Article: “The new measures – proposals of the European Commission for the transition to Clean Energy” Alice Corovessi of S.C. of the Institute of Zero Energy Consumption Buildings – INZEB.
Today, 30 November 2016, European Commission presented a new measures package concerning clean energy, with the aim of keeping the European Union competitive, as clean energy is constantly changing in the global market. The European Commission wants Europe to lead the transition towards clean energy and not just adopt it. For this reason, the EU pledged to reduce CO2 by 40% by 2030, while modernising the EU economy and also creating a background for new jobs and growth for all European citizens. The proposals presented today have three main objectives:
- Place energy efficiency in the foreground
- The EU initiative worldwide in the use of RES
- Fair deals for consumers.
Emphasis is given to consumers, as they are a building block of the energy market of the future. Consumers across the EU will have in the future better choices for energy supply, access to reliable energy cost comparison tools and the ability to generate and sell their own energy. The package also contains measures that aim at protecting vulnerable households.
Proposals were also made, for actions aimed at accelerating clean energy innovation as well as for upgrading Europe’s building stock. Measures are also envisaged to boost investments in the public and private sector, as well as to promote the competitiveness of EU industry, as well as to mitigate the social impact of the transition to clean energy. Only in 2015, investments in clean energy technologies, attracted around 300 billion euros and the goal is to increase these investments.
Regarding the first goal, which is none other than energy efficiency, the package of measures includes significant changes and modifications, which are developed in 4 axes:
- The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), which among other things, clearly describes how the achievement to a 30% reduction in energy consumption by 2030, is possible and ensured by strong political will at all levels.
- In the Building Energy Efficiency Directive, where it is ensured through its revision that it will use smart technologies, it will be simple to use and implement but also supportive, with the aim of the best results. It is also important that it incorporates the provisions concerning the strategy for upgrading the existing building stock (Article 4 of the EED).
- Ecological design and energy signage. Important – among other things – is that a new work programme, has been planned for the period 2016-2019, where many new products and services are included. Reference is also made to the contribution of ecological design as a lever for the development of the goals of the circular economy
- In smart financing for smart financing building, as the need to address and support funding for sustainable and energy investments is evident.
All the above are basic reasoning of the EU, as it is well known and accepted that the most efficient energy, is the one which is not consumed.
The new measures and the evolution of the existing EU Directives and Regulations, concerning energy efficiency, are available here.