NEWS &
EVENTS

Building codes are nothing without the people working to enforce them. Many countries have adopted ambitious and comprehensive requirements for energy-efficient buildings. The challenge now is to get public and private developers to respect these standards.

Morocco is such a country. The comprehensive Building Energy Efficiency Code (known as RTCM) entered into force in 2015. Nevertheless, getting compliance and enforcement on a large scale is still a challenge, as many project developers are not familiar with the new regulations.

Agents of the Moroccan Ministry of National Territory Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy are essential actors to ensure the mandatory national regulations are respected. At the regional level for example, housing and city policy departments of the Ministry are responsible for the compliance of social housing buildings with national standards. Building constructors must respect these standards to receive compliance certificates. Only then can they benefit from tax exemptions that are provided by the state to encourage investments in social housing. An excellent grasp of the legislative, institutional, and regulatory framework of energy efficiency in buildings in Morocco is essential for this task.

Two trainings were organised by the Ministry and PEEB in March 2019 to support technical staff working in the central and regional departments of Housing and City Policy. The trainings provided knowledge about the standards and actors in the field, as well as practical examples. Public and private real estate developers presented how they comply with the requirements of the RTCM to prove that the RTCM can be applied.

As a result, staff feel confident to integrate energy efficiency measures in buildings. This is particularly relevant in the context of Morocco’s national administrations exemplarity program which encourages public administrations to be a role model in implementing the national sustainable development strategy.

(published 28.03.2019)