Public Debate - Financial Support for Energy Efficiency in Buildings
The European Commission launched a public debate on mechanisms for funding energy efficiency in buildings. The main objective is 
finding our from the stakeholders how the existing funding mechanisms are implemented and what can be improved. Also ideas and suggestions on how new funding mechanisms can be developed are much welcomed.The comments can be sent by 18th of May.
Reaching the 20% energy savings target is not possible without more investments and efforts to achieve higher levels of energy efficiency in buildings. According to the estimates presented by the European Commission, the cost effective energy savings potential in the buildings sector is 65Mtoe corresponding to a cumulated investment need of aproximately 587 billion EUR for 2011-2020, which means aproximately 60 billion EUR per year. Overall, we need a 368Mtoe of primary energy consumption reduction to reach the 20% target by 2020.
The investments in reducing the energy consumption in buildings have already demonstrated numerous benefits. Creating local jobs and stimulating the local economy are first on the list.
The French Ministy for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning estimates that for every 1 Mil. EUR investment in property related thermal renovation, 14.2 jobs are created. If we are to apply this to the numbers related to investments needs in Europe it would result in the creation or retention of around 850.000 jobs per year in the EU.
With all the demonstrated benefits, we still deal with an "energy efficiency gap" caused by multiple reasons, including financial barriers.
According to the EPBD recast, the European Commision is supposed to present by the end of the year an analysis on how appropriate and efficient are the existing financial mechanisms for energy efficiency in buildings. The results of this consultation, will be considered in this analysis.
On the 8th of May DG Energy is also organising a conference with stakeholders on this topic in Brussles. More info on the agenda and how to register here.
More details on the public debate here.