The plan was submitted to the government on Monday as part of talks on the sectors’ contribution to national climate change targets (EED 15/06/07).

The proposals envisage a 30 per cent saving in up to 300,000 household and utility buildings annually, with 40-60 per cent of all existing buildings tackled by 2020. Three-quarters of existing buildings are eligible for improvement, they estimate.

The plan was drawn up by the federation of Dutch energy companies (EnergieNed), a coalition of housing associations (Aedes) and the Platform for energy transition in the built environment (PeGO).

The groups say their goal is to stimulate buildings owners to apply energy-saving measures. One foresees 13m "smart" electricity meters being installed by 2020. New policies from government are needed to drive change, they said.

In a step in this direction, the Dutch government last week confirmed that all buildings will have to carry an energy label from next year in line with the EU energy performance of buildings directive. The Netherlands had initially rejected the law (EED 30/09/05).

Industry and government representatives will settle on a final buildings energy saving plan over the next few months. Pilot projects are to start after the summer with a full kick-off in 2008.

Follow-up: See industry press release (http://www.energiened.nl/_upload/bestanden/11661_persbericht%20Meer%20met%20Minder.pdf) , plan summary (http://www.energiened.nl/_upload/bestanden/11662_Samenvatting%20Meer%20met%20Minder.pdf) , full report (http://www.vrom.nl/docs/200706-meer-met-minder.pdf) , and Dutch environment ministry reaction (http://www.vrom.nl/pagina.html?id=31972) . See also Dutch environment ministry energy label press release (http://www.vrom.nl/pagina.html?id=31916) (all in Dutch).