The European Commission adopted its 2050 Energy Roadmap today (15th December 2011) setting out its views about Europe’s energy future. The Roadmap is based on modelling work that creates scenarios of possible future energy mixes on the energy supply side. However, whilst Commissioner Oettinger has publicly stated that “The first tool of the EU energy strategy is and should remain energy efficiency”, the Roadmap does not take sufficient account of the potential impact of energy efficiency.

EuroACE, the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings, notes with concern the extensive controversy that this Roadmap has provoked, even before its adoption by the Commission. It seems clear that the assumptions made by the Commission for the modelling of the scenarios are inconsistent with the other adopted policy measures and EU targets in the energy field. This is regrettable as it could undermine the ability of the EU to meet its declared targets for 2020, especially in the case of energy efficiency.

None of the scenarios in the Roadmap consider a high efficiency future and yet, this is the scenario that is most desirable for the EU as a whole. “In a time when we are reaching the limits to growth set out by the Club of Rome in 1972, we need to turn to policies that will make our energy future more resilient and adaptable to an uncertain future” said Adrian Joyce, Secretary General of EuroACE. “Tapping the huge potential of energy efficiency and going well beyond current EU targets is technically feasible and will, by reducing the overall amount of energy consumed by our economy, leave us more resilient to future primary energy supply fluctuations and would mean that if the unit price of energy goes up, our energy bills will still come down” continued Joyce.

As an example we can see that if the buildings sector, responsible for about 40% of primary energy consumption, were given a binding target of reducing its demand by 80% by 2050, the result would be to reduce the overall energy consumption in society by 32% - a significant contribution to the necessary targets for keeping global warming below the agreed 2°C threshold. Such a target is achievable with political commitment that would require Member States to put national Roadmaps and milestones in place, enabling their building stock to be made more energy efficient. Such an approach would kick-start our sluggish economy and lead to the creation of up to 2 million new jobs in local economies!

When the huge potential of energy efficiency measures are so well documented, it is necessary to ensure that all Commission actions in the energy field are aligned in such a way that the potential can be achieved.

Ends

For further information contact:
Adrian M Joyce – Secretary General of EuroACE and Renovate Europe Campaign Director
Tel: +32 2 639 1010
E-mail: adrian.joyce@euroace.org
EuroACE ASBL, Rond Point Schuman, 6, 8th floor, B-1040, Brussels, Belgium (Enterprise number: 0898.506.941)
Tel: +32 2 639 10 10 - Fax: +32 2 639 10 15 - info@euroace.org - www.euroace.org

Note to Editors:
EuroACE, the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings, is comprised of Europe’s leading companies involved with the manufacture, distribution and installation of energy saving goods and services. EuroACE members have a total turnover of 140 billion Euros and employ 172,000 people in Europe alone. The mission of EuroACE is to work together with the European institutions to help Europe move towards a more sustainable pattern of energy use in buildings, thereby contributing to Europe’s commitments on climate change, energy security and economic growth.

EuroACE members:
- Aereco
- BASF
- Danfoss
- Honeywell
- Johnson Controls
- Kingspan Insulated Panels
- Philips Lighting
- Pilkington
- PU Europe
- Rockwool International
- Saint-Gobain Isover
- Solutia
- United Technologies
- URSA Insulation
- VELUX Group