“The UIPI’s


approach from the property owners’ standpoint is to identify if there


are some business models and energy efficiency


solutions that are grounded in both science and reality”


Creating an energy efficient Europe In the overall energy efficiency debate, UIPI stands for market-based, realistic solutions. The success of market penetration for energy efficiency technologies is much dependent on how the value of energy efficiency is perceived when it comes to buying or renting an energy efficient house. Cost-effectiveness remains a big challenge for the successful implementation of energy efficiency technologies in the building sector. Owners would be more inclined to install energy efficient improvements if they could be able to sense the benefit of these improvements, either in term of energy savings or in term of ‘bonuses’ such as being able to increase rent. The UIPI’s approach from the property owners’ standpoint is to identify if there are some business models


and energy efficiency solutions that are


grounded in both science and reality. The UIPI is also promoting energy efficiency


renovation within its member organisations. At national level, these organisations are disseminating information about best practice and funding schemes for energy efficiency renovations. The UIPI organises workshops to train national


organisations and individual private owners about the energy efficiency solutions available on the market EU-wide. It is important to explain to owners the benefits that these solutions can bring to their properties, and to help them find funding and choose the right technology for their building. These kinds of measures are essential for convincing property owners to renovate. Coercive measures, if not though through carefully, can create resentment and does not necessarily generate the expected result, as has been seen with EPCs. The UIPI has organised several European-wide events


on energy efficiency in buildings, notably within the framework of the EU Sustainable Energy Week. It also participates in consultations, fora and conferences in order to discuss how to promote the implementation of energy efficiency policies while putting the customer needs at centre stage.


Revision of energy efficiency directives and deep renovation The next few years are going to be important for EU climate action and energy policy. Most pieces of legislation in the field of energy efficiency are undergoing revision. It is crucial that the necessary targets for the upcoming decades remain ambitious but achievable. This means that the requirements that will apply to EU citizens, notably in relation to the energy performance of the buildings they live in and/or own, have to remain realistic regarding households’ financial capacity and available funding. Building owners carry out renovation when they


have the cash to do so or following a well thought out business plan reflecting their financial capacity. The scale of renovation ultimately depends on this financial business plan.


If they can afford or have sufficient


incentives and financial support to do deep renovation they should be encouraged to do so, but in no case


44


should they be forced to invest considerably to reach high energy performance standards. In the current economic hardship many households


face, the high level of property taxation, the lack of financial incentives and the fluctuation of energy prices complicates the question of whether to renovate. If owners are told that they have to do deep renovation, they may not have the financial capacity to do so, not have the cash flow for a one time renovation or may not see any return on investment even in a long term perspective. Therefore, they might consider not doing any renovation at all. This type of policy could have a negative effect. Following the same logic, if financial incentives are limited to deep renovation only, there is a risk of missing the energy saving potential of small- scale renovation necessary to reach a critical mass.


The Juncker Plan The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), aka the Juncker Plan, potentially presents a huge opportunity for


renovation of the private housing


across member states. Contributing some €13.3 billion from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for energy efficiency in public and residential buildings, it is estimated that this should lead to 875 000 households with renovated dwellings. UIPS’s assessment of ERDF Operational Programmes


has shown that funding for private housing renovation remains scarce at national level. This usually comes in the form of financial instruments (e.g. loans, guarantees and equity) or other innovative structures that have not been well established or even explained. In addition, commercial banks are often reluctant to finance small- scale energy efficiency improvements. Grants have become extremely scarce. In limited cases, they are used to support ‘deep’ building renovations that exceed minimum


energy performance issues. Another issue requirements,


development of innovative technologies or addressing social


is the lack of full


transparency on whether private property owners can benefit and under which conditions they may access the funds allocated for energy efficiency renovation of their dwellings. The UIPI wants to see the the Juncker Plan-EFSI


pave the way to funding schemes that are accessible for all housing providers at local level: public and social housing, large private housing providers as well as individual landlords and owner-occupiers. In France, the fund financed a project to promote energy efficiency in French housing. It funded regional and local initiatives on the energy renovation of private residential buildings. By improving the insulation of the buildings involved as well as renovating their heat generation, ventilation and distribution systems, the project will cut energy bills in more than 40,000 homes. Using European funding to put in place targeted renovation programmes in conjunction with tailored funding schemes at local level can really make a difference.


★ More information at : http://uipi.com Insight Publishers | Projects


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