The malaise of the EU continues into another season. The talk – and reality – of high unemployment, zero growth and declining quality of life persists despite the efforts of the EU and its Member States to dig us out of crisis.
But what if the solution was staring us in the face and the EU Member States are not able to see it?
On 9th July 2013, the Member States of the EU passed another important deadline for implementation of many of the key provisions of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EBPD). These provisions include minimum energy performance requirements, cost-optimal methodology, energy performance certificates and the inspection of heating and cooling systems. Unfortunately, only 3 Member States were in full compliance by the deadline. This continues the worrying trend of indifference, or even downright opposition, to doing anything serious about energy efficiency of buildings and the huge potential that it holds – a trend that EuroACE has observed with growing concern over recent years.