Energy efficiency
Buildings and the forgotten 90%
Human beings spend on average 90% of their lives indoors. Buildings are also a huge drain on energy resources and create a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions. This Special Report looks deeper into the places we live and work.
Decarbonising Europe’s heating sector
Heating is responsible for almost half (40%) of the EU's total energy consumption, and a large share of the bloc's carbon emissions. Yet, politicians are reluctant to confront the issue head-on. EURACTIV examines the reasons behind this and some of the solutions being considered at local and EU level.
Saving energy, a European challenge of varying scale
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.
Electricity prices
Many European countries have placed limits on electricity prices, often justified by consumer concerns about rising energy bills, or to protect households from energy poverty. But regulated energy prices also thwart competition and hinder the deployment of clean energy solutions....
Healthy buildings: Good for our wallets?
‘Healthy mind, healthy body’, so the saying goes - but both are affected by the buildings in which we live and work. This year’s edition of the Healthy Homes Barometer reveals what the challenges and solutions might be.
Lighting
The European Union took a bold step when it imposed a ban on incandescent light bulbs in 2008. Almost ten years on, EURACTIV.com takes stock of progress made and sets sights on the next frontier – Human Centric Lighting.
Energy performance of buildings
Lawmakers in the European Parliament's industry committee are voting this week on the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). EURACTIV.com takes a closer look at the latest changes made to the bill before it clears this major political hurdle.
Heating and cooling
The heating and cooling of buildings and industry is responsible for half of the EU’s energy consumption, and “much of it is wasted” according to the European Commission.
Healthy buildings, healthy people
The renovation of the EU’s building stock is seen as critical in achieving the bloc’s climate change targets, while reducing dependence on imported fuel. However, less is known about the positive impact renovation can have on people's health.
Financing energy efficiency
The European Union has made energy savings in buildings one of the cornerstones of the bloc's efforts to cut dependence on imported fuel. But private investors are still wary of unlocking the trillions of euros of capital needed to renovate Europe's ageing building stock.
Electricity in transition
Europe’s electricity system is on the cusp of a deep revolution, driven by the imperative of decarbonisation and the move towards decentralised renewables energy production.
Consumers, regulators and energy efficiency in buildings
Saving energy consumption in buildings will play a key part in Europe’s transition to a clean, secure and efficient energy system.
Can Energy Union build healthier homes?
The EU’s Energy Union strategy has the twin goals of fighting climate change and boosting energy security but could it also build healthier homes for European citizens, 80 million of which live in damp and leaky buildings.
An efficient energy union
Efficiency will be an important part of the EU's Energy Union plan to strengthen the bloc's resistance to shortages, but it faces competition from other policy streams for lawmakers' attention.Supporter
Danfoss top five priorities for a successful DWD revision:
- Unlock investments in energy efficiency and digitalization
- Increase transparency about energy use and water losses in the European water sector
- Enforce reduction of water leaks to de-risk contamination through leaky pipes
- Make information easy to understand by the public and comparable between member states
- Think circular economy
