It’s time to unlock the demand side potential in accelerating the energy transition.

In recent months the term “polycrisis” has found its way into our vocabulary. This term captures the multiple crises (climate; energy; inflation; war in Ukraine; …) that are impacting society at large. A sobering reality is that all these crises were created by mankind, as we use the wrong energy and waste too much of it, thus paying far too much in powering our economies and living our lives. On the flipside this means that as mankind we are in the driver’s seat in tackling these challenges. The good news is that the solutions are also interrelated and have raised the relevance and awareness of the energy transition to efficient and clean technologies.

Much attention goes out to the “supply side” of the energy transition, both on the energy mix (with ongoing high use of coal; a search for alternative gas supplies; scaling renewables; investments in hydrogen and nuclear) and energy intensive industries with large stimuli programs in Europe and the US (the Green Deal Industrial Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act). Yet the structural changes to decarbonize our energy system at the supply side of the energy transition will need time to reach scale and impact.

As the world needs solutions on a much shorter term, the time is right to unlock the vast potential at the “demand side” of the energy transition. This largely comes down to stepping up our collective efforts on energy efficiency.

The electrification of heating, transport and other service systems require a massive amount of electricity. The average global electricity consumption of a household (3400 kWh) is almost exactly equal to the annual amount of electricity needed to charge an electric vehicle or to power a heat pump. Already the grid is close to a point where countries are at or near capacity.

For example, while the lighting sector is positively known for the transition to LED lighting, lighting alone still accounts for 13% of global electricity usage. Importantly around half of all light points in the US and EU are still conventional, offering an enormous opportunity for rapid reductions of lighting-related energy consumption. LED lighting retrofits are relatively fast and easy, with few invasive activities involved.

Through a complete switch to connected LEDs, the EU has the potential to save €65.1 billion in energy costs annually and mitigate 51 MTons of carbon emissions, while freeing up enough electricity to power 47 million heat pumps and thus keep a quarter of all households warm each year. The reduction in carbon dioxide would be equal to the sequestration capacity of a forest the size of Switzerland.

Like for lighting, many other solutions exist and Europe’s “demand side companies” operate at the cutting edge of active and passive energy efficiency technologies including lighting, building management systems, sensors, controls, insulation, windows and many others.

Energy efficiency technologies can generate savings often called “low-hanging fruit” waiting to be picked, so let us roll up our sleeves and pick those fruits for the benefit of Europe’s competitiveness and the well-being of its citizens.

Harry Verhaar
Head of Global Public and Government Affairs
Signify

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The water-energy nexus: connecting water saving, energy efficiency and the reduction of emissions.

Water and energy are probably two of the most essential, interlinked, and precious resources in our daily lives. In our current climate and energy crisis, unleashing the potential of the water-energy nexus will drive substantial water and energy savings, reducing emissions and increase the competitiveness of European industry, says Monica Frassoni in the Spring 2023 issue of European Energy Innovation Magazine.

The great thing is that we already have the technologies and solutions to simultaneously save water and energy.  A strong policy framework is needed to incentivise water and energy efficiency and enable the deployment at scale of these solutions. The water-energy nexus should be better reflected in legislation, and lawmakers should fully consider the benefits stemming from water efficiency as a key driver to delivering energy savings.  

 

Read the full article byMonica Frassoni in European Energy Innovation Magazine. 

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EPBD recast: EU-ASE calls on MEPs to green-light ITRE compromise proposal

In view of the plenary vote in the European Parliament on the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), EU-ASE addressed MEPs in an open letter calling them to confirm the text recently adopted by the ITRE Committee and supported by the main political groups and progressive stakeholders.

The EPBD is a crucial element to make the EU building stock efficient, sustainable and healthy. From a socio-economic perspective, it will drive sustainable growth and job creation in the construction sector, one of the most dynamic of our economy. The broadly supported compromise proposal recently adopted by the ITRE Committee is an important step in the right direction.

As EU-ASE, we support the introduction of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for public, commercial and residential buildings. MEPS, with clear targets for the different building segments, are critical to provide predictability to the sector and allow businesses to effectively plan their investments (including the financial sector).

The ITRE compromise adds a derogation (Article 9, 1c) allowing Member States to adjust minimum energy performance standards for residential buildings and publicly owned social housing. Such derogation leaves enough leeway for the Member States and cannot be expanded further without jeopardising the implementation of MEPS.

As a complementary step, it is essential to ensure the harmonisation of energy performance classes (EPC) across Member States, overcoming the current system of different thresholds based on national criteria, which creates enormous comparability issues. Defining the worst-performing 15% of each Member State’s building stock as class G is a good step towards further harmonisation. At the same time, further efforts will be needed to ensure the convergence of the EPC scale.

We support the agreed timelines to ensure that all new buildings are Zero-Emission Buildings, starting from new buildings occupied, operated or owned by public authorities. As public buildings represent 5% to 10% of the EU energy consumption, their contribution to achieving an efficient and decarbonised building stock is crucial. The public sector must showcase the benefits of energy savings to citizens and stimulate investments in the renovation market.

