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EuroACE welcomes Germany's new initiatives
August 28, 2007
The German government is to make a "quantum leap" in energy efficiency, according to environment minister Sigmar Gabriel. Subsidies to install energy saving measures in buildings will increase to 2.6bn euros a year from 2008. This doubles the amount being spent currently.
The measures to be funded include the replacement of windows and heating systems, plus extra thicknesses of insulation. Also available will be improvement of the accuracy of consumption meters, and the phasing out of night storage heaters.
The Environment Ministry has issued a 49 page document focussed upon energy conservation, as a key part of a package designed to improve energy efficiency by 3% annually. Under European law, all that is required is an annual 1% improvement. These measures will make Germany "one of the most energy efficient regions in the world" claims economics minister Michael Glos.
Still under discussion is a new ecological tax for German industry. There would be complete exemptions from such a tax for companies that can demonstrate that they are exemplars in energy performance.
As well as seeking to reduce both the need for new power stations and for energy imports, the new package is intended to put Germany far ahead of other developed nations in reducing greenhouse gases. According to Gabriel, Berlin can now achieve a 40% reduction in carbon emissions between 1990 and 2020.
Energy taxation response 'excellent news' - Andrew Warren, EuroACE Senior Advisor
July 24, 2007
Letter to the Editor, EurActiv
Sir,
Concerning 'Brown and Sarkozy team up on 'green' tax', earlier this year you kindly ran a letter from me, making the point that it is quite absurd that Europe's sales tax remains systematically biased against the environment, enabling energy consumption to be so frequently taxed more lightly than energy conservation. So it is excellent news that boht the new French and the new UK head of government want this distortion removed.
It is now more than nine years since June 1998, when the Council of Ministers formally invited the Commission to "consider introducing proposals for differentiation in tax levels for energy saving products". I am glad that the tax directorate is at last preparing to respond to this quite specific request.
Andrew Warren, Senior Advisor
Reduced rates of VAT on the way? UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, speaking at a joint press conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Paris, July 20 2007
July 23, 2007
"Today we talked about a European initiative that we believe could send out a very important message about what we think about pollution and about what we can do to make for a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly continent. And we will together, both our Finance Ministers, propose to the European Commission that it is now time and it cannot wait much longer that we give new incentives for people who are wanting to buy environmentally friendly products and make it clear that we are prepared to favour these in preference to environmentally unfriendly and wasteful products for the environment.
And our proposal that we would have reduced rate taxation on VAT, on Value Added Tax, for environmentally friendly products from fridges to insulation, for all the major goods that may pollute but actually by being produced in a way that are environmentally friendly can actually benefit the environment is one that we hope all other European countries will support.
We will determinedly push this proposal forward, both in the European Commission and the European Council of Finance Ministers. And I believe that when we are looking at the environmental debate of the future, the contribution of science, the contribution of public investment, the contribution of new market mechanisms, including tackling carbon emissions through carbon trading, that the reduced taxation that we propose will be a major incentive for people to show personal responsibility in buying products that are environmentally friendly."
Excerpt from Council of Ministers decision, June 17 1998
“The Council emphasises the importance of actively promoting energy efficiency. In this context, it invites the Commission to consider introducing proposals for differentiation in tax levels for energy-saving products, so as to allow member States to provide appropriate economic incentives for such products.”
EuroACE is hoping that this time , the Commission actually takes up the invitation.
Paper presented by Rick Wilberforce (EuroACE/Pilkington) at GPD Conference in Finland
July 10, 2007
Rick Wilberforce presented his paper on 'EU policies for energy efficiency' at the Glass Processing Days conference in Tampere, Finland (15-18 June 2007).
EU Commission takes legal action against Greece, Estonia and Poland
July 09, 2007
On 27 June 2007, the EU Commission launched court proceedings against Greece for failure to notify its implementing measures on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive adopted in 2002.
Reasoned Opinions – the last step before a formal complaint to the Court of Justice is lodged – were also sent to Estonia and Poland for failure to notify the necessary measures. The aim of the Directive is to reduce energy consumption in buildings by laying down national minimum energy performance standards for new buildings and major renovations of larger existing buildings. By failing to implement this important Directive Greece, Estonia and Poland miss an opportunity to realise cost effective energy savings.
EU states slow on energy-efficiency, environment - news item from EurActiv.com
July 05, 2007
See news on EurActiv, including quote from EuroACE Member Honeywell.
EuroACE perspective on sales tax at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's EU Forum on energy efficiency in buildings
July 05, 2007
“There is only one tax which every member state of the European Union must impose, as a condition of membership. That is the sales, or Value Added, tax (VAT). Not only must this be imposed, but in addition the exact list of products or services upon which it may be imposed at zero rate, at minimum rate (5%) or at full rate must be agreed by all governments. See full Press Release
'A Tale of Three Cities' - article by Andrew Warren
June 16, 2007
EuroACE's senior adviser writes in Energy in Buildings and Industry magazine on Europe's imperatives for energy efficiency.