Opinions
A three-step recipe to transform our buildings | EUSEW 2021
by Bertrand Deprez, Vice-President EU Government Affairs at Schneider Electric and board member of the European Alliance to Save Energy, & Céline Carré, Head of European Public Affairs at Saint-Gobain, a member of the European Alliance to Save Energy. This is no secret: with more than 38% of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions, buildings...
Carbon pricing in buildings? Help renovate and switch to renewables first
Including buildings in an emissions trading scheme will have a limited impact on emissions and should, at most, complement other measures like substantially increasing renovation rates, switching to renewables and phasing out fossil fuels subsidies, writes on Euractiv Monica Frassoni, president of the European Alliance to Save Energy. On 14 July,...
The need for speed | EUSEW 2021
by Harry Verhaar Head of Global Public & Government Affairs and Chairman of the board of the European Alliance to Save Energy. In this climate-critical decade, Europe is faced with the extraordinary task of drastically improving our environmental impact, while also repairing economies left shaken by the effects of COVID-19. Now is not the...
Monica Frassoni’s speech at launch of EASAC report “Decarbonisation of buildings for climate, health and jobs”
On 2 June 2021, the president of the European Alliance to Save Energy Monica Frassoni participated in the panel discussion for the launch of the report “Decarbonisation of buildings: for climate, health and jobs” by the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC). Here are some excerpts from her speech: The holistic approach of the study...
EU’s climate action does not need fossil distractions
Climate is high on the agenda of this week’s meeting with European Union heads of states and governments. What is not really certain is if the Council will manage to keep a united and determined front ahead of COP26 in Glasgow. by Monica Frassoni, President of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) The problem the EU faces, as most other...
New EU buildings rules are crucial to deliver on climate targets
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) must recognise that buildings are a crucial energy infrastructure for Europe, writes Monica Frassoni, president of the European Alliance to Save Energy. By being highly efficient, they can reduce energy demand but also manage, store, and generate renewable energy, she argues. Through the...
Carbon pricing is no silver bullet to decarbonise buildings across Europe
The introduction of a carbon price in the building sector will only encourage fuel switching and risks burdening those least able to pay with the cost of decarbonisation. If implemented, it should be complemented with legislation to boost energy efficiency. by Monica Frassoni, President of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) At the end...
EU needs mandatory targets and means to save energy
The European Commission needs to bring in legally-binding energy efficiency targets to support building renovation and give member states the support they need to reach them. by Kamila Waciega, Public Affairs Director for Energy at Veolia, and Ville Niinistö, Finnish Member of the European Parliament and coordinator for the Greens/EFA group in...
EU-ASE featured in Energy Efficiency Magazine 2020 – EE and Economic Recovery
Energy Efficiency in Recovery Plans gives Europe an ace up its sleeves for both today’s and tomorrow’s challenges by Monica Frassoni, President of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) Crucial for climate mitigation, energy efficiency should be a key focus area in Member States’ stimulus programmes. This would greatly benefit the bloc’s...
The great potential of non-residential buildings and how to tap into it
Decarbonising non-residential buildings is crucial to meet Europe’s carbon neutrality goal by 2050. To do so, and in view of the upcoming Renovation Wave, Member States should focus on the ambitious implementation of the EPBD and produce renovation strategies targeted also to this sector. There are many reasons why making also non-residential...