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European Alliance to Save Energy

EU-ASE

EU-ASE advocates making energy efficiency central to Europe's energy system through policy engagement and industry voice.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Annalisa Corrado (Member of the European Parliament) and Trane Technologies and European Data Centre Association

27 Jan 2026 · Data Centers sustainability

Meeting with Nils Behrndt (Deputy Secretary-General Secretariat-General)

6 Nov 2025 · Simplification of existing EU energy legislation

Meeting with Jan Dusik (Deputy Director-General Climate Action)

5 Nov 2025 · The contribution of energy efficiency to EU climate policy targets and competitiveness & decarbonisation of European Industry

Meeting with Nicola De Michelis (Director Regional and Urban Policy) and Third Generation Environmentalism Ltd and

5 Nov 2025 · Cohesion policy investments under the present MFF and good practices/frameworks to serve as model for the future MFF

Meeting with Jan Dusik (Deputy Director-General Climate Action)

5 Nov 2025 · The contribution of energy efficiency to EU climate policy targets and decarbonisation of European Industry

Meeting with Giorgio Gori (Member of the European Parliament)

30 Sept 2025 · Energy efficiency and energy performance of buildings directives

Meeting with Margareta Djordjevic (Head of Unit Energy)

29 Sept 2025 · Energy Efficiency Policies

Meeting with Pietro Fiocchi (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Sept 2025 · Tematiche ambientali

Meeting with Vincent Berrutto (Head of Unit Energy)

23 Jun 2025 · The EU Action Plan for Digitalising the Energy Sector & the Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI.

Meeting with Hanna Anttilainen (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné), Laia Pinos Mataro (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné) and

17 Jun 2025 · Simplification agenda, Omnibus Packages; Clean Industrial Deal, Affordable Energy Action Plan

Meeting with Rosalinde Van Der Vlies (Director Energy)

17 Jun 2025 · Exchange of views on the implementation of energy efficiency policy.

Meeting with Anne Katherina Weidenbach (Cabinet of Commissioner Dan Jørgensen), Martin Engell-Rossen (Cabinet of Commissioner Dan Jørgensen)

13 May 2025 · Energy efficiency

Meeting with Astrid Dentler (Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra) and Water Europe and

24 Apr 2025 · Water Resilience

Meeting with Claudia Canevari (Head of Unit Energy) and European Industrial Insulation Foundation

9 Apr 2025 · A workshop and roundtable on possible modalities for the proratisation of the energy efficiency in industrial investments, focusing on practical solutions, standardisation and policy frameworks to drive decarbonisation and competitiveness

EU Alliance to Save Energy urges Water Efficiency First mandate

4 Mar 2025
Topic — A strategy to manage EU water resources, address scarcity, and enhance industrial competitiveness.
Message — The group demands the Water Efficiency First principle be formally integrated into legislation. They advocate for national withdrawal targets and establishing dedicated funds for water-smart infrastructure.123
Why — New funding and efficiency mandates would drive investment in the group's specialized technologies.45
Impact — Water-intensive industries would face new mandatory efficiency targets and increased reporting burdens.67
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Meeting with Elisabeth Werner (Deputy Secretary-General Secretariat-General)

18 Feb 2025 · Energy efficiency

Meeting with Andrea Wechsler (Member of the European Parliament) and The Chemours Company

6 Feb 2025 · EU Energy and industry policy

Meeting with Dan Jørgensen (Commissioner) and

30 Jan 2025 · Affordable Energy action Plan

Meeting with Benedetta Scuderi (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Jan 2025 · energy

Meeting with Jutta Paulus (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Dec 2024 · Energy Efficiency and Security

