The EU Policy Framework
In March 2008, the EU agreed on an ambitious Climate Package for three targets to be reached by 2020:
- 20% less Green House Gas emissions: this target as been translated into the EU Emissions Trading Directive and effort sharing Decision;
- 20% more Renewable Energy Sources: binding target have been agreed in the Renewables Directive;
- 20% more Energy Efficiency: the End-use Energy Services Directive and the Energy Efficiency Action Plan are two of the instruments in place, however no binding targets have been yet agreed.
Throughout 2009, preparations for the UN negotiations in Copenhagen dominated the climate agenda. The EU aimed to play a leading role, using its commitment to a minimum reduction of carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 as an indication of its own ambition.
Yet the EU’s headline commitments require on-the ground delivery to provide a convincing example of its international leadership. And there is no more pressing area for action than energy efficiency; an area that has seen growing EU legislation but limited EU spending.
Another target set out in the Climate Package is an increase in the share of renewables by 20%. Integrating micro-generation of energy in housing projects will contribute considerably to this goal.
However, for the moment, renewable energy mega projects (solar or wind farm) are under consideration for EU support, with micro-generation solutions (but should be better supported in the coming years in particular in Research Programmes).
The third commitment of the Climate package is to increase energy efficiency by 20%; this commitment is the only one of the three which has not being translated into a binding target in an EU directive.
The housing boom of the last two decades resulted in urban sprawl and house and energy prices increases while locking in inefficient energy practices. But to change the approach will require considerable up-front financing. Coming up with this ready cash will call for creative thinking that may take EU budget planners, financial institutions and energy utilities outside their traditional zones.
Although housing policy is a local issue and not an EU competence, energy security and climate change mitigation are key EU public goods, with growing EU responsibilities (Lisbon Treaty).
With the residential sector currently accounting for around 27% of energy consumption in the EU, the estimate reduction in CO2 emissions that energy efficient housing would provide cannot be underestimated.
Indeed, the sector has significant untapped potential for cost-effective energy savings which, if realised, could mean that in 2020 the EU will consume 11 % less energy. Additionally, this does not take into account the potential of housing as an energy producer through the installation of renewable energy generation.
CECODHAS Housing Europe members providing more than 21 million dwellings across Europe, have the potential to make a real impact in the ongoing campaign to make Europe’s homes more energy efficient!
Please click HERE to download the "CECODHAS Copenhagen Offer".
