EIHP Prepares Energy Certifiers for Decarbonization Challenges

Energy certification of buildings is becoming increasingly important in the context of the green transition and European climate goals, and the fact that as much as 75 percent of buildings in Croatia are not energy efficient and that the annual renovation rate is only one percent clearly indicates the need for accelerated action in the construction sector. This is precisely why the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP) has adapted its Training Program for Energy Certifiers to the modern market needs and made it available online, on the Moodle platform, in an ‘on-demand’ format.

Participants Choose

The training program (MODULE 1) is divided into seven thematic units that are common to all four professions – architectural, construction, mechanical, and electrical engineering – and enables participants to acquire the necessary knowledge for conducting energy audits and producing energy certificates for buildings with simple technical systems. Recorded lectures, educational materials, discussion forums, and progress tracking tools are available on all devices, allowing for maximum flexibility in learning. The program is available immediately, and participants choose their own pace and time for learning.

New Directive

This program is particularly relevant as the new Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings, adopted in April 2024, introduces additional requirements and opens new opportunities, making the role of energy certifiers crucial for achieving the decarbonization goals of buildings by 2050. Dr. Marina Malinovec Puček, head of education at EIHP, also notes that with the new directive, the role of energy certifiers is significantly expanding.

– In the near future, they will be creating renovation passports for buildings, calculating indicators of a building’s readiness for smart technologies, and assessing the potential for global warming throughout the life cycle of buildings, providing advice to the general public through unique contact points, and proposing measures for the complete elimination of fossil fuel boilers by 2040, with the ultimate goal of achieving decarbonization in the construction sector. All of this clearly shows that the engagement and knowledge of energy certifiers will be more important than ever before – concludes Malinovec Puček.