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EU urges quicker phase-out of gas boilers in bid to halt Russian energy imports
(EurActiv, 20 May 2022) Government incentives for the installation of new fossil fuel boilers should be stopped “much more quickly” because of Russia’s war in Ukraine, an EU official explained, saying the current 2027 end date is “far too late” and must be brought forward.
One of the most contentious issues at the moment in Brussels is Russian energy – when and how to stop using it.
On Wednesday (18 May), the European Commission unveiled its RePowerEU proposals to strengthen renewable energy targets and quickly build new infrastructure to enable imports from non-Russian fossil fuel suppliers.
EU countries are also still arguing over a proposed ban on the import of Russian oil by the end of the year.
But lawmakers may be overlooking the obvious solution that’s all around them, in the very building they’re sitting in.
Buildings account for 40% of the EU’s final energy consumption and 36% of its greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency improvements could quickly bring this figure down, but incentivising renovations for old buildings has proven a challenge.
The EU has made efforts to incentivise energy-savings renovations, such as a modest requirement for publicly-owned buildings, but the Union failed to meet its energy efficiency target for 2020.
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