumption and most importantly to resort to energy efficient solutions and increase the use of renewable energy sources. In a bid to lower capital costs, poor building design and practices have accumulated over the years, which caused buildings to be uncomfortable – too cold in winter and too hot in summer. No thought was given to the long-term energy costs of these buildings and therefore no energy saving measures were incorporated at the design stage.

This paper aims at evaluating the economic viability of some of the most prominent energy-efficient measures implemented on site, as one of the tools to be used to educate people on the long-term benefits of such key measures. It is difficult for people to visualise the significance of benefits such as lower carbon dioxide emissions and a greener environment, however, fiscal benefits are easily grasped by everyone. The scope of the paper is also to prioritise the different energy-efficient measures as and where applied in the local context, not only from their pure economic value but also in relation to their contribution towards lowering the carbon footprint of energy use in buildings. This study shall also estimate the incremental cost of capital needed in order to comply with the set minimum building requirements with regards to heat transfer. As a result, the additional capital cost required to introduce such new measures and the repercussions on potential buyers who normally borrow from the banks to buy their home, will also be evaluated.