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BPIE: Europe's buildings under the microscope - PU Europe

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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>

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