EuroACE joins call on member states to increase energy efficiency funding
EuroACE has joined forces with European renewables and environmental organisations to analyse the spending plans for the Structural and Cohesion Funds with worrying findings - some Member States plan to invest under 1% on energy efficiency and renewables.

Energy Council adopts Action Plan on Energy Efficiency
EuroACE has welcomed the adoption by the Energy Council on 23 November of the Commission’s Action Plan on Energy Efficiency.
The Council’s decision should now be followed by prompt action to ensure that the Action Plan is implemented swiftly and in full.  In particular, EuroACE will continue to press for an early expansion of the Energy Performance of the Buildings Directive to cover all residential buildings.

Letter to Member State Energy Ministers
EuroACE companies are writing today to every Energy Minister in the EU urging them to give strong endorsement to the Commission’s Energy Efficiency Action Plan at their upcoming Energy Council meeting on 23 November.  In particular, they are urging Ministers not to water down the Commission’s proposal to expand the scope of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to ensure that all buildings (as opposed to those over 1000m2) upgrade their energy efficiency when major renovations are undertaken.

EuroACE Information Paper on the Energy Efficiency Action Plan
EuroACE have today published an Information Paper summarising the key aspects of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan that relate to the buildings sector.  The Paper also highlights the Commission proposals that EuroACE are most keen to see implemented swiftly.

Commitment to energy-efficiency pays off: First DISPLAY® “Towards Class A” Awards given to the best municipal communication campaigns
One week after the EU action plan for energy efficiency was accepted; EuroACE, Energie-Cités and other partners of the Display® Campaign take the lead and demonstrate how the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive can be applied effectively on the ground. EuroACE is delighted to be supporting this initiative and the awards for the most innovative actions by European municipalities.

EuroACE welcomes long-awaited Energy Efficiency Action Plan
Today, October 19, the Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs launched the Commission's long-awaited European energy efficiency action plan. EuroACE has issued a press release on the launch.

EuroACE briefing on Energy End-use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive
The latest version of the briefing, written by Senior Advisor to EuroACE Andrew Warren, is now online.

Letter to President Barroso
Letter sent today to Commission President Barroso signed by the MEPs Ander Wijkman (PPE), Mechtild Rothe (PSE), Fiona Hall, Chris Davies (ALDE), Claude Turmes (Greens) and Umberto Guidoni on a possible delay of the launch of the European energy efficiency action plan.

Important announcement by permanent Finnish Secretary for Energy Policy on Commission's energy efficiency action plan
Please read the press release on this morning's (28.9.06) announcement in Brussels.

Commission's energy efficiency action plan at risk
Please follow the link to read the item published in today's (27.9.06) The Guardian newspaper.

EuroACE plenary meeting in Warsaw
EuroACE's plenary meeting took place in Warsaw on September 21. Distinguished Polish guests contributed on three energy policy topics. Follow the link for the press release.

EuroACE response to Energy Green Paper
EuroACE's response to the European Commission's green paper on secure, sustainable and competitive energy for Europe is now online.

German Government Existing Home Improvement Scheme
More details about the German Government's programme to refurbish existing houses are emerging. Andrew Warren's article looks at Germany's whole house approach, which plans to improve all pre-1984 to new homes standard.

Overview of European Energy Efficiency Green Paper debate
The European Commission published its report on the analysis of the Energy Efficiency Green Paper debate. The Green Paper consultation closed at the end of March this year.

European Climate Change Programme - saving energy in buildings
The European Commission's second ECCP, in the development of which EuroACE has been involved, has implications for reducing energy consumption in buildings. Andrew Warren, Senior Advisor to EuroACE, has prepared an outline briefing of the ECCP's parts relevant to the building sector.

Report and statement from EuroACE/REEEP/EURIMA workshop
The report from the workshop, entitled "From Words to Action: Accelerating Measures to Improve Energy Efficiency in Buildings", is now online. Also published is a short policy document which the workshop gave rise to, the Vienna Statement.

Latest EuroACE presentations online
• Presentation by Rick Wilberforce – “ Making Invisible Property Investments Attractive ” – at IEECB’06. The paper upon which the presentation is based is also available.
• Presentation by EuroACE to DG Regional Policy on financing energy efficiency in the enlarged European Union
• Presentation of the findings of the high-rise refurbishment project Changing the View

EP IRE Committee response to EE Green Paper
The European Parliament’s Industry, Research & Energy Committee responded to the Energy Efficiency Green Paper in early May.

Brussels comes up against a renewables barrier
This May 2006 EiBI article explores the difficulties faced by the European Commission trying to push forward the renewables agenda for heating.

Report on financing energy efficiency in the enlarged EU
Last year, EuroACE commissioned Klinckenberg Consultants to examine "Investing in Building Energy Efficiency in the Enlarged European Union". The report is out now, including an accompanying cover note on "Financial mechanisms for Building Energy Efficiency and the new Financial Perspectives for the European Cohesion Funds".

Step change for solar thermal
Both Portugal and Spain have adopted obligations for solar thermal technology in their new building codes. Read the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation's (ESTIF's) information on the Portuguese and Spanish codes.

Final text of ESD recorded in EU Journal
The final text of the Energy End-use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive has been recorded in the Official Journal of the European Union, published on April 27 2006.

New software modelling tool: Fuel Prophet
EuroACE's sister organisation, UK ACE, has recently published its modelling tool to help manage uncertainty when making housing energy improvement decisions. Read more or click here to go to the Fuel Prophet project page.

Press coverage of Changing the View
Energy in Buildings and Industry magazine, in its April issue, has covered the recent publication of EuroACE's and the International Energy Agency's report on energy efficiency in the refurbishment of high-rise residential buildings.

New research on the benefits of solar shading published
New research by Physibel for the European Solar Shading Organization (ES-SO) demonstrates the large energy-saving potential from solar-shading measures applied to buildings. Follow the links to ES-SO’s executive summary and the full research report.

EPBDatabase launched
An interactive database reporting on status of Energy Performance of Buildings Directive implementation in each of the 25 EU Member States. It is based on the findings of Rod Janssen’s Towards Energy Efficient Buildings in Europe report for EuroACE and updated regularly.

High-rise project website launched
To mark the publication of the Changing the View, the Changing the View project website has been launched – the summary report and interactive project website are both based on the findings from the International Energy Agency and EuroACE-funded research on Energy Efficiency in the Refurbishment of High-rise Residential Buildings .

President Barroso's Energy Policy
This week the European Commission published its Green Paper on secure, competitive and sustainable energy for Europe. It reinforces the central role that "a real leap forward" on energy efficiency will play, in achieving each of these three objectives.