Nowadays, over 75% of the world’s energy generation is consumed in urban areas alone and more than half of that is consumed in buildings. This has a major impact on our environment and contributes to climate change.

It is estimated that buildings use more than 40% of the total energy generated for heating, cooling and lighting, among other uses. Many people still depend on artificial light during the day. This may be due to inefficient design and construction using climate inappropriate materials, combined with poor understanding of thermal comfort, passive building principles and energy conscious behaviour. All these factors contribute to tremendous energy wastage.

The building code is a tool that interacts with the planning law and as such is a part of the authorities’ resources whose purpose is to guarantee the right to sustainable cities and safeguard a healthy and comfortable urban environment. At the same time, it should provide valid solutions according to the local climate, social needs and transformations, local cultural identity and cultural practices.

Building materials play a very important role in the adaptation of buildings to the local climate. The capacity to insulate, transmit and store heat, as well as the natural regulation of indoor temperature and humidity in buildings are all determined by the materials used.

The transition towards clean energy and sustainable use of resources calls upon all stakeholders across different sectors of society to make fundamental changes. While significant efforts need to be made to create awareness and build the capacity of existing practitioners in the building sector, future professionals in the sector should receive targeted training that will give them the skills and tools they need planning, designing and building sustainable human settlements.

Passive cooling systems use non-mechanical methods to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures and are a key factor in mitigating the impact of buildings on the environment.

The best opportunities for energy efficiency in buildings are at the design stage. Designing for energy efficiency reduces the overall demand for resources to generate energy. This checklist will help to identify key design issues that will demonstrate whether the proposed design will be energy efficient.

Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are playing an increasingly important role in the generation of electricity (RES-E) as well as in the provision of other forms of end-use energy. About 50% of the total new capacity of electricity generation installed in 2010 came from RES (IEA 2011). Despite what has been said, the global trend clearly indicates a breakthrough for energy generated from renewables. There is a large and as yet untapped potential for utilising RES, especially in developing countries…