Read the full letter here

Read more on our position on the EPBD recast.

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Act firmly on energy security – Walk the talk on energy efficiency

Fourty-seven business leaders of European frontrunners on energy efficiency strongly encourage EU policy makers to adopt an ambitious and future-proof Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

In addition to the climate crisis, Europe is facing a severe energy prices and inflation crisis, hurting households, businesses, and economies. We see this as a pivotal moment where the mid-term objective of carbon neutrality must meet the short-term necessity to phase out fossil fuels. The fragile and inefficient nature of our current energy system and building stock has left Europe exposed. But years of inaction and low renovation rates can be reversed.

Energy efficiency is the best policy to shelter European citizens and businesses from high energy prices, restore European sovereignty while improving living conditions of our citizens. This is why structural measures to stop energy waste must be put in place to guide and help households and businesses before short term economic relief measures are phased out.

Fourty-seven business leaders of European frontrunners on energy efficiency strongly encourage EU policy makers to adopt an ambitious and future-proof Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

Read the full letter here.

 

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Revisione EPBD: Lettera congiunta al Ministro Pichetto

Insieme ad altre cinque associazioni italiane ed europee, EU-ASE ha inviato una lettera aperta al Ministro dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica Gilberto Pichetto Fratin per chiedere di rendere la Direttiva sulla prestazione energetica degli edifici (EPBD) un volano per valorizzare e modernizzare il patrimonio edilizio italiano.

In vista della revisione della EPBD, le organizzazioni firmatarie chiedono al Ministro di:

1. Supportare l’applicazione dello schema di valutazione SRI come strumento strategico per la riqualifica degli edifici non-residenziali

Pur mantenendo in linea generale un approccio di carattere facoltativo in ambito residenziale, per quanto riguarda gli edifici non-residenziali è auspicabile sostenere un approccio più ambizioso che disponga l’adozione di atti delegati ed esecutivi per prescrivere l’applicazione obbligatoria dello schema di valutazione SRI, e le modalità tecniche per una sua efficace implementazione, di impianti con potenza termica oltre 290kW entro il 31 dicembre 2024, mentre per impianti con potenza termica oltre 70kW l’implementazione effettiva dello schema di valutazione SRI a partire dal 1 gennaio 2030 (art. 13, commi 2 e 4).

2. Sostenere l’indicatore SRI come elemento attivo e premiante per elevare la qualità e il livello prestazionale e di modernizzazione degli immobiliSupportare e promuovere tout courta livello europeo l’indicatore SRI come:

  • motore e termometro della trasformazione degli edifici, anche per un efficace utilizzo dei fondi Next Generation EU e delle Politiche di Coesione,
  • strumento premiante nei processi di finanziamento nazionali ed europei con incentivazione integrativa a garanzia del raggiungimento delle migliori prestazioni dell’indicatore SRI stesso,
  • abilitatore alla modernizzazione degli immobili, utilizzando la leva delle transazioni immobiliari di affitto e vendita degli edifici non-residenziali come base di riferimento per la valutazione dello stato di predisposizione all’intelligenza e volano naturale per accelerare l’attuazione della EPBD anche sugli edifici non sottoposti a ristrutturazioni profonde. 
  1. Prevedere un programma di finanziamento pluriennale e continuativo “Building 4.0” per la trasformazione digitale e la riqualificazione di qualità del patrimonio edilizioVista la portata degli investimenti che, a livello europeo, dovranno essere effettuati per accompagnare il processo di riqualifica dell’intero settore degli edifici in chiave digital & green sino alla neutralità climatica, diventa più che mai necessario disporre di un quadro finanziario stabile e di lungo periodo per assicurare una copertura adeguata degli interventi, legare i finanziamenti, o premialità integrative, a risultati certi e misurabili (anche) grazie all’asseverazione dell’indicatore SRI, con il fine di incrementare il livello prestazionale di efficienza energetica e l’attrattività, nazionale e internazionale, dei nostri immobili.

    4. Assicurare piena implementazione a livello nazionale delle norme sui requisiti minimi legate ai BACS Il decreto legislativo 10 giugno 2020, n. 48 di attuazione della precedente direttiva EPBD prevedeva l’emanazione di almeno un decreto attuativo, necessario a definire i dettagli necessari al fine di implementare le nuove misure, come quelle legate ai requisiti BACS. Entro il 31 Dicembre 2024, tutti gli edifici non-residenziali con una potenza nominale > 290kW dovranno essere equippaggiati con sistemi BACS dotati di determinate caratteristiche (corrispondenti a classe B ed A dello standard EN ISO 52120-1). Questi punti sono stati delineati in dettaglio da una precedente lettera inviata nell’Aprile 2021 al Ministro Cingolani. Auspichiamo che il Ministero possa finalmente dare seguito agli impegni precedentemente presi e dare completa e reale attuazione alla Direttiva, anche al fine di evitare procedure di infrazione.

    Link alla lettera

    Link ai punti principali

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