BPIE Survey: EU not on track to a decarbonisation of building sector, experts say

(eceee news, 23 Oct 2018) A survey from BPIE shows that a large majority building professionals support a full decarbonization of the buildings sector, and call for stronger policies and mandatory measures such as minimum performance standards, better enforcement and banning inefficient products.

The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) aims to achieve an energy efficient and decarbonised building stock by 2050, and compels Member States to develop respective roadmaps, guidelines and measurable, targeted actions.

BPIE developed a survey to ask building professionals from across Europe their views on the policies and actions needed to accelerate and realise the transition to a highly energy efficient and decarbonised building stock.

In February-March 2018, 71 experts from 17 different EU Member States.  responded to the online survey, conducted by RAND. Nearly half of the respondents represented the private sector, while a quarter were from research institutes.

According to BPIE, shifting towards the EPBD 2018 vision of an energy efficient and decarbonised EU building stock by 2050 is seen by experts as an important policy objective for the EU, even though the majority consider that the EU is currently not on track to achieve this.

Given the complexity of the sector, there is no single solution to the issue. Despite the revised EPBD, experts considered that stronger policies and regulatory measures resulting in improved energy performance of buildings are needed to deliver a decarbonised building stock, BPIE writes. Some of the most important actions, according to the experts, are mandatory measures such as minimum performance standards, better enforcement and banning inefficient or high carbon products.

While the survey points out the key issues affecting the sector, further effort is required to develop an appropriate policy mix in a given market, and to ensure that supporting measures, financing options and engagement strategies are properly aligned to engage building owners in the transition to a decarbonised building stock, BPIE writes.

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