South East Europe committed to lead on energy efficient renovation of buildings!

EuroACE organised, with support from the C4E Forum and sponsorship from Knauf Insulation and VELUX, a conference in Škofja Loka, near Ljubljana, on 8 May 2019 to present to an audience from across South East Europe the main changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and discuss the opportunities brought by its revision. Participants learnt of best practices from across the region, exchanged experiences and expertise, and signed the Ljubljana Declaration, a call for greater ambition on the energy renovation of buildings in South East Europe.

All corners of the EU must implement the amended EPBD, which came into force in July 2018 and had to be transposed by March 2020. A key element requires all Member States to devise, and put into action, long-term renovation strategies to transform their building stock to be highly energy efficient and decarbonised by 2050. Countries where the energy saving potential of the building stock is highest, such as those in South East Europe, have the most to gain from being ambitious.

“Knowing that without good implementation, our work on EU legislation will have no meaning for people all across Europe, we regularly organise national or regional workshops to learn about the challenges on the ground in the Member States, and help them with best practice sharing,” said Adrian Joyce, Secretary General of EuroACE. “This conference has, we hope, galvanised knowledge and support for ambitious implementation in this important region where a huge amount of energy savings potential in buildings remains untapped.”

The Ljubljana Declaration recognises that transforming the building stock into an energy efficient one, in all countries across the region, is one of the most cost-effective ways to sustainably stimulate the economy while improving the lives of citizens and contributing to the climate commitments of the Paris Agreement.

Among other things, the signatories declared that:

• Developing ambitious national long-term renovation strategies for the transformation of the building stock in South East Europe, both public and private, to a highly energy efficient, decarbonised and nearly zero-energy stock by 2050 is one of the most cost-effective ways to sustainably stimulate the economy and bring tangible benefits to its citizens
• Greater political courage and leadership for a more ambitious energy renovation of the existing building stock, through national, regional and city-level renovation strategies with milestones for 2030 and 2040, is in the best interests of businesses and citizens in the region