Standard
design and construction practices are to be put in place around
Europe, to create a level playing field for construction companies to
work in other member states around the EU. The emphasis will be on
energy efficient
building design and practice, with a a package of £120 billion in
loans available from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Renovation
and maintenance of buildings and the promotion of mutual recognition
of sustainable
construction systems and the improvement of resource efficiency
will be paramount in the aims of the agenda. The strategy has been
unveiled to take advantage of the potential of low energy buildings
and to help restore sustainable growth.
The
European Commissioner, Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner
for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: "In the current
severe economic and social crisis, low energy buildings are safe and
viable investments for society and private investors. The
construction sector should see this as an opportunity to innovate and
attract new talent. New technologies offer major potential, not only
for new houses, but also for renovating millions of existing
buildings to make them highly energy efficient in line with the EU
2020 objectives. Let's not miss this opportunity. The construction
sector can become a driver of sustainable growth.”
Efforts
to improve energy
efficiency and to integrate renewable energy technologies in the
construction industry, have been progressing slowly in Europe,
especially in renovating or retro-fitting old buildings and this will
give a much needed boost to that area. British Commercial building
stock is responsible for a significant amount of our total carbon
emissions and retro-fitting these old buildings is an important step
towards bringing us closer to our emission target goals. With demand
for Commercial
EPCs (Energy Performance Certificate) on the rise across the
board, as a result of legislative strictures now in place to ensure
energy efficient building standards and practices are enforced, the
construction industry has already experienced operational and
behavioural changes in the UK.
This
new strategy is encouraging, as it sets out a clear statement of
intent from Europe to make sustainable building design and energy
efficient technologies a new standard for the construction industry.
This will help significantly in the battle against climate change by
the provision and maintenance of low to almost-zero carbon buildings
and set up a European workforce of newly skilled labourers, trained
in the field of energy efficient building design and renewable
technologies.
Post By Paul Patane for Just EPC
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