EUROACE WANTS BUILDINGS TO BE ENERGY EFFICIENT.

Europe Energy, March, 2001

EuroACE, the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings, has welcomed the Wijkman report, adopted by the European Parliament on 13 March. "It demonstrates clearly that they all want action now from the Commission and from European governments". EuroACE feels that the EU must focus on reducing VAT on energy efficient products; developing an EU energy certification scheme; creating a European Sustainable Energy Agency; and stricter building codes for both new and existing buildings.

EuroACE points out that over 40% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Europe come from the use of energy in buildings but carbon dioxide emissions could be cut by 12.5% if the EU adopted an energy efficiency programme.