The Syrian Ministry of Energy has called for the activation of the country's thermal insulation code requirements for buildings and for greater integration of renewable energy applications, particularly solar water heating systems, into the planning, design and construction of new buildings, residential developments and reconstruction projects.
The directive aims to improve energy efficiency in Syria's building sector by incorporating thermal insulation requirements and the infrastructure needed for solar energy systems from the earliest stages of project design rather than introducing such measures only after construction.
Integrating energy efficiency into urban planning
The Ministry of Energy called on the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing to incorporate technical and design requirements related to the thermal insulation code, together with infrastructure requirements for solar water heating systems, into approved planning and development regulations.
The measures are intended to cover new cities, residential areas and their future expansions, while also taking into account the requirements of Syria's reconstruction process and the need to improve energy efficiency in buildings.
The approach represents a closer integration of energy policy with urban planning and construction, with energy efficiency and renewable energy being considered during the initial design of buildings.
Relevant legislation and policy developments can also be followed through the Syrian Energy Policies and Laws Tracker, developed by Syrian Renewables to organize legislation, decrees, decisions and policies related to Syria's energy sector.
New school buildings are also included
The circular also addresses the Ministry of Education, calling for thermal insulation code requirements and solar energy applications to be incorporated into the studies, design and construction of new school buildings.
The objective is to achieve higher levels of energy efficiency and reduce operating costs, particularly for educational facilities developed as part of reconstruction projects.
Preparing buildings for solar energy from the design stage
A significant aspect of the directive is its emphasis on preparing buildings for solar water heating systems from the design stage.
The documents associated with the circular call on building licensing authorities, engineering bodies, companies and public and private engineering offices to incorporate renewable energy applications and thermal insulation requirements into building designs.
They also call for solar water heating systems to be considered within design plans, while ensuring that the basic infrastructure required for their future installation and operation is incorporated into buildings.
From an engineering perspective, preparing buildings for these technologies during the design phase can reduce the need for costly retrofits later and allow energy-efficiency technologies to become part of the building's core infrastructure.
Activating existing requirements rather than creating a new code
The circular does not introduce a new thermal insulation code. Instead, it seeks to strengthen the implementation of existing energy-efficiency requirements.
The document refers to Energy Conservation Law No. 3 of 2009, as well as an earlier Council of Ministers directive concerning the implementation of thermal insulation requirements in buildings.
The accompanying documentation also refers to a Council of Ministers communication dated 22 November 2007 concerning the application of the thermal insulation code in buildings.
The significance of the current step therefore lies primarily in moving existing requirements closer to practical implementation through planning regulations, building design, licensing procedures and construction requirements.
The move also comes within a broader effort to improve building energy efficiency in Syria. Syrian Renewables has previously covered Syrian-German cooperation on improving energy efficiency in buildings, including efforts related to thermal insulation codes and energy-efficient building practices.
What does this mean for reconstruction?
Reconstruction features prominently in the directive, particularly in relation to new residential developments and school buildings.
This is significant because new construction offers an opportunity to integrate energy-efficiency standards from the outset rather than constructing energy-intensive buildings and attempting to improve their performance at a later stage.
The approach combines two complementary measures: reducing energy demand through improved thermal insulation and using solar energy to meet part of a building's energy requirements, particularly for water heating.
The main challenge: moving from policy to implementation
The ultimate impact of the circular will depend on how its provisions are translated into technical and procedural requirements within building permits, urban planning regulations and specifications for new construction projects.
Implementation mechanisms, monitoring and the degree of compliance among public institutions, private developers and engineering offices will therefore be important factors in determining the policy's actual effect on energy consumption in the building sector.
If implemented systematically, the measures could help make energy efficiency and renewable energy an integral part of Syria's future urban development and reconstruction process, rather than treating them as additional technologies installed independently after buildings have been completed.
More analysis and sector data are available through the Syrian Renewables energy reports and research library.