NEWS

12 European business organisations are calling for efficient, renewables-based and flexible building renovations in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive revision

Oct 28, 2021

We, together with 11 European associations, have sent a letter to Frans Timmermans and Kadri Simson supporting the intention to revise the EPBD and to recommend it applies the Energy Efficiency First principle in a way that stimulates integrated renovations aiming at highly energy-efficient, renewable-based and flexible buildings integrated in the increasingly variable energy system.

This would lead to emissions reductions, grid optimisation and system efficiency. It would also deliver benefits to citizens, including the most vulnerable ones, strengthen the EU’s clean energy industrial leadership, boost local job creation and economic recovery.

We recommend including the following provisions:

  1. Ensure new buildings are energy efficient and renewable-based from 2025.
  2. Binding target on Member States of annual integrated renovations of at least 3% per year.
  3. Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for all existing buildings.
  4. Easily accessible support measures for lower-income houses & businesses to meet the MEPS.
  5. Strengthen and harmonise Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).
  6. Recommendations on EPCs on how to improve buildings’ energy performance.
  7. Strengthen the existing e-mobility provisions with mandatory minimum requirements for smart charging points
  8. Better technical assistance on the use of available funds and build capacity to increase demand and reduce hurdles to integrated renovations.

Read the full letter here

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  • Making better use of the grids thanks to the contribution of existing and future connected flexible consumers is an efficient approach to tackle urgently the congestion challenge. The Flexible Demand Management Industry that smartEn represents can empower grid users, i.e. grid connected buildings, industries and electric vehicles, to play an active role in supporting an efficient and smart operation of grids. However, grids must be incentivised to use the flexibility of connected consumers, as already prescribed by EU laws. To support this effort, this paper: Sets out six strategic recommendations for the smart operation of grids which should guide the efficient delivery of the EU Grids Action Plan. Lays the groundwork for a dedicated EU Strategy on Grid Congestion which the new Commission should develop to deliver the European Green Deal by 2030. Such a strategy should foster harmonised approaches to tackle grid congestion issues across the EU, without waiting for lengthy network reinforcement, by harnessing the potential of connected, flexible consumers.

  • The Flexible Demand Management Industry provides solutions to all consumers – citizens, businesses, buildings, electric vehicles (EVs) and industries – to become flexible and be rewarded for playing an active role in the clean energy transition. As such, it needs to be fully recognised as a crucial clean-tech industry in Europe. But as the Flexible Demand Management Industry is very heterogeneous, it is often not easy for it to be identified as a specific industrial base and its significant contribution tends to be overlooked. This is a major gap to fill. This paper intends to inform this effort by answering these 3 questions:  What is the Flexible Demand Management Industry and what are the solutions offered?  Why the Flexible Demand Management Industry matters ?  What is needed in the next EU legislature for the Flexible Demand Management Industry to rightfully become a solid pillar of Europe’s decarbonised economy?

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