An Interactive Vocational Training Tool for the Energy Performance Buildings Directive

The building sector constitutes approximately the 40% of the total energy consumption in EU. TheDirective 2002/91/EC provides a precise legislative framework for improving the energy performanceof the built environment. [1]It was adopted on December 2002 and entered into force in January 2003. According to the article 15of this Directive all member states have a time period of three years (till January 2006) to implementthe Directive in their own countries. Till today all member states have already or will, in the near future,bring into force relative laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with thisDirective.In this paper an innovative tool concerning the training of European citizens in the implementation ofthe Directive 2002/91/EC (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive - EPBD), that targets to reducethe buildings energy consumption and its efficient use in relation with the protection of theenvironment is presented. Additionally, certain features of this tool that depend on the existinglegislation and restrictions in each country and certain characteristics of the trainees (e.g. profession,scientific background) that influence in a great or in a small extent the training procedure in each caseare analyzed.