{"id":6640,"date":"2023-03-07T17:36:13","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T16:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/?p=6640"},"modified":"2024-01-24T14:20:11","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T13:20:11","slug":"5-reasons-why-we-need-energy-efficient-buildings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/5-reasons-why-we-need-energy-efficient-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"5 reasons why energy efficient buildings are good for people and planet"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As energy prices skyrocket in Europe, people are struggling to pay their bills. As a result, more and more people are living in energy poverty. This means they struggle to heat, cool, or light their homes. Greens\/EFA MEP, Ciar\u00e1n Cuffe<\/a>,<\/strong> is leading the negotiations on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in the European Parliament. Here he explains why we need energy-efficient buildings for warmer homes and lower bills.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Around 54 million people or 11% of the EU population is affected by energy poverty<\/a>. And these numbers have been increasing since the beginning of the energy crisis. Rising rents and house prices make this problem even worse.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Meanwhile, seven out of every 10 buildings in Europe are energy <\/a>inefficien<\/em><\/a>t<\/em><\/a>. They leak energy out of badly insulated windows, doors, walls, and roofs. People and organisations in Europe – households, businesses, and public services – are spending millions every month on energy that goes to waste.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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We cannot allow this situation to continue. Now is the time to make Europe\u2019s buildings more efficient, to protect people from energy poverty and bring down bills. Thankfully, right now the EU is negotiating a new law to renovate our buildings. We call it the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).<\/p>\n<\/div>

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What is the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)? A new EU law to renovate our buildings<\/h4>\n<\/div>
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The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)<\/a><\/strong> is a new EU law under negotiation that will bring down energy bills and tackle energy poverty. How? By launching an action plan to renovate Europe\u2019s buildings<\/a>. It aims for the EU\u2019s building stock to be highly energy efficient and climate neutral by 2050.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Every EU country is different (for one, the weather in Finland is not the same as in Italy), so this is a flexible plan. Each EU country has to develop a national renovation plan that suits their specific needs. Their plans will include renovation targets that are also established nationally.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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EU countries will be able to apply exemptions within their national renovation plans for historic buildings, religious buildings, small buildings, and vacation homes. And renovation requirements targeted at the buildings that waste the most energy will kick in progressively and protect people, including renters, from high energy bills.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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A Europe full of newly renovated, energy efficient buildings will be great for people and for the planet. And what\u2019s more, the EPBD will create hundreds of thousands of good quality, local jobs and help us reach our climate targets.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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