A binding and meaningful 2030 target for energy efficiency is an important milestone towards achieving the EU’s ambitions for the creation of a competitive and sustainable low-carbon economy by 2050. Within that framework, a binding sectoral target for buildings, which are responsible for around 40% of energy consumption in the EU, is essential.

Given the importance of ensuring that there is a long-term, stable policy framework that will build investor confidence in the subject of highly ambitious energy efficiency for buildings and thus encourage a transformation in the construction sector, EuroACE is calling for a binding EU energy efficiency target for 2030 as a key element of the Post-2020 policy debate.

EuroACE Position Paper : the Energy Roadmap 2050, a future with energy

(Draft report by Niki Tzavela’s 2012/2103(INI)

EuroACE supports the Rapporteur’s views that investing in energy efficiency is a ‘no-regrets’ option. Reinforcing the key role which energy efficiency must play in the EU’s needed energy transition towards a competitive low carbon and low energy future with targeted amendments in this Report is crucial. If the EU is to unlock the huge energy savings potential and economic benefits which currently lie dormant in the EU’s low-performing building stock, then buildings must be considered a high priority.

The ITRE report on the Energy Roadmap 2050 must reflect that Energy Efficiency is pivotal to the future of our economies. It should also facilitate improved consistency with the recently adopted Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). This will be done through:

1. Calling the Commission to model a scenario which combines high levels of energy efficiency and renewables as part of the post 2020 preparatory work. This scenario would provide the most viable route to energy security, decarbonisation and competitiveness.

2. Strengthening the importance of Energy Efficiency through the creation of a sub-section on ‘Energy Efficiency’, ahead of the sub-section on Renewable Energy. Indeed, achieving high levels of energy efficiency are crucial to meeting the renewable energy targets.

3. Clarifying the strategic importance of the building sector for reaching long term energy goals

Energy Efficiency in buildings is one of the most cost-effective measures to achieve both great energy savings and cut CO2 emissions. It also has great potential to boost growth, creating local non exportable jobs, and improving regional imbalances within the EU.

In spite of being recognised in all EU Member States as the way forward in addressing both climate and economic challenges, implementing energy efficiency in buildings remains difficult. The main reason is that providing sufficient upfront finance in a diverse and disaggregated market, where each renovation project has its specific characteristics in terms of project engineering and return on investment, is still complex.

In this context, EuroACE considers that EU funding coming from the Structural Funds is instrumental in at least two respects, namely: leveraging other funding sources for energy efficiency, including from private sources, and increasing the confidence stakeholders need to have to invest in this sector, including in training and products & services. The prerequisite for this to happen is that the climate thematic concentration and related earmarking is maintained with enough ambition

EuroACE has high expectations of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). If well designed, the EED will enable all actors to tackle the huge potential of the European building stock for energy savings. This will, in turn, free up money for other projects through decreased energy bills, job creation and limitation of EU dependence on external energy sources. [...]