Multiple benefits of renovation in buildings - PU Europe
Multiple benefits of renovation in buildings - PU Europe
Multiple benefits of renovation in buildings - PU Europe
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<strong>Multiple</strong> <strong>benefits</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> energy<br />
efficient <strong>renovation</strong> <strong>of</strong> build<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
Chapter 2<br />
Barriers and policy responses<br />
2.1 Why are build<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g?<br />
Achiev<strong>in</strong>g energy efficiency is a key priority for the Commission and Member States. This<br />
is illustrated by the EU 2020 objective <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g energy efficiency by 20 per cent.<br />
Renovat<strong>in</strong>g build<strong>in</strong>gs is only one method <strong>of</strong> improv<strong>in</strong>g energy efficiency; however it is a<br />
very <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g method for at least two reasons 1) The build<strong>in</strong>g sector is a large source <strong>of</strong><br />
energy consumption, and 2) studies show that <strong>renovation</strong>s <strong>of</strong> exist<strong>in</strong>g build<strong>in</strong>gs is one <strong>of</strong><br />
the low-cost options to reduce emissions <strong>of</strong> CO 2. 27<br />
Firstly, energy consumption <strong>in</strong> build<strong>in</strong>gs constitutes 40 per cent <strong>of</strong> total f<strong>in</strong>al energy consumption<br />
<strong>in</strong> EU, cf. Figure 17. This is a larger share than both the transport and the <strong>in</strong>dustry<br />
sector. This figure <strong>in</strong>cludes both elements that can be affected by energy efficiency<br />
<strong>renovation</strong>s such as heat<strong>in</strong>g consumption (can be affected through better <strong>in</strong>sulation etc.),<br />
and elements that cannot be affected such as energy consumption by appliances such as<br />
TVs and wash<strong>in</strong>g mach<strong>in</strong>es.<br />
Figure 17 F<strong>in</strong>al energy consumption by sector<br />
Transport<br />
32%<br />
Build<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
40%<br />
Households<br />
27%<br />
Industry<br />
25%<br />
Services<br />
13%<br />
Note:<br />
Energy consumption <strong>in</strong> agriculture, fish<strong>in</strong>g and “other” makes up 3 per cent <strong>of</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al energy consumption,<br />
and is not <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> the above figure<br />
Source: DG Energy: EU Energy <strong>in</strong> Figures 2012<br />
27 McK<strong>in</strong>sey & Company (2010) for examples f<strong>in</strong>ds that such <strong>renovation</strong>s are one <strong>of</strong> the most attractive options to br<strong>in</strong>g down<br />
greenhouse gas emissions cost effectively.<br />
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