Position Paper: EuroACE comments on the European Energy Union concept

EuroACE strongly believes that the European Energy Union should place energy efficiency as its central element. Ambitious action on energy efficiency is the most secure, low cost way of facilitating the rapid creation of a true European Energy Union.

Work on existing buildings is essential and can rapidly bring benefits to the EU because:

• Buildings consume about 40% of all energy produced in the EU, emitting about 36% of carbon in the process
• The technologies needed to reduce that consumption by 80% are already available in the market today
• Capturing the full potential in the buildings sector could reduce overall energy demand by a full 32%, taking the strain off many other elements of the energy system

Reducing energy waste, particularly in buildings, is the most cost-effective way to reduce import dependency and the most sustainable way to address security of supply. A Fraunhofer Institute study found that the cost-effective potential for energy efficiency in the EU is a 40% reduction by 2030, with a savings potential of 54% in buildings.