EuroACE welcomes Energy Efficiency Action Plan, 28/09/06

EuroACE - the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings – has welcomed today’s long-awaited launch of the European Commission’s Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.

EuroACE is particularly pleased to see the emphasis the Commission has placed on the crucial role that better energy saving policies in the buildings sector can play in achieving a reduction of 20% in energy consumption across the EU by 2020.

The Commission has responded to EuroACE’s demands in a number of key areas – in particular in its proposal to expand the scope of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to include smaller buildings than those currently covered by the Directive. The Commission has also heeded EuroACE’s plea for better use of the Structural and Cohesion funds to improve energy efficiency in the new Member States. This was a key conclusion of a recent report – “Energy Efficiency in the Refurbishment of High-rise Residential Buildings” – jointly published by EuroACE and the International Energy Agency.

The Action Plan also contains welcome proposals to introduce minimum energy performance requirements for new and renovated buildings; develop a new strategy for very low energy houses; and streamline the taxation system to encourage a more targeted and coherent use of energy taxation.

EuroACE has further welcomed the Commission’s pledge to rigorously pursue the implementation of existing EU directives in Member States. This has been a major concern of EuroACE members for some time.

EuroACE now looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Commission and member state governments to ensure that the Action Plan is translated without delay into firm and decisive action on the ground.

For further information, please contact:

Kurt Emil Eriksen, President of EuroACE: 00 45 232 00141

Jenny Holland, Adviser to EuroACE: 00 44 7875 629781