Share this on social media
EU bets on energy savings, greener buildings to meet climate target
(EurActiv, 7 Jul 2021) The European Union will require countries to renovate energy-guzzling buildings faster and meet tougher targets on energy savings as part of its drive to meet its climate goals, according to a draft document seen by Reuters.
Buildings produce more than a third of Europe’s CO2 emissions and account for 40% of the bloc’s energy consumption, making the sector a key threat to Europe’s plan to reduce planet-warming emissions.
In order to tackle this, the European Commission is planning to update the energy efficiency directive, which includes targets for building renovation and the energy efficiency standards they should meet.
The draft proposal seen by Reuters would also require countries to implement measures to cut their final energy consumption by 1.5% each year from 2024 to 2030, nearly doubling the current requirement of 0.8%.
That could be achieved by better insulating buildings or installing more energy efficient heating and cooling systems.
Europe currently renovates just 1% of buildings to save energy each year. But Brussels hopes countries will use the COVID-19 recovery fund to launch a wave of green renovations.
Building renovation boosts local jobs as well as improving the welfare of the inhabitants and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions, making it a popular idea for using up recovery money.
External link
EurActiv, 7 Jul 2021: EU bets on energy savings, greener buildings to meet climate target
