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Energy Efficient Building Code

Challenges to investment 

In the early 2000s, an energy efficient building code was proposed to face Jordan’s challenges regarding energy usage from the residential sector, which accounted for close to 24% of total expenditure. The lack of thermal efficiencies in residential buildings led to increased energy consumption and costs, especially in winter and summer seasons. In addition, Jordan’s high energy dependency on imports—94.1% of energy use in 2000—triggered a set of reforms to reduce vulnerabilities on external shocks to energy prices and reliability.


Approach 

In 2008, the Jordan National Building Council (JNBC), under the Ministry of Public Works and Housings, contracted the Building Research Center at The Royal Scientific Society to develop a new “Energy Efficiency in Buildings Code”. The objective of the Code was to improve building’s thermal performance and minimize the overall energy consumption in building constructions. The code represented an update to Jordan’s 1998 Energy Code, where standards for thermal insulation were originally introduced.

The code was prepared utilizing local, regional, and international resources. In addition, experts from the Jordan construction market assisted in developing the code and adapting it to Jordan's market needs. It combined architectural aspects with mechanical considerations, and electrical principles, representing the first sustainable building related code of the region.

This code aimed to reduce energy consumption, promote sustainable practices, and create a greener built environment by establishing guidelines for energy-efficient design and construction practices. It covered various aspects of building energy consumption, including lighting, HVAC systems, insulation, and renewables integration. 


Key Enabling Conditions 

Several key factors have driven the success of the development and implementation of the Energy Efficient Building Code in Jordan. The construction industry awareness of these changes and its ability to enforce the new codes on all new buildings was key to extract the program’s associated benefits. In its inception, the criteria used to establish the codes, and panel of stakeholders selected for its development ensured that regional and international best practices were surfaced early on. Lastly, the country’s reliance on market imports for its energy security acted as a strong incentive to adopt the new code.


Impact / Outcomes

By 2017, The Ministry of Public Works and Housing had elaborated several Building Codes, out of which seven were related to energy performance, including the Energy Efficient Building Code and the Thermal Insulation Code.

Jordan’s energy efficient building codes have significantly enhanced energy efficiency in the country’s construction industry. As captured in the second National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Jordan 2018-2020, published in 2017, it is estimated that these codes will have covered about 66,000 new dwellings during the following five years. In addition, annual electricity savings were estimated to around 401 GWh by 2020, leading to about 188kt Co2 emissions reduction. 


Additional Sources

Locations
Middle East & North Africa, Jordan
Year published
01 January 2008
Policy type
Energy policy
Policy lever
Power market governance
Risk category
Policy and regulatory risk, Social acceptance, Permits risk

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