Energy efficiency

The results of the vote within the European Parliament ITRE committee* on the proposal for a new energy efficiency directive is not in line with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) position on the subject but is a step in the right direction.

Much work remains to be done in the upcoming negotiation process, as the required annual rate of renovation for the total floor area owned by public bodies, which CEMR would like to see completely withdrawn, has thus far only been reduced from 3% to 2.5%.

However, CEMR does welcome the introduction of alternative approaches to renovation, which member states could put into place provided that they result in the same level of energy consumption reduction.

Furthermore, “CEMR appreciates the inclusion of ‘cost-effectiveness’ when it comes to public procurement,” explains Alexander De Roo, chair of the CEMR focus group on energy efficiency.  Thus, public bodies can consider cost-effectiveness rather than only energy efficiency when purchasing products, systems, services or buildings, as was the case with the European Commission’s proposal.

The next step in the adoption process is that of negotiation between a delegation of members of European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.  In this context, De Roo underlines that “lobbying in Brussels is like playing chess on two boards at once: that of the European Parliament and of the Council of the EU.  Indeed, we must never forget the Council, which is why we will take the time to lobby this institution, whose position on the renovation rate is more in line with that of CEMR.”
   
The final vote on the draft directive should take place at the European Parliament in a first plenary vote planned for June 2012.

* Committee on Industry, Research and Energy