European Voice: The contribution of energy efficiency to cities

European Voice looked at how the energy intensity of city living can be cut by efficiency requirements for buildings and by combined heat and power. Buildings account for 40% of EU final energy use and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. The 2010 recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires all new buildings to be nearly zero-energy after 2020, but an obligation to upgrade existing buildings was rejected.

EuroACE called for the adoption of a renovation roadmap to encourage more energy efficient renovation. “The potential of Europe’s buildings has been neglected when it comes to economic growth,” said Adrian Joyce, director of the Renovate Europe Campaign. “But all the evidence shows the huge impact that deep renovation can have in Europe: up to 1.1 million direct new jobs, and savings of 32% in total primary energy.”