We are starting the new year off featuring as the first article in the EUSEW 2024 new blog series.

Read our contribution below:

Europe’s industrial revolution for efficient buildings: shaping the future

In the midst of a crucial electoral season, EU citizens will cast their votes to shape Europe’s future. In pursuit of a more sustainable and competitive Europe, the energy efficient buildings industry stands at the forefront of change. As over 85% of today’s buildings will still be standing in 2050, the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) has the potential to boost the efforts for the renovation of buildings, enhancing competitiveness and bolstering resilience in the process.

The multiple benefits of energy efficient buildings for the economy

Efficient buildings hold the key to a brighter future. At the building level, energy efficiency solutions significantly reduce energy consumption, resulting in lower energy bills. These solutions also offer greater comfort, improved health, and increased productivity, all of which have a substantial positive impact on the European economy.

Europe has long championed energy efficiency solutions for buildings to play their part in climate mitigation. Yet, as we approach the critical point of massively accelerating energy renovations, upscaling energy efficiency solutions, hiring and training more workers, a holistic and dedicated approach to the efficient buildings industry is needed.

Investing in energy renovations and empowering the next generation of skilled workers

Behind every successful industry are skilled workers, and the energy efficient buildings sector is no exception. Training and expanding the workforce are top priorities. Investing in energy renovation of buildings can create an average of 18 jobs in the EU for every €1 million spent. These jobs stimulate local economic activity and pave the way for a sustainable future.

To drive this transformation further, the provision of affordable funding for energy renovations is key. Additionally, improving collaboration between the European Commission, EU regions, and cities can streamline the process and unlock private finance, making energy renovations more accessible to all. Funding is available, e.g. via the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the newly created Just Transition Fund but it must be channelled towards the sectors which can drive the green transition.

Decarbonising Europe

Above all, the industry is ready to decarbonise Europe. Buildings account for one-third of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, making their decarbonisation a top priority. Existing energy efficiency technologies can be used to fully decarbonise homes and workplaces, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future. The “Buildings Breakthrough” launched at COP28 brings together countries from all over the world with the aim of decarbonising the built environment.

Digitalisation: revolutionising how we create and use buildings

Digitalisation is also playing a pivotal role in the transformation of buildings. Technologies like digital twins, energy-efficiency metering technologies, submeters, and building automation control systems are revolutionising the way we gather data and optimise building operations but also how we design buildings. They also empower citizens and businesses to become active participants in the energy market, generating and storing energy on-site. With more renewable energy being produced in Europe, digitalisation will be key to support its roll-out.

Way forward: Europe’s industrial revolution for efficient buildings

The energy efficient buildings industry is at the forefront of a green revolution in Europe. Its commitment to sustainability, job creation, and economic growth makes it a driving force for positive change. By supporting energy efficiency cleantech, developing industrial policies, and investing in energy renovations, we can all contribute to a brighter and more sustainable future for Europe. For this, we need:

• a dedicated industrial policy for energy efficient buildings
• swift and complete implementation of adopted EU legislation
• an Energy Efficiency Academy to support upskilling and reskilling of workers

Our President Julie Kjestrup (Head of Policy and Thought Leadership for VELUX) is the last invitee of the Energ’Ethic podcast hosted by Marine Cornelis.

Several topics arise during their conversation.

Starting by giving a look at the professional background of our President and how she has reached the point of being one of the key voices in the energy efficiency field in Brussels, the pair also emphasise how energy efficiency has undoubtedly increased its political relevance in the past years. But, the question on how to appropriately apply the concept for the benefit of all remains.

Here, the discussion takes a turn into more specific topics, from the need of upskilling (either via training programs or information campaigns to energy poverty and the multiple benefits ingrained in energy efficiency (climate-related, societal and economic). While also paying attention to concrete legislative measures such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, and its importance for all actors as a provider of certainty and guidance, as well as the newly-announce Net-Zero Industry Act, and how such file should put more attention into already-available technologies such as the ones provided by the energy efficiency industry.

The exchange also takes time into looking on the work from EuroACE and the Renovate Europe Campaign, as Julie Kjestrup both acts as President of the former and Vice-Chair of the latter. This section brings attention to the great influence that EuroACE has on energy efficiency-related policymaking at EU level and the important role that the Renovate Europe Campaign especially plays on a national level.

All this conversation, organically develops into the last topic of debate which is the need to better communicate the benefits and potential of energy-efficient driven measures to the whole political spectrum and the entire population to truly drive change moving forward.

You can listen to the full episode here.

Our Senior EU Affairs Officer Rémi Collombet was interviewed for the programme “Espace Europe” of RCF Radio ahead of the vote in Plenary on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive proposal from the ITRE Committee.

The interview digs deep into the current legislative process as well as the impact that the ongoing war in Ukraine has had in it and energy efficiency measures as a whole.

Mr. Collombet gives examples of countries that are already undertaking good work for energy efficiency in buildings, at the same time that he provides his point of view on the potential harmonisation of Energy Performance Certificates across Member States and topics such as the increased interest in Indoor Environmental Quality after the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

You can listen to the entire interview (in French) here.