The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) welcomes the European Commission’s proposed Energy Efficiency Directive, which recognises that Europe should seriously improve its energy efficiency footprint and performance. 

EPEE members, active in the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump industry, are committed to increasing the energy efficiency of their products. EPEE supports EU policies designed to encourage the use of more efficient products (for example eco-design, energy and eco-labels, and renewable energy sources) and to make buildings in Europe more efficient in terms of energy use (energy performance of buildings).

The European Commission’s proposal for an Energy Efficiency Directive comes at a critical moment as Europe is still far from being on track to reach its energy efficiency and energy reduction objectives.  

EPEE appreciates many elements of the Commission proposal, but wishes to underline that: 

• The Energy Efficiency Directive should be aligned with all other existing European legislation, such as Eco-design and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
• The minimum refurbishment target of 3% of the total floor of public buildings (above 250 m²) per year is an essential move to ensure that public buildings are leading the way for energy efficiency.  However, with public buildings constituting 16% of the buildings stock, EPEE regrets that no refurbishment target has been set for the biggest part of the building stock: ‘private’ buildings (84%).  
• EPEE regrets that financial incentives seem to have lost their importance in the proposal.  Without appropriate incentives, practical and financial barriers to choose for the most energy-efficient applications will persist. 
• EPEE members call upon the European Commission to closely continue to monitor the improvements made by the Member States in view of their individual targets and to ensure that the National Energy Efficiency Action Plans and the National Renewable Energy Action Plans clearly state their pathway towards achieving their individual targets.

EPEE and its members are committed to contribute actively to the global energy efficiency efforts and are therefore looking forward to contribute positively to the adoption of the Energy Efficiency Directive. 

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Interested in reading more on what type of energy-efficient applications and solutions EPEE members are proposing? Please click here to read the EPEE Green business cases. 

Interested in reading more on how financial incentives can help overcoming the practical barriers to choose energy-efficient applications? Please click here to read the EPEE Heat Pump Manifesto.

Want to find out more on EPEE’s activities on energy efficiency? Please click here. 

About EPEE: 

The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) represents the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump industry in Europe. Founded in the year 2000, EPEE’s membership is composed of 40 member companies and national associations across Europe realising a turnover of over 30 billion Euros and employing more than 200,000 people in Europe.  As an expert association, EPEE is supporting safe, environmentally and economically viable technologies with the objective of promoting a better understanding of the sector in the EU and contributing to the development of effective European policies. For more information please visit: www.epeeglobal.org