BPIE: Europe's buildings under the microscope - PU Europe
BPIE: Europe's buildings under the microscope - PU Europe
BPIE: Europe's buildings under the microscope - PU Europe
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
c. finAnciAl progrAmmes<br />
The regulatory framework described in section 2B provides an increasingly demanding set of requirements<br />
aimed at new <strong>buildings</strong> in particular, and to a lesser extent for improving <strong>the</strong> energy performance of<br />
<strong>the</strong> existing stock. However, many potential areas of improvement to existing <strong>buildings</strong> remain outside<br />
formal legislative or regulatory requirements. To address <strong>the</strong>se shortcomings, a variety of financial<br />
programmes have been introduced. Member States have used many financial instruments in various<br />
forms since <strong>the</strong> first oil crisis in <strong>the</strong> 1970s. However, financial issues are now more important as <strong>Europe</strong><br />
strives towards increasing building energy performance. This is highlighted by Article 10 in <strong>the</strong> recast of<br />
<strong>the</strong> EPBD on financial incentives and market barriers. Article 10, paragraph 1 states:<br />
“In view of <strong>the</strong> importance of providing appropriate financing and o<strong>the</strong>r instruments to catalyse <strong>the</strong><br />
energy performance of <strong>buildings</strong> and <strong>the</strong> transition to nearly zero- energy <strong>buildings</strong>, Member States<br />
shall take appropriate steps to consider <strong>the</strong> most relevant such instruments in <strong>the</strong> light of national<br />
circumstances.”<br />
The Article goes on to state that Member States were to have drawn up by June 30th a list of “existing<br />
and, if appropriate, proposed measures and instruments including those of a financial nature, o<strong>the</strong>r than<br />
those required by this Directive, which promote <strong>the</strong> objectives of this Directive.” This list is to be updated<br />
every three years and <strong>the</strong> Commission is to “examine <strong>the</strong> effectiveness of <strong>the</strong> listed existing and proposed<br />
measures...”<br />
As shown throughout this report, any ambitious retrofit strategy will have to address financing in a major way.<br />
REVIEW OF CURRENT FINANCIAL PROGRAMMES<br />
In its survey for this study, <strong>BPIE</strong> requested information on <strong>the</strong> range of financial instruments that are being<br />
implemented in Member States. For completeness, <strong>BPIE</strong> cross checked with information available in recent<br />
studies and on-line databases (see below). Because of <strong>the</strong> wealth of material, <strong>BPIE</strong> will create a separate<br />
report available for download on its website documenting all financial instruments in Member States.<br />
Figure 2C1 – Types of financial programmes and incentives on <strong>the</strong> energy performance of <strong>buildings</strong><br />
min.<br />
requirements<br />
& penalties<br />
grants/<br />
subsidies/<br />
funds<br />
preferential<br />
loans<br />
audits<br />
Financial<br />
Programmes<br />
& Incentives in<br />
<strong>Europe</strong><br />
tax/vat<br />
incentives<br />
levies<br />
supplier<br />
obligations and<br />
third party<br />
white certificate<br />
financing/<br />
schemes<br />
energy service<br />
companies<br />
90 | <strong>Europe</strong>’s <strong>buildings</strong> <strong>under</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>microscope</strong>