IEA EBC - Annex 82 - Energy Flexible Buildings Towards Resilient Low Carbon Energy Systems

Substantial and unprecedented reductions in carbon emissions are required if the worst effects of climate change are to be avoided. A major paradigmatic shift is, therefore, needed in the way heat and electricity are generated and consumed; particularly for buildings and communities. Reductions in carbon emissions can be achieved by reducing energy demand through energy efficiency improvements and by supplying the remaining energy demand with renewable energy sources. To obtain this, energy flexibility is a very important tool. Energy flexibility is necessary to manage the time deviation in supply and demand due to the large-scale integration of central and distributed energy conversion systems based on renewable primary energy resources. It is a key component of national and international transition pathways towards sustainable and resilient energy systems, where the reduction of CO2-equivalent emissions are top priorities.