Ahead of the European Summit of 20 and 21 March 2014, Renovate Europe wrote to the Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States, asking them to call for ambitious energy efficiency proposals and a dedicated 2030 target for the buildings sector.
Subject: European Summit Meeting, 20th and 21st March 2014 – Energy Efficiency in the EU 2030 Climate and Energy Policy
Energy efficiency, when ambitiously pursued, holds enormous potential for reducing energy cost and dependency, reducing GHG emissions, and also boosting job creation, economic growth and welfare. Beyond these facts, the current discussion around the 2030 climate and energy targets and, specifically, the review of progress on energy efficiency, provides a unique opportunity to turn this potential into reality.
A clear political call for immediate ambition, linked to an ambitious objective for energy efficiency in the buildings sector for 2030 is needed to ensure that the enormous job creation and economic potential tied up in this sector will not be lost for a generation. The 31 partners of the Renovate Europe Campaign, bringing together industry, cities, NGOs, trade unions and think tanks, ask you to support real, ambitious action in this field during the upcoming Summit in Brussels on the 20th and 21st March.
We specifically ask that you call on the European Commission to adopt ambitious policy proposals on energy efficiency following its upcoming assessment of progress on energy efficiency and thus equip the EU with a strong ambition in this field. In particular, the enabling role of the building sector should be fully recognised and equipped with a dedicated target for 2030.
The buildings sector consumes 40% of our energy and thus offers the highest, cost-effective savings potential. The materials, equipment and technology needed to significantly reduce energy demand in buildings are with us today and our 31 partners stand ready to support ambitious action in this field. Our industry is a fully innovative, competitive, world-leading industry striving to maintain its leadership position but its full potential is not yet optimised. Not least, without energetic political commitment, four fifths of the savings potential in the sector will be lost in period to 2030.
We thus need political support, linked to leadership and vision towards 2030, in the struggle to upscale renovation in the EU building stock. Such leadership, completed by decisive action to lift non-technological barriers in the sector, will provide to our sector the investment horizon and confidence required to unlock the potential. Such leadership will help the building sector move the EU out of the fragile economic state it is in and into a new, vibrant stage that will benefit all in the EU.
Relying on your support for our call, we remain committed and ready to provide you with further information now, or in the future, on how to reap the benefits of increased energy efficiency in the buildings sector.
Yours sincerely,
Adrian Joyce
Renovate Europe Campaign Director
