The European Building Automation and Controls Association (eu.bac)1 welcomes today’s adoption by
the European Commission of the Proposal for a Directive on Energy Efficiency (COM(2011) 370
final), even if it only represents a small step towards an energy-efficient Europe.
eu.bac regrets the proposed merger of Directive 2006/32/EC2 and of Directive 2004/8/EC3 into a
single Directive. “We are not convinced by this merger. Interestingly, the most effective instruments
are the ones that either clearly focus on the demand side or on the supply side.” said Jean-Yves Blanc
(eu.bac President). He added that “the proposed Directive will only put at risk the urgent need to focus
on energy efficiency at the end-user level”.

eu.bac also regrets the lesser roles given to both Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) and to
Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) compared with Directive 2006/32/EC. Via the European
Association of Energy Service Companies (eu.ESCO)4, eu.bac tries to accelerate the deployment of
EPC in the European Union. “Only when the public sector supports and utilises EPC itself does the
market grow. This opportunity has clearly been missed by the proposed Directive” said Scott Petersen
(eu.ESCO Chairman). “Building automation and controls as energy efficiency enablers, both in the
non-residential sector and in the residential sector, are as well not acknowledged by the proposed
Directive” added Peter Hug (eu.bac Managing Director).

The proposed Directive clearly contrasts with the recent Council conclusion (10-06-2011) concerning
the Energy Efficiency Plan5, in which it is stated that “Cost-effective ways to finance investments in
energy efficiency measures through savings from lower utility bills and maintenance costs such as
energy performance contracting should be promoted by introducing provisions to facilitate its
deployment in Member States, taking due account of existing national law” and that “The role of
Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) and other providers of energy efficiency improvement
measures needs to be strengthened“.

A lot remains to be done, not the least at the end-user level. eu.bac is ready to take up the challenge!

1 eu.bac represents 95% of the European manufacturers of products for home and building automation. We
focus on three areas: building automation, controls for residential and non‐residential buildings and energy
services. For more information, please visit: http://www.eubac.org

2 Directive 2006/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on energy end‐use
efficiency and energy services and repealing Council Directive 93/76/EEC

3 Directive 2004/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 on the promotion of
cogeneration based on a useful heat demand in the internal energy market and amending Directive 92/42/EEC

4 For more information, please visit : http://euesco.org

5 Energy Efficiency Plan 2011 ‐ COM(2011) 109 final (08‐03‐2011)