Thermal bridges increase the building energy demand for heating and cooling. This energy loss can even be higher than for example the energy benefit provided by thermal solar collectors for domestic hot water. The public awareness of this fact is however very low.

Therefore, the national EP calculation procedures have to include the impact of thermal bridges (as they include the effect of thermal solar collectors). Moreover, best practice examples of advanced solutions or technologies should be widely presented, in order to promote the advantages of a detailed planning of component joints in new and renovated buildings.

The objective of ASIEPI is to collect and analyse the used Member States approaches of including thermal bridges in the national energy performance calculation standards. Preliminary analysis in the framework of the EPBD Concerted Action has indicated that it is not evident to assume that this issue is well covered in most MS. A quantification of the thermal bridge effects to the energy balance will be made and information on databases on thermal bridges tools, publications and guidelines will be collected and disseminated. The gathered information will be condensed into information papers, which shall give positive influence to national developments in standards etc. Moreover, the information will also be made available through databases. Innovative product developments for reducing thermal bridges will be collected and disseminated to countries where these products are still unknown or less used. It will be analysed where there are problems with the execution quality and how to improve the construction processes.