Ten actions to drive competitiveness through efficient buildings
Efficient, flexible, decarbonised, and healthy buildings play a central role in the EU’s economy and net-zero energy system. With the right policy conditions, by 2030 the energy efficiency industry could deliver:
- 18,000 local jobs, for every billion euros invested
- €45bn to €100bn saved on energy bills per year
- 250m tonnes of GHG emissions avoided per year
The roll-out of energy efficiency in buildings is one of the EU’s unsung success stories: Between 2005 and 2022, total GHG emissions from buildings fell by 34% thanks to European standards and legislation.
The latter enabled a leading industrial ecosystem to develop in the EU. With a yearly turnover of around €850bn and employing 6.5m workers, the EU efficient buildings industry is already a large contributor to the economy, and it is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, as the Fit-for-55 files (FF55) are implemented. Energy efficiency products and solutions are manufactured and installed in the EU. As an example, the industry currently runs around 300 insulation manufacturing sites and 300 heat pump and component manufacturing sites in the EU.
The EU must further strengthen the sectors of the transition it already excels in to keep and expand its competitive advantage, while promoting a strong European industry and a vibrant supply chain. We therefore ask for a more coherent industrial policy supporting the efficient buildings ecosystem which would help Member States reap the full benefits of an energy efficient economy: increased competitiveness, lower and more stable energy prices, higher energy independence, a healthier society and long-term skilled jobs in the EU.
