The construction sector is key to achieving the European Union’s energy and climate objectives and to energy transition.
On 16 May 2019, the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) published the Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/786, dated 8 May 2019, on the renovation of buildings, setting out the guidelines that Member States must follow to ensure a precise transposition of the requirements of Directive (EU) 2018/844, dated 30 May 2018, amending Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD) and Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency (EED).
The Recommendation specifies the technical requirements required and the different ways in which the objectives of the EPBD Directive can be achieved. On the other hand, it exposes those experiences considered by the European Commission as good practices and implemented in some Member States. This is where the Recommendation includes three projects involving Ecoserveis.
Smart technology for the future
In the section on Long-term Renewal Strategies and, specifically, in the enumeration of incentives for the use of smart technologies and enabling the EPBD, the Recommendation talks about our SMART-UP project, funded through the Horizon 2020 programme between 2015 and 2018:
“… aimed to encourage the active use of smart meters and in-house displays by vulnerable consumers in France, Italy, Malta, Spain and the UK. There was a strong engagement strategy in training stakeholders who are in particularly close contact with vulnerable households. More than 550 frontline staff (mainly social workers) were trained in 46 training sessions and went on to advise over 4 460 vulnerable households on:
- how to use energy more efficiently;
- how to read and understand electricity and/or gas meters; and
- how to reduce their energy bills.
In Spain, the project inspired a social programme funded by the municipality of Barcelona to combat energy poverty. As a result, 100 unemployed people were trained, and more than 1 800 vulnerable households received advice. Another positive outcome is that 32 % of the trainees are now working in Barcelona’s fuel poverty information points. Training packages and the final impact report are available on the project website.”
Boosting investment in sustainable energy
In the Accessible and transparent advisory tools section (2.7.8.5.), ENERINVEST is mentioned as an example of national sustainable energy investment platforms that Member States can set up “to:
- organise dialogue with and between key stakeholders;
- develop roadmaps;
- propose improvements to legal frameworks; and
- develop and validate template documents and contracts, etc., to improve understanding of the market.”
Citizen empowerment to stimulate social participation in energy
In the Alleviation of energy poverty section (2.7.4.4), the ASSIST project, also funded through the H2020 programme, is mentioned:
“… aims to tackle energy poverty and provide specialised services through a network of vulnerable consumer energy advisors (‘VCEAs’). VCEAs are to be selected from people with direct experience of vulnerability and/or energy poverty, who will be trained so as to improve their future employability and maximise peer-to-peer benefits. Action includes:
- working with feedback systems;
- energy audits;
- community-based initiatives;
- support in obtaining funds for energy efficiency; and testing innovative funding mechanisms
(…) The following ASSIST project deliverables could be relevant:
Main image: <a href=”https://www.freepik.es/fotos-vectores-gratis/marco”>Foto de Marco creado por freepik – www.freepik.es</a>
