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

R&D
The European Union supports R&D through Framework Programme 7. This includes funding for energy
efficient buildings. Currently, much of the focus is on public-private partnerships for energy-efficient
buildings and the demonstration of zero carbon building renovations for cities and regions.
The European Commission and many Member States also participate in technology programmes
of the International Energy Agency, based in Paris. Participation is through the use of Implementing
Agreements of the IEA that allow participating countries to share research efforts. For buildings there are
separate implementing agreements on buildings and community systems, district heating and cooling,
energy storage, heat pumping technologies and efficient electrical end-use equipment. The IEA recently
published a report outlining the effectiveness of their implementing agreements and the strategies for
the future. 40 EU countries are very active. For example, for the agreement on buildings and community
systems, 15 Member States participate as well as Norway and Switzerland. Many of these implementing
agreements have been operating since the 1980s.
40
IEA, Energy Technology Initiatives, Implementation Through Multi-lateral Co-operation, IEA/OECD, 2010.
For more information on the buildings-related implementing agreements go to http://www.iea.org/techno/technologies/enduse.asp.
96 | Europe’s buildings under the microscope