About: energy performance of buildings directive
Keeping cool in a warming world is not a ‘luxury’ for the rich
The heatwaves currently experienced in Europe should be a wake-up call to stop ignoring summer domestic energy poverty, writes Yamina Saheb.
A holistic approach to smart building systems
While a coordinated operation of all building systems can achieve significant energy savings, those systems are too often installed in siloes hindering to unlock the full potential, writes Tom Machinchick.
Banker: ‘Massive positive change’ underway for building renovation
The energy performance contract model can turn energy efficiency renovation of buildings into a truly popular policy objective among politicians in Central and Eastern Europe because it can be done without any use of public money and has no impact on public debt, says Ivan Lesay.
Croatia’s renovation projects can teach us as much as their football
What do Croatia’s football team and its energy efficiency programmes have in common? Experience, skill, tenacity and an inspiring amount of success, writes Adrian Joyce.
UK set to ‘dramatically’ miss 2030 energy efficiency targets for homes
The UK will not meet its 2030 goals to boost energy efficiency in its housing stock until the end of the century, new research from think tank IPPR has concluded. EURACTIV's media partner edie.net reports.
Theresa May unveils plan to halve building energy use by 2030
UK Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to halve energy use from new buildings by 2030, as part of a speech that championed the role science and technology will play in delivering her government's industrial strategy. EURACTIV's media partner edie.net reports.
Buildings renovation: The low hanging fruit for emissions savings
With real estate responsible for over a third of the EU’s CO2 emissions, legislating to improve energy savings in the building stock is a low hanging fruit that our governments would be mad not to pick, argues Eliot Whittington.
‘Efficiency First’ will deliver – let’s start with renovating our buildings
There is a simple truth about EU climate policy: If it does not put energy efficiency first, it will not meet its objectives cost-effectively. And if it does not try to do that, it may not meet them at all, writes Adrian Joyce.
EU finance advisors back ‘less risky’ energy efficiency loans
A high level group of financial experts has advised European regulators to encourage more favourable treatment for energy saving loans and mortgages, in a move that could unlock billions in lending for green building renovation programmes across Europe.
Fuel poverty and affordable housing: Connecting the dots
There seems to be rising momentum to connect the dots between energy efficiency, fuel poverty and the EU's broader 2030 objectives, writes Sorcha Edwards.
Avoiding common traps in energy savings (mis)calculation
Inconsistencies in the calculation of energy savings could derail global sustainability efforts, warn Tom Machinchick and Dr. Andreas Hermelink. Together, they investigate the effect of non-persistence in energy conservation measures on meeting the Paris Agreement and other carbon emissions goals.
Closing the energy performance gap of buildings
Despite new efficient technologies, the actual performance of the heating, cooling or ventilation system of buildings is often worse than calculations or declarations. The good news is that EU policy makers have just committed to tackle this performance gap in the new energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD), writes André Borouchaki.
EU deal sets off race to renovate Europe’s building stock
After a third round of talks, EU lawmakers reached an agreement Tuesday (19 December) on the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), firing the starting gun to renovate Europe’s entire building stock by 2050 so that it becomes “nearly zero emissions”.
EU deal on ‘nearly zero energy buildings’ by 2050
European Union lawmakers reached a tentative agreement Tuesday (19 December) on some key parts of a draft law that will facilitate the renovation of Europe’s existing building stock, with the aim of reaching nearly zero energy buildings by 2050, EU sources said.
Estonia calls off ‘trench war’ talks on EU building law
EU Presidency holder Estonia called off negotiations over the recast energy performance of buildings directive on Tuesday (5 December) after a late night session described as a “trench war” by one official.
‘Committed’ Canete ups pressure on EU buildings law
The EU Commissioner in charge of climate action, Miguel Arias Cañete, will personally attend three-way talks taking place Tuesday (5 December) on the recast energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD), in a sign of the rising political profile taken by energy saving policies in Brussels.
Finance expert: Small-scale energy efficiency loans deserve more EU attention
There are many creative ways to finance small-scale energy efficiency projects such as building renovations, but they need to be discussed more at the European Commission level, and defined more precisely, Jessica Stromback told EURACTIV Czech Republic.
Radiator valves: A simple trick to achieve CO2 targets in the building sector
Energy savings can be very low cost and easy. You can cut bills, energy imports and CO2 emissions through individual room temperature control, for example through thermostatic radiator valves. Sarah Brückner explains.
EU unveils proposal to clean up transport, boost electric vehicles
The European Commission proposed on Wednesday (8 November) a legislative package aimed at reducing CO2 emissions in road transport and encouraging the uptake of electric cars, in an attempt to help Europe's car industry remain competitive in the face of growing pressure from the US and China.
Stars are (almost) aligned for energy efficiency projects in Europe
Eurostat last week revised its accounting rules, allowing local authorities to stop counting as public debt the building refurbishment work they undertake as part of energy performance contracts, writes Quentin Genard.
Energy performance of buildings: Time to put efficiency first
Ever been too hot at work on a sunny June day? Too cold in your sitting room on a January evening? The energy performance of buildings affects all our lives directly, every day, writes Arianna Vitali.
Health activists join EU building renovation crusade
Health campaigners have called on European lawmakers to impose an EU-wide indoor air quality performance certificate for buildings to prevent mould and dampness from poisoning the air people breathe inside their homes and offices.
Indoor air quality sneaks into EU buildings law review
A last-minute push by energy activists has convinced the European Commission to include indoor air quality considerations into the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Making it happen on the ground could prove a bigger challenge, however.