Data shortfall clouds EU buildings efficiency assessment

Financial support for energy saving measures in buildings across the EU varies widely, but a full picture is clouded by a lack of accurate data compiled by member states, according to two new reports.

A long-awaited European Commission paper on financial support for energy efficiency measures in buildings, published on 18 April, found that investments in the area were increasing.

On the 13 May 2013, EurActiv had access to a European Commission Legal Services document, in which a British attempt to wriggle out of its energy savings obligations under the EU’s flagship Energy Efficiency Directive (EED)was blocked.

That message was reinforced by a separate report published on 24 April which found, in a partial review of measures undertaken, that annual national spending by EU countries on energy efficiency measures varied from €4 to €40 per person, per capita.

• Primary Source

European Commission Report, 18.04.13: Financial support for energy efficiency in buildings http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2013:0225:FIN:EN:PDF

ADEME, 24.04.13: Étude comparative sur l’efficacité des soutiens publics aux investissements de maîtrise de l’énergie dans l’Union européenne http://www.stefanscheuer.eu/20130219%20EU%20snapshot%20energy%20efficiency%20-%20update.pdf

EurActiv, 13.05.13: UK fails in new bid to water down Energy Efficiency Directive http://www.euractiv.com/energy-efficiency/uk-fails-new-bid-water-energy-ef-news-519660

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