Dear Minister,

Re: Leading energy efficiency companies call for an ambitious revision of the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) during forthcoming legislative negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers 

I am writing to you on behalf of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE). EU-ASE is a multi-sectoral business organisation whose members have operations in your country and across the 28 Member States of the European Union, employ 340.000 people in Europe and have an aggregated annual turnover of €115 bn.

Considering the strategic relevance of the ongoing discussions on energy efficiency in the Council and the forthcoming negotiations with the European Parliament on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), we would like to call for your full support for an ambitious revision of this key Directive.

The building sector, together with transports, represents the highest savings potential according to in-depth evaluations, and the EPBD revision is the opportunity to strengthen the business and investors’ confidence in this sector.

The revision of the EPBD must put existing buildings at the centre of the EU’s energy transition and can address EU and national key priorities such as job creation, economic growth, improved health and energy security.

We urge you to consider the strategic importance of setting a clear and coherent EU 2050 pathway towards a highly efficient and decarbonized building stock. Only a reliable long-term common vision will set the right framework for designing impactful national long-term renovation strategies that will boost private investments and will incentivize financing models, such as energy performance contracting, which can reduce the need of public financial support in building renovations.

A consistent legislative framework is needed to open up markets for energy efficient technologies and solutions ranging from services enabling enhanced management of buildings to insulation, and from on-site and off-site heating and ventilation systems to lighting and control systems. It is also essential to secure meaningful improvements of the technical building systems, leveraging the potential of building automation and controls for optimised energy performance.

On 11 October the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee of the European Parliament adopted with a large multi-partisan majority an ambitious report that grasp this potential.

We trust you will take into account our recommendation and will embrace Mr Bendtsen’s report adopted in ITRE Committee. More information about our positions on the EPBD are available in our Position Papers.

EU-ASE is willing to have a constructive dialogue with you and all EU28 Member States and we offer our availability to meet you in the forthcoming weeks to discuss the strategic importance of a solid EU regulatory framework for energy efficiency in buildings.