Response to Fitness check – energy security architecture

26 Nov 2024

Recent geopolitical crises and heightened climate risks have underscored the urgent need for a resilient and independent EU energy security framework. While the EU has made notable advances in reducing fossil fuel imports following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the reliance on other non-EU countries remains a significant vulnerability. The European Alliance to Save Energy advocates for a comprehensive and systematic approach to Energy System Efficiency (ESE) to achieve genuine independence from fossil fuels, thereby increasing energy security, fostering EU competitiveness and supporting a smooth, inclusive transition for all Europeans. Here below we share a few considerations. 1) As long as the EU remains partially reliant on fossil fuels from unreliable partners, energy security will be compromised to the detriment of the EUs strategic autonomy. Transitioning away from fossil fuel dependency must include immediate scaling up of energy efficiency measures across sectors and renewable energy generation. Adopting the Energy Efficiency First (EE1st) principle within a broader ESE framework is essential for affordably achieving the EUs 2050 climate neutrality goal. By focusing on energy efficiency across sectors, from building renovations to industrial processes, the EU can improve energy security by reducing overall energy demand, optimising energy consumption, mitigating price volatility and managing peak demands. Energy efficiency, Europes first fuel, offers the most cost-effective pathway to decarbonization, particularly through upgrading energy-intensive sectors such as buildings, which contribute 40% of the EU's energy consumption. Energy efficiency measures are thus key to make the European economy more competitive and sustainable at the same time while ensuring that our transition to climate neutrality by 2050 is affordable. 2) Decentralization and sector integration are critical for a resilient energy grid capable of supporting an electrified and renewable-powered economy. The increasing share of renewables introduces challenges such as grid congestion, supply variability, and new infrastructure needs, which is another important aspect of energy security. Addressing these challenges demands significant investment in smart grids, energy storage solutions, and digitalized monitoring systems, which together ensure grid flexibility and stability while renewable capacity expands. Moreover, energy efficient renovation, enhanced grid management, digitalization, and sector integration reduce inefficiencies and prevent cascading failures during disruptions, thereby strengthening EU energy security. Supply chain security for materials critical to renewable infrastructure, such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, is another pressing dimension. Securing these supply chains by fostering alliances with reliable partners, promoting recycling within the EU and putting energy and resource efficiency at the core of the energy transition will mitigate potential supply disruptions and enhance system resilience. 3) Integrated energy systems, where sectors like mobility, industry, and buildings become more than just consumers maximize efficiency and resilience. By actively engaging these sectors within the energy system, the EU can optimize demand response, reduce waste, and foster interdependencies that enhance security and resilience. A system-wide approach, through ESE, ensures that each sector contributes to overall efficiency while reducing dependence on external energy sources. 4) In conclusion, energy security in the EU depends on a strong and systematic commitment to ESE, where energy efficiency, electrification, and sector integration drive the transition to a renewable-powered, resilient energy system. Policies that prioritize EE1st, decarbonization, and cross-sector collaboration will be instrumental in achieving energy independence and security while supporting EU competitiveness and productivity.
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Meeting with Dario Tamburrano (Member of the European Parliament) and Environmental Investigation Agency

17 Oct 2024 · Priorità per la legislatura

Meeting with Annalisa Corrado (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Sept 2024 · Energy Efficiency

Meeting with Adam Romanowski (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič), Dino Toljan (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)

6 Jun 2024 · Role of energy efficiency in the green transition

Response to Assessment of the energy efficiency public funding support at Union and national level

26 Feb 2024

The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback for the European Commissions upcoming report assessing the level of EU & national funding for energy efficiency. As the global energy landscape continues to evolve, the European Union faces a pressing challenge: the need to enhance energy efficiency to meet climate goals, drive systemic change, and ensure energy security amidst geopolitical shifts. The current energy crisis, exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, underscores the imperative to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, particularly Russian gas. The EU's efforts to bolster energy security and reduce fossil gas imports from Russia are evident in the REPowerEU Communication, which aimed to make the EU independent from Russian fossil fuels before 2030. However, achieving this goal requires concerted efforts and investments in energy efficiency across sectors such as buildings, industry, water utilities, and transportation. The EU's participation to the Global Pledge on Renewables and Energy Efficiency, launched in December 2023, further underlines the commitment to double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. To unlock the full potential of energy efficiency, it is crucial to prioritize short and mid-term actions that align with the Energy Efficiency First principle. This principle urges EU, national, and local policymakers to prioritize energy-saving measures that deliver both short-term relief and long-term systemic change. The EUASE short to mid-term energy efficiency measures catalogue (https://euase.net/short-to-mid-term-measures-in-energy-efficiency-to-reduce-gas-consumption-in-europe/ ) offers a comprehensive list of technologies and solutions that can be rapidly implemented to achieve significant energy and cost savingsThe catalogue identifies a non-exhaustive list of energy-efficient technologies and solutions that can be speedily implemented in short to mid-term, with the objective for the EU to phase out fossil fuels, as soon as possible, with energy savings. Investments in energy efficiency are essential to achieve energy security, meet climate goals, and mitigate the impact of geopolitical events on energy prices. By prioritizing energy efficiency, the EU can reduce dependency on fossil fuels, drive innovation, increase competitiveness, and create a more sustainable future for all.
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EU-ASE urges energy efficiency priority for 2040 climate goals

