Brussels, 31/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the European Parliament is to vote, on first reading, on the report submitted by Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roja (Spain, EPP-ED) on the energy performance of buildings, text that was already the subject of an agreement (in this case, a general guideline in the absence of the EP's opinion) at last December's Council (see EUROPE of 1 December, p.9 and 5 December, p.12). Although in favour of the Commission's proposal, the rapporteur will submit 28 amendments to his peers, mostly of a technical nature.
The proposal aims, notably, to: - set a general framework establishing a common methodology for the integrated calculation of energy performance in buildings; - implement minimum standards relating to the energy performance of new buildings and existing buildings during renovation work; - set up an energy certification system during the building, sale and rental of a building; - periodic inspections of boilers and air-conditioning systems.
Vidal-Quadras Roja considers that some provisions, notably the definitions used in the framework of the proposal, demand to be fleshed-out so as to facilitate full respect of the directive. He also considers that not enough account is taken of the notable differences that can exist between new and existing buildings, and that important aspects such as cost effectiveness and the quality of the internal climate should be further stressed. Considering that energy savings resulting from the energy efficiency of buildings offer a return on investments which is the best incentive to improve this efficiency, he recalls that "the necessary investments must offer economic returns". He also notes that social housing is a specific market intended for tenants or buyers on low incomes and that, consequently, it would be appropriate for the directive to examine the specific nature of the sector so as to avoid discrimination when it is implemented. Another amendment concerns air-conditioning and problems raised by the growing proliferation of machines of this type in southern European countries, as well as the energy surcharge that results from their use. This amendment suggests developing passive cooling techniques and "especially those that contribute to improving the quality of the internal climate and the microclimate around buildings". Mr. Vidal-Quadras Roca, moreover, places emphasis on the fact that positive incentive measures are always preferable to coercion. He therefore suggests that Member States have different instruments to promote energy performance: tax deductions, the granting of credit on favourable terms and the introduction of energy performance as relevant factor in the acquisition and rental policies of public administrations. Setting out from the principle that individual billing contributes in ensuring a more cautious and effective use of energy resources, he considers that "billing the occupants of buildings for the costs of heating, air-conditioning and hot water, calculated as an appropriate proportion on the basis of actual consumption, contributes to energy saving in the residential sector. Users of these buildings must be able to settle their own consumption of heat and hot water (…)". Finally, whereas the Commission's proposal recommends that buildings with a surface area greater than 1000 sq meters be forced to make investments into energy efficiency in the context of large renovation works, the rapporteur asks the Commission to make proposals, possibly in five years, aimed at including buildings with a lesser surface area, such as private apartments, in the directive's field of application. He also calls for a 36-month transition period following the directive's entry into force to try to have its provisions respected to the full.