Eighteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

The world is today trying to move away from the use of fossil fuel and the generation of emissions. There is a need for decarbonized economic transition. This is because of the damage that the use of non-renewables causes to the environment. Buildings have been identified as a main contributor to greenhouse gases (GHG). There is a need to improve energy efficiency in buildings both for environmental and economic reasons. Northern Cyprus uses fuel oil to produce 92% of its electricity (1.6 billion Kwh/ year) which 75% of this electricity consumed in buildings and there is a growing concern over the environmental and economic effects of the excessive use of fossil fuel for electricity generation. In this context, energy efficiency in buildings has been emerged as the most important policy for decarbonized economic transition. This situation creates a need for a strong energy efficiency policy in buildings in Northern Cyprus. However, because of insufficient existing regulations and policies, poor energy efficiency in buildings are going to be unavoidable reality. This study, based on a thorough documentary research on existing legislation, and a literature survey on EU policies, critically evaluates local policy, regulations, practices and the barriers for the energy efficiency in buildings in Northern Cyprus within the context of sustainability. The aim is to identify the barriers for energy efficiency in buildings in Northern Cyprus and to propose innovative recommendations to solve the related problems.