23 Jun 2023
Topic — This consultation seeks input on setting the European Union's 2040 climate target.
Message — The alliance supports binding 2040 targets and recommends a triple-target framework including efficiency and renewables. They argue that the European Commission must prioritize the Energy Efficiency First principle as a core policy pillar.12
Why — Lowering discount rates in models would make energy efficiency investments appear more attractive.3
Impact — Fossil fuel providers would see their market phase-out accelerate as energy demand falls.4
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Meeting with Kurt Vandenberghe (Director-General Climate Action)

12 Apr 2023 · Conversation on energy efficiency

Meeting with Margrete Auken (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and European Environmental Bureau and SURFRIDER FOUNDATION EUROPE

28 Feb 2023 · Recast of the UWWTD

Meeting with Ciarán Cuffe (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Stichting European Climate Foundation and

7 Feb 2023 · EPBD

Meeting with Christoph Nerlich (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit), Santina Bertulessi (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)

25 Jan 2023 · Pact for Skills on Energy Efficiency

Meeting with Ciarán Cuffe (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and European Mortgage Federation - European Covered Bond Council

25 Oct 2022 · EPBD

Meeting with Seán Kelly (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Schneider Electric and

6 Jul 2022 · The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

Meeting with Ville Niinistö (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Jul 2022 · Energy efficiency (EED and EPBD)

Meeting with Nils Torvalds (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Jul 2022 · Fit for 55

Meeting with Marisa Matias (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

5 Jul 2022 · EPBD Report

Meeting with Bas Eickhout (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Jun 2022 · taxonomy / energy efficiency

Meeting with Seán Kelly (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Honeywell Europe NV and

31 Mar 2022 · The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive - Stakeholder Event

Meeting with Morten Petersen (Member of the European Parliament)

8 Mar 2022 · Energy Efficiency Directive

Meeting with Stefano Grassi (Cabinet of Commissioner Kadri Simson) and Transport and Environment (European Federation for Transport and Environment) and

2 Dec 2021 · EPBD - Energy efficiency - Minimum Energy Performance Standards

Response to Action plan on the digitalisation of the energy sector

9 Sept 2021

The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the inception roadmap on the EU Action Plan on the Digitalisation of the Energy Sector. Please refer to the pdf attachment to see the full display of the EU-ASE response. To tap into the potential of digitalisation for energy efficiency, we recommend to: - Strengthen the implementation requirements related to smart technologies in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) that can reflect real energy performance and support the uptake of the Smart Readiness Indicator across Member States. It is also essential to reform the Energy Performance Certificates to complement the calculated performance of a building with a data-model approach in reference points about their level of performance, while also integrating new metrics such as CO2 performance. - Mandate energy management systems (with digital interfaces) for large companies to secure energy efficiency improvements in the long-run. - Mandate the roll-out of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in construction work to provide all stakeholders with a digital representation of a building’s characteristics in its whole-life cycle. - Leverage AI technologies in buildings and in the energy grids as a key enabler to monitor, manage and automatically adjust energy consumption efficiently. - Launch up-skilling programmes to develop skills necessary to realise digital transformation while ensuring that those programmes foster the integration of all technologies (passive, active and digital). - Promote digitalisation and use of real-time data to measure water consumption and use for critical analysis, the optimisation of energy performance of industrial processes and wastewater treatment. - Promote best practice examples in energy efficient data centres through more efficient cooling systems, heat reuse, penetration of renewable energy or constructing these centres in cold areas.
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Meeting with Aleksandra Tomczak (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

22 Jun 2021 · Position of the Alliance regarding the review of the Energy Efficiency Directive

Meeting with Anne Funch Jensen (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager)

28 May 2021 · State Aid issues of relevance for the Energy sector

Response to Modification of the General Block Exemption Regulation for the Green Deal and the Industrial and Digital Strategies

