Renovation of the EU buildings stock: an opportunity to reduce the EU gas dependency

Panel: 1. Foundations of future energy policy

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Yamina Saheb
, Open Exp, France
Charlotte Johnson, NewCastle University, United Kingdom
Aurelien Saussay, International Energy Agency, France
Vida Rozite, International Energy Agency, France

Abstract

In theory, energy efficiency is seen by governments as a key strategic component for addressing the challenges of energy security and ensuring clean economic development. The survival of societies depends on secure energy supplies and low carbon economies; energy efficiency policies need to deliver these.

In practice, efficiency policies are implemented within the framework of consumerism. This means policy effectiveness is dependent on individual consumer choice and energy efficiency measures are put in place only if individual end-users can afford them. Given that such policies have to be attractive to consumers, they are based on their perceived cost-effectiveness over the short term. This produces unambitious policies that lack sufficient teeth to grapple with the very challenges they seek to overcome.

Recent IEA analysis of building energy efficiency policies shows that a low energy building stock is achievable only if energy efficiency is seen as a one of life's necessities such as drinkable water and sanitation. These “modern’’ amenities are not about cost effectiveness, they are about creating a healthy society. Likewise, energy efficiency is a social necessity, and the savings to a household’s bills are an additional bonus to the benefits of managing energy consumption in line with national and regional energy security concerns, environmental (GHG reduction) commitments and economic development priorities.

It is time to refocus - energy efficiency is a matter for society not just the individual. Rather than the preserve of consumer choice, it is time to recognise that being more energy efficient fulfils one of society's basic needs.

This paper presents the new IEA paradigm for a low energy future and how to tackle it as a social good. It proposes a holistic perspective with new metrics to calculate the benefits of reduced dependency on foreign energy supplies, and associated costs of climate change mitigation as well as sustainable economic growth.

ERRATA

The title has been changed slightly from the printed version of the paper.