What works and what doesn’t – renovation roadmaps for buildings

Panel: 2. Energy efficiency policies: What delivers?

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Frank Klinckenberg, Klinckenberg Consultants BV, The Netherlands
Mia Forbes Pirie, The Policy Partners, United Kingdom

Abstract

Buildings currently account for around 40% of all energy use in the European Union (EU), and a drastic reduction of energy use and CO2 emissions from buildings is required for the EU to meet its climate goals, limit its dependence on foreign energy sources, reduce household energy bills, create jobs and re-launch one of the economy’s key sectors (the construction sector). To capture this potential and radically reduce energy demand from buildings, a holistic and long-term strategy for building renovation is needed; roadmaps are an effective tool to achieve this.

The European Union has recognised the potential savings that can be made from buildings and recently agreed that by 30 April 2014, Member States shall establish long-term national strategies or ‘roadmaps’ for mobilizing investment in the renovation of the national stock of residential and commercial buildings, both public and private (Energy Efficiency Directive – EED, Art 4). These building renovation roadmaps will be published and submitted to the Commission as part of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plans.

The paper presents a practical tool and information source for roadmap developers. It includes guidance on how building renovation roadmaps can be developed effectively and which elements they should include in order for them to deliver their full potential.