Several EU member states, including France, have chosen to implement laws that would allow the trading of energy saving certificates, an important shift towards saving energy.
The mechanism is being set up in France, where prices of certificates are under pressure because of a strong increase in demand. The recent multiplication of devices allowing for certificates to be generated, like recent efforts to encourage biking, should nonetheless support the supply.
In Poland, Italy and the UK, markets are promising but would also deserve a more extensive regulatory mechanism to foster the interest of the financial sector, which could easily develop the system further.
Additional Information
A workshop on energy saving certificates organised by eceee in partnership with GEO PLC and with support from RAP, the Regulatory Assistance Project took place in Paris on 25 April.
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Energy saving certificates in search for better optimisation
Across Europe, there is a high degree of consensus on the importance of realising energy savings in buildings. But debate still rages on how best to organise energy certificate schemes, which have been plagued by fraud and abuse. EURACTIV France reports.
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Price of energy saving certificates causes friction in France
Energy saving certificates, or white certificates, were meant to be the answer to France’s slow progress in reducing energy consumption. However, there is far more demand than supply, resulting in a surge in prices of certificates, which have more than doubled in a year. EURACTIV France reports.