The new affordable energy action plan is a difficult puzzle for the EU political decision -makers. Since Europeans have difficulty paying energy costs, an increasing lack of affordable apartments and the challenges provided by electrification could be improved energy efficiency in buildings.
The effects of war in Ukraine and the urgent need to reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels and the expansion of Europe for renewable energies will be invested over 100 billion euros in the next five years. These are essential improvements for the energy future of Europe. If our buildings repeatedly waste energy, the costs could increase even higher and put additional pressure on the well -being of European households and the competitiveness of European industries.
Social and sustainable priorities should be locked up in a European affordable and sustainable housing plan next year in order to reduce construction and renovation costs, to support specialists, to provide access to high-quality living space and to use the full potential for digitization and innovative construction techniques.
More than one in ten Europeans lives in energy poverty, which means that he already outputs more than a third of his income for rent and invoices and cannot adequately heat, cool down or illuminate their houses. The same citizens are often the people who live in inefficient, inefficient and unhealthy houses and apartments.
The concentration on the improvement of Europe's building supplies can also help to solve the current challenges of energy poverty, the availability of living space and securing a stable and efficient cleaning network for European industries and citizens.
This future -oriented approach already takes shape through the inheritance of the European wave of renovation and the revision of the energy performance of the building directive (EPBD). With the implementation in all 27 Member States, the EPBD offers a stable, future -proof regulatory framework. It offers the construction industry the clarity and trust it takes to increase the renovation and to provide affordable, efficient and sustainable apartments across Europe.
For people: efficient new building and renovation
The affordability of apartments is not just about buying or renting a house, but also about being able to afford to live comfortably and sustainably.
The true affordability goes hand in hand with sustainability. In order to keep the buildings conveniently, efficiently and safely in the coming decades, we have to think in the long term, starting with the planning and design phase. If buildings are well designed right from the start, you need fewer repairs, avoid costly renovation work and offer better value for residents and public budgets.
Investments in renovation projects such as energy efficiency through proper insulation bring real energy and money savings. A better performance -strong building envelope is an example of long -term investments that, according to research by Eurima and International Copper Association Europe, bring in an average of 50% savings over 30 years. In addition to energy and financial savings, energy efficiency has several additional advantages, e.g.
To ensure that these advantages reach the people they need most urgently, the priority should be to tackle the worst buildings. In today's EU, around 45% of all building stock would receive an energy consulting certificate from F or G, with the majority of the waste of energy.
The renovation of these buildings not only offers the largest energy savings and the greatest financial savings for residents. Even small improvements such as roof insulation or efficient glazing can bring a remarkable increase in real estate value, productivity and health. Energy efficiency is the only improvement that offers all of these several advantages at the same time.
Build on a clean power grid
With the affordable energy action plan and the European affordable and sustainable housing plan to promote sustainable construction and the EPBD, we can further promote the renovation, we can optimize investments in electrification. This means that the transition to a clean and autonomous energy system becomes much cheaper, with further savings for EU citizens and industry.
A 14-point-EU campaign plan for networks to accelerate the introduction of power grids and ensure that the citizens and the business can benefit from cheaper and cleaner energy, dates from 2023. This year's Clean Industrial Deal and the work plans for European Commission hope to prioritize on this electricity.
The gate management becomes crucial in the transition to a highly electrified, renewable energy system. A flexible network must be able to react if the demand for heating increases on a cold and cloudy day, as well as production from renewable sources such as wind and solar waste.
If you do not properly cope with this “top question”, you can have serious financial effects, including leaking energy prices, potential power outages and a reduced capacity for decarbonization of other sectors. Since the energy system in Europe quickly electrifies to move away from fossil fuels and achieve climate goals, the role of energy efficiency in buildings urgently needs to be recognized as the key to relieving the pressure on the network. The improvement of the building covers is a simple, reliable solution with which buildings become intelligent and durable and enable almost self -held.
The research recently published in the Scientific Journal in Eurima and International Copper Association Europa shows applied energy, how energy -efficient and flexible buildings have the potential to reduce the peak requirement, which makes our transition to a decarbonized energy system faster, safer and cheaper for everyone. This is also the key to the competitiveness of EU industries, which require visibility in energy supply and prices for investments and productivity.
After Europe has come to efficient new houses and offices and a renovated building stock that is promoted by a clean, well -managed power grid, Europe has to bring the services home to Europeans.
The European affordable and sustainable housing plan, the EPBD and electrification and grille action plans as well as repowered are all parts of the same puzzle. Renovation and efficient buildings will complete the picture.
Dimitar Kolichev is Energy & Climate Policy Manager at Eurima