Tsinghua hosts the 70th IEA ECBCS ExCo Meeting and Technical Seminar

By Wei Qingpeng from School of Architecture

November 15 to 18, the 70th IEA ECBCS (International Energy Agency, Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems) Executive Committee (ExCo) meeting and technical seminar was held in Tsinghua University. It is the first time that Tsinghua hosts this IEA ECBCS ExCo meeting since China was accepted as a formal member in 2009.

Prof. Yi Jiang, China representative in IEA ECBCS ExCo, China Engineering Academician and Director of Building Energy Research Center of Tsinghua University, chaired the two-day technical seminar in Tsinghua. ExCo members from 25 countries, China officials from MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology), MOHURD (Ministry of Housing, Urban and Rural Development), and more than 200 audiences attended the seminar.

Dr. Morad Atif, Chairman of IEA ECBCS ExCo, director general of Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council of Canada, introduced history, major achievement, current activities and strategy for future of IEA ECBCS. ExCo members from US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Italy, etc. introduced progress in research and policy on energy efficiency in buildings and community systems in each country. In addition, operating agencies of current Annex of IEA ECBCS shared progress of research on high efficiency lighting, energy conservation in commercial buildings and government buildings, low exergy systems for heating and cooling, etc. with fruitful discussion with China researchers on the seminar.

After the seminar, the 70th IEA ECBCS ExCo meeting was held in Tiaoyutai State Guesthouse. A new Annex proposed originally by Prof. Yi Jiang representing China, supported by members from US, Denmark, Italy, Finland, Japan, etc. got formal endorsement during this ExCo meeting. The new Annex, operated by China for the first time, will focus on methodology and design guidance on high efficiency indoor environment control equipments as well as systems from a particular perspective on minimizing loss due to temperature differential.

In recognition of the significance of energy use in buildings and community systems, the International Energy Agency has established an Implementing Agreement (IA) on Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems since 1977. The function of ECBCS is to undertake research and provide an international focus for building energy efficiency. Tasks are undertaken through a series of annexes that are directed at energy saving technologies and activities that support their application in practice. Results are also used in the formulation of international and national energy conservation policies and standards.