eceee, the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, is the largest member-based non-governmental organisation in Europe promoting energy efficiency, has long been an advocate of comprehensive and ambitious energy efficiency policies in the buildings sector. Energy use in European buildings is a major contributor by end use (~40%) to European emissions of CO2 which in 2006 were approaching 4,000 million tonnes.  To reach the ambitious long-term targets of reducing CO2 emission levels by at least 60-80% by 2050 will require a major effort on improving building energy efficiency, particularly for existing buildings.  

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive was first adopted in 2002 and Member States are implementing it.  However, there are shortcomings in that Directive and it was soon realised that some changes were necessary to improve implementation and increase the impact.  The European Commission, following a lengthy consultation process, approved a recast of the Directive in November 2008.  Since early this year, the Parliamentary Committee responsible for this subject area, the ITRE Committee, has been deliberating on the recast and on March 31st approved a set of amendments that are now before the European Parliament’s Plenary for the first reading.  The vote is taking place on Thursday, April 23rd.

If the Parliament does not vote positively, considerable time will be lost. Even with the process following the normal pace in the European Council of Ministers, momentum will be lost if the European Parliament does not show the necessary leadership and high level of ambition.

Mr. Bach’s letter hopefully will encourage the process to continue smoothly.  A negative vote would send signals throughout Europe and the globe that European leadership in energy efficiency and climate change is just rhetoric.  It is a realisation that meeting targets requires policies and, equally important, committed implementation.  The European Parliament has the opportunity to send the first signal.

Read more:
Mr Bach’s letter (pdf)
Steering through the maze - eceee guide to the EPBD recast process (pdf)
eceee buildings pages with eceee’s position, policy brief etc

Read our columns:
Fiona Hall - Buildings are key to meeting our targets
Rod Janssen - Delivering energy efficiency
Rod  Janssen - Buildings - for our future