This volume is a technical guide to energy-efficient buildings, including information on energy certification for buildings in Europe, Asia, and North America, types of energy-efficient skins, walls, and new technologies. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings depends on aspects such as wall insulation, the type of facade used, building orientation, and the adoption of passive and/or active strategies during the construction phase and the life cycle of the project. In the same way, as electrical appliances are currently sold with energy efficiency ratings, there are also ecolabels and energy standards to guide the buyer or manager of a building to show whether it consumes more or less energy throughout its life cycle. The book includes energy certification labeled case studies rated by six international curators: Green Star, LEED -The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Passivhaus, MINERGIE, Effinergie, and BREEAM - BRE Environmental Assessment Method. Illustrated throughout