29 Mar 2021

EU-ASE - European Alliance to Save Energy - aims to advance the energy efficiency agenda in Europe. It allows world’s leading multinational companies to join environmental campaigners and a cross-party group of Members of the European Parliament. Significantly increasing energy efficiency in all sectors and across Europe is key for Europe to reach its higher climate targets, to kickstart a green recovery from the current economic crisis. It is also a central driver in providing modern, healthy, and comfortable places to live and work for all Europeans as well as competitive, climate-friendly industrial jobs. To ensure that the energy markets are fair, flexible, and secure, the EU State Aid rules must address investment gaps by providing enabling conditions for attracting private investment. This is politically relevant considering the context of the Renovation Wave Strategy, which calls for doubling annual energy renovation rates , and considering the investments in energy efficiency improvements required to contribute to the decarbonisation of the industrial sector. To achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal for 2030 and 2050, it is essential to remove all existing regulatory, administrative, and financial barriers for private and public investors. This means well-designed State Aid schemes that facilitate the investments and reforms that are necessary for a sustainable economic recovery and for achieving EU energy and climate targets. The European Commission has published guidelines to facilitate the uptake of renovation programmes across the EU in the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and has announced to revise the Energy and Environmental Aid Guidelines (EEAG) and the General Block Exemption Regulation (GEBR) to provide an enabling framework for public authorities to support high-quality renovation while making the most efficient use of limited public funds. Pending the revision, the Commission announced in the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan and European Green Deal Investment Plan that the current State Aid rules will be applied with the flexibility to support an increase in the rate and depth of energy efficiency improvements, stressing that aid to energy efficiency investments would be simplified and enhanced. More specifically, the Renovation Wave strategy includes the commitment that as part of the ongoing revision of the GBER and EEAG the Commission will set up simpler, clearer, and easier to apply State Aid rules for building renovation programmes, in particular in the residential and social sectors. We support more flexibility in the short-term. However, we believe the European Commission should also seize this moment to i) decisively create a level playing field for energy efficiency investments; ii) address the overall complexity by simplifying requirements on eligible costs; iii) and provide clear guidance on the current EU State Aid rules for energy efficiency. Below we have summarized our three main recommendations for the Commission services: 1. Level playing field for investment aid for energy efficiency measures (EEAG Annex 1 and Art 38 GBER) in line with the “Energy Efficiency First” principle Recommendation: Maximum aid intensity aid should be levelled with aid for renewable energies (i.e. 65% for small enterprises, 55% for medium-sized enterprises, and 45% for large enterprises) and up to 100 % if the aid is allocated according to a bidding process. 2. Simplification on investment aid for energy efficiency (Art 38 GBER and Art 107 TFEU) Recommendation: The Commission should simplify requirements on eligible costs. 3. Clear guidance on current State Aid rules Recommendation: The Commission should provide guidance on how to interpret State Aid rules so they are not an obstacle to the design of energy efficiency schemes. For more details on the above-mentioned recommendations please refer to the attached document.
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Response to Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU

