The Energy Efficiency Directive requires every EU country to establish a long-term strategy for mobilising investment in the energy efficient renovation of their building stock, by 30 April 2014. 1
With just six months remaining to deliver national renovation strategies that could help ensure investment in European jobs and growth, and help deliver lower energy bills for struggling European citizens, our organisations urge national governments to:
1) Build lasting partnerships with industry, academia, financial institutions, NGOs and other actors. Establish strategies that genuinely engage national stakeholders and those who must deliver on the ground.
Strong, inclusive and collaborative platforms must form between the public and private sector, to design and deliver national renovation strategies. Countries like Denmark with its ‘Network for Energy Retrofit’2 are leading the way, utilising the rich expertise of the stakeholder community and ensuring that a shared long-term vision is built.
2) Develop ambitious strategies supported by clear milestone aims; the technology exists and industry is ready to deliver, but long-term certainty is needed for the market.
Ambition to scale-up both the rate and depth of renovation works and deeply renovate our building stock is required if the EU is to meet its long-term energy and climate goals.3 In this respect, long-term certainty for investors, industry, professionals and consumers, supported by clear targets and milestones, is a prerequisite to delivering this ambition. This is precisely what national renovation strategies must deliver.
3) Integrate societal benefits: national strategies are tools to enable our economies to reap the multiple economic, social and environmental benefits of energy efficient renovations.
Renovate Europe’s ‘Multiple Benefits of Investing in Energy Efficient Renovations’ report demonstrates that energy efficient renovation has the potential to create up to two million jobs and kick start the European economy, save the equivalent of 4 billion barrels of oil imports per year, reduce energy bills and CO2 emissions and increase comfort and well-being. Countries must ensure they have quantified and understood the potential benefits through cost-benefit analysis, so they can ensure these are delivered to their citizens and businesses.
Governments around Europe cannot afford to miss the chance to improve their economies and the lives of those who live, learn and work in Europe’s buildings. Let’s seize this opportunity!
1 EU Energy Efficiency Directive, Article 4
2 ‘Network for Energy Retrofit’ case study, from ‘A New Era in Building Partnerships’, World Green Building Council
3 ‘Renovation Tracks for Europe up to 2050’, EURIMA