Brussels, 15 December 2010: Glass for Europe is delighted of the European Parliament’s overwhelming support to the report of MEP Bend Bendtsen on the revision of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan. In particular Glass for Europe welcomes the call for EU binding targets on energy-efficiency and for support mechanisms for building refurbishment.

‘The European Parliament sends a very strong signal to both the European Commission and the Council with this vote. It is not enough to declare energy-efficiency a priority; measures must now be put in place to achieve the 20% target by 2020. The Commission and Member States must deliver and show credibility on this topic by endorsing the binding target.’ said Bertrand Cazes, Secretary General of Glass for Europe.

Glass for Europe shares the view that energy savings potential continues to be greatly underutilised in Europe, particularly in buildings. Today nearly 45% of Europe’s buildings are still equipped with single-glazing while standard glazing solutions six to eight time more energy efficient are available throughout Europe. Encouraging the renovation of the existing building stock must become a priority for Europe.

Europe has a real opportunity to make significant energy savings. A binding target will serve a strong signal to Society at large and will offer perspectives to energy-efficiency industries.

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About Glass for Europe

Glass for Europe is the trade association for Europe’s manufacturers of building, automotive, and transport glass, all derived from the basic material known as flat glass. Flat glass is the material that goes into end-products that we see (and see through) every day. It is used to make windscreens and windows for automobile and transports, and windows and façades for houses and buildings. It is also used for many other applications like solar energy equipment, interior fittings and decoration, furniture, “street furniture” like bus stops for example, appliances and electronics, and others.

Glass for Europe has four members – AGC Glass Europe, NSG-Pilkington, Saint-Gobain Glass and Sisecam-Trakya Cam – and works in association with the company Guardian. Altogether, these five companies represent more than 90% of Europe’s flat glass production.

Glass for Europe firmly believes that state-of-the-art glass can play a vital role in achieving the EU’s energy saving targets and promotes ambitious policy mechanisms to support the market uptake of energy-efficient glass technologies.