22 Mar 2021

The EU has committed to a net-zero economy by 2050, and to reach at least -55% GHG reductions by 2030. To get there, this decade must be witness of an unprecedented wave of renovations resulting in buildings emissions reduction by 60% by 2030. Reducing energy demand and increasing energy efficiency in the buildings sector is a prerequisite for achieving the EU ’s energy and climate objectives. Currently around 75% of the building stock is energy inefficient yet almost 85-95% of today`s buildings will still be in use in 2050 . Only 1% of European buildings undergo energy renovations each year and on average the energy saved through renovations is just 9% in homes and 16% in commercial and industrial buildings. The yearly deep energy efficiency renovation rate barely reaches 0,2% for both residential and non-residential buildings. At this pace, cutting carbon emissions from the building sector to net-zero would require centuries. Last but not least, 75% of buildings energy consumption is still based on fossil fuels. The renovation rate is therefore far too low considering the environmental challenges and the economic opportunities that lie ahead. The Renovation Wave acknowledges this problem and the need to increase the rate and the depth of renovations setting the objective of at least doubling the annual energy renovation rate by 2030 in view of reducing GHG emissions of buildings by at least 60%. EU-ASE believes that the review of the EPBD is a unique opportunity to increase energy savings, optimise energy consumption and reduce GHG emissions from the buildings sector. In this respect, the ongoing revision of the EPBD is key to introduce new policy signals to stimulate a minimum of a 3% renovation rate per year combined with an average energy efficiency improvement of 75% across Europe. This will help the EU to reach its environmental goals while contributing to fast economic recovery, local job creation and delivering of multiple benefits to citizens . Other measures designed for the decarbonization of the building stock, such as carbon pricing, can be part of this effort, yet we believe it should not replace impactful regulatory measures such as the EPBD which drives energy savings necessary to meet climate neutrality. In our view, policies related to the building sector, including the EPBD, should be kept in the Effort Sharing Regulation sectoral scope with increased ambition. The renovation of the EU building stock delivers a broad range of benefits: • 101 Bn EUR additional investment/annum • investment in energy efficiency can create 12-18 jobs per MEUR of investment, more than in other areas of energy policy • 925.9 MEUR /year of monetised health benefits (lower mortality and health-care costs) • The removal of between 5.17 - 8.26 million households from energy poverty in 2030 In addition, the reduction in energy demand and the reduced need for fossil fuel imports will enhance energy security as every additional percentage point in energy savings reduces gas imports by 2,6 percentage points . To deliver these benefits we suggest a comprehensive revision of the EPBD going beyond options 2 and 3 that are currently outlined in the Roadmap, along the following lines: 1. Acknowledge buildings as energy infrastructure and apply energy efficiency first 2. Phase in Minimum Energy Performance Standards for all the existing building stock 3. Aim for energy efficient, flexible, and smart-ready buildings 4. Promote a neighbourhood approach to maximise energy efficiency 5. Update the Energy Performance Certificates, introduce digital Building Renovation Passports and explore the link with Digital Building Logbook 6. Provide more and better technical assistance and build capacity to increase the demand of renovation projects 7. Ensure all new buildings are both highly efficient and fossil free from 2025 onwards (NZEB) Please see attached document for more detailed recommendations on the abovementioned points.
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Meeting with Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President) and European Environmental Bureau and

27 Oct 2020 · Business and investor support for higher ambition and the just transition

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Riccardo Maggi (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

25 Sept 2020 · Renovation Wave

Response to Review of Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency

21 Sept 2020

The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the European Commission’s publication of an inception impact assessment on the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). The Alliance brings together businesses, think thanks and Members of the European Parliament to ensure that the voice of energy efficiency is heard across the business and political community. The EU-ASE welcomes the strong narrative on energy efficiency in the roadmap as well as its proposal to revise the current EED. The Directive has played a significant role in bringing energy efficiency up in the political agenda, stimulated increased national efforts, and resulted in some energy efficiency improvements. However, it did not lead to the creation of the much needed binding and long term legal framework to mobilize the investments required to tap the savings potentials across sectors and deliver the multiple benefits of energy efficiency to citizens, businesses and the environment. This shortcoming also stems from the imperfect implementation of the Directive. As a consequence, in many countries, the energy savings delivered fell short of the minimum required and are insufficient to achieve the national targets. We note that the Commission is rightly stepping up enforcement and we fully support strengthening the legal requirements for more effective implementation. The current review should ramp up the ambition in light of the EU’s new climate objectives. The EED targets must be aligned with the European Green Deal and its goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, as well as intermediary targets. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 76% of the European greenhouse gas emission reductions required to keep temperature increases below 1.5°C must come from energy efficiency. Therefore, the overall energy consumption reduction is the foundation for achieving climate targets while ensuring a deep economic transformation that is supporting a circular, resilient and equitable post-COVID recovery. For policy-makers, investing in energy efficiency means investing in a fast, smart and sustainable recovery which is ‘made in Europe’. The International Patent Classification green patents inventory of the World Intellectual Property Organization shows that among the countries with a higher concentration of filings for patents in energy conservation technologies, there are the EU Member States such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Investing in energy efficiency means supporting the growth, competitiveness and long term sustainability of European manufacturers, solution providers and local value chains. The EED review is paramount in that respect and should be carried out in such a way to support job creation, sustainable growth and climate change mitigation and adaptation in one of the most innovative and strategic sectors of the European Union. Based on this, EU-ASE would like to highlight the following recommendations to support the Commission in its ongoing work on the EED revision.
