Placing energy efficiency first and adopting more ambitious targets are imperative to comply with Paris Agreement

VIPA International welcomes the proposals published today to review the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive which increase the 2030 energy efficiency target from 27 to 30%. However, we remark that this will not be enough to comply with the 1.5°C goal set by the Paris Agreement and we renew our support for the energy efficiency first principle and the binding energy efficiency target of 40% for 2030 proposed by the European Parliament in its Resolution of 23 June 2016.

Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) offer top class insulation solutions to reduce the energy consumption of buildings and appliances and represent an important tool to increase the energy efficiency of the European building stock. The President of VIPA International, Gregor Erbenich, highlighted that “the proposal of the European Commission includes some positive measures, but more should be done to improve the energy efficiency of the European building stock. We strongly believe that deep renovation and the use of top-class insulation materials should become the norm in the European Union. VIPs offer high insulation performances in a reduced space, allowing architects and builders to overcome the limits of reduced floor area in the renovation of buildings. The Commission is recognizing that the EU market for vacuum insulation products is more advanced than other parts of the world, but at the same time it is not adopting ambitious targets to fully develop it”.

VIPA International published a position paper highlighting some policy suggestions to stimulate deep renovation of European buildings and the use of superinsulation materials (available here). In line with our paper, we particularly welcome art. 10 of the EPBD that links the financial incentives provided for renovation of buildings to the energy efficiency savings achieved.

We think that more should be done to boost renovation, and government should lead by example by purchasing only buildings with the highest energy efficiency performances, not just settling down to the minimum energy efficiency requirements. Mandatory measures to use the best available technology and super insulation products should be promoted. The requirements of article 6 of the EED on public procurement should be extended to all public buildings. Finally, the cost-optimal methodology should also take into account the cost of the useful floor area.