FAQ

The connection as well as the power of the connection will remain unchanged. Protective devices and other installations placed downstream of the meter will not be changed either.

With the introduction of the smart meter, the consumer receives more detailed information on their consumption habits, enabling them to save energy by changing their behaviour.

Smart meters make it possible to read energy consumption remotely, meaning that staff do not have to disturb customers in order to read their meter on site.

Thanks to smart meters, electricity and natural gas providers will be able to offer customers increased flexibility for innovative pricing and invoicing based on supply and demand in energy markets. Suppliers will thus be able to offer new tariffs that better correspond to consumption habits and issue an invoice at any time of the year based on actual consumption instead of estimates.

A smart meter makes it possible to read energy consumption remotely, i.e. without having to travel to the consumer’s premises. The provision of near real-time information to the consumer will enable them to monitor and control their consumption and energy costs.

Smart meters are part of the reform of the energy markets aimed at encouraging active consumer participation. The smart meter is the first step towards the implementation of a smart electricity distribution network that uses computer technology to optimise decentralised production, distribution and consumption, especially with regard to electromobility, as well as to better coordinate supply and demand between electricity producers and consumers.

The deployment of smart meters is among the measures planned by the Luxembourg Government to enact the European energy directive into national law.

Smart meters use state-of-the-art technology in order to measure the energy (electricity, natural gas, urban heat) or water consumption of each dwelling at regular intervals. The meter records the values and transmits this data via the existing electricity network to a central system, which collects the data from the meters for the whole country and transmits it to the network operator.

The central data collection and management system is managed and operated by the Luxmetering economic interest group, which was created in 2012 by the country's seven electricity and gas network operators: Creos Luxembourg, City of Ettelbruck, City of Diekirch, Electris, City of Dudelange, Sudstroum and Sudgaz.

It should be noted that the network operator builds and operates the electricity or natural gas networks, and that the supplier buys and resells energy and associated services.

In principle, a wall does not breathe. Air renewal and moisture removal are only achieved by ventilation (via windows or a mechanical ventilation system). The effect of 'breathing' as mentioned above refers to the transfer of moisture by the diffusion of water vapour. In practice, this is minimal and does not play any role in the removal of moisture. On the other hand, it is important for interior plaster to be able to absorb moisture from the air and release it back into the interior after ventilation. The moisture regulation effect therefore only operates within the first few centimetres (on the interior side) of a wall. For example, clay plaster on internal walls provides excellent moisture regulation.

It is often façade insulation systems that are implicated and pilloried for this. It is true that on insulated walls the outer render layer has a lower temperature and slows down the drying of rainwater and condensed water. However, in order to determine the origin of the spread of micro-organisms, various factors have to be taken into consideration: weathering, orientation, proximity of trees or bushes and the lack of protection provided by protruding building elements (roof overhang, window sill, projection, eaves, etc.).

For new builds, weather protection should ideally be provided from the outset. Similarly, by opting for a thicker finishing coat, higher surface temperatures can be obtained.

On the contrary! Poor quality sealing can result in significant amounts of energy loss. However, the risk of building deterioration is an even greater factor: in winter, warm, moist air escapes to the outside through leaky areas such as joints and cracks. In this way, the air cools down and moisture condenses, which can lead to the formation of mould in the cavities. In most cases, we don't even notice it and therefore we can't react.

Airtightness is therefore a key issue. You must ensure that your house is well ventilated, either simply by opening the windows or by installing a controlled ventilation system.

The heat transmission coefficient (known as the U-value) determines how much heat passes through a building element – the lower the value, the better the insulation. Therefore, for example, a sand-lime brick wall with a thickness of 50 cm has a U-value of about 1.0 to 2.0 W/m² K. With an outer insulation thickness of 12 cm to 30 cm, the walls of well-renovated buildings today achieve U-values between 0.3 and 0.1 W/m² K.

Insulating materials are not all flammable. Building materials, and therefore also insulating materials, are divided into different fire protection categories. Moreover, a European standard regulates the classification of products and types of construction according to their fire behaviour.

This standard indicates that there are non-flammable insulating materials. Therefore, the main contractor can inquire about this beforehand, prior to deciding on the materials to be used. In principle, insulating materials made out of minerals are non-flammable. Mineral-based insulation materials are also covered by the Luxembourg Sustainability Certification for Housing (LENOZ) and can therefore be financed by the State as part of an overall project. Refits are also covered: the use of mineral-based insulation materials allows for higher financing than conventional materials.

Furthermore, there are other materials used as façade cladding elements that are flammable and these must be taken into account in this regard. This is why it is important to account for the overall make-up of the external wall in itself. Nonetheless, it may also include flame retardants (i.e. sealant, firewall, etc.) and thus provide protection against the spread of flames.