Energy Cities is happy to announce that we have been officially invited, by the European Union Commission, to take part in the consultation process for the Energy Performance Buildings Directive (EPBD). The objective of this consultation is to consult stakeholders on the review of the EPBD and evaluate whether the Directive has met its aims.
Of the seventy-nine questions provided by the Commission, Energy Cities have extracted three where we would appreciate the direct input from Displayers:
Area A: Overall Assessment of the EPBD;
Context:
Currently, about 35% of the EU’s buildings are above 50 years old. Buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions in the EU, and consume, on average, about 25 litres of heating oil per square metre per year. Some buildings even require up to 60 litres.
Question 1: Has the EPBD helped to increase renovation (more than 25% of the surface of the building envelope) rates?
Area B : Financing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Buildings and Creation of Markets;
Context:
The EU has been supporting the improvement of the energy performance of buildings for many years with a range of financial support programmes.
Question 2: What are the best financing tools the EU could offer to help citizens and Member States facilitate deep renovations?
Area 3 : Energy Poverty and Affordability of Housing;
Context :
Energy poverty affects living conditions and health. It has many causes, including a combination of low income and general poverty conditions, energy-inefficient homes and a housing tenure system that fails to encourage energy efficiency.
Question 3: Has tackling energy poverty been a requirements when constructing new buildings and renovating existing buildings in Member States?
If you have an answer to any of the three questions above, please do not hesitate to respond. Furthermore please feel free to add any relevant feedback regarding the three consultation areas that you feel should be included in our review of the EPBD.
The public consultation runs until the end of October. We therefore ask that you send any answers or relevant information to the project manager, Peter Schilken (peter.schilken@energy-cities.eu), by the 28th of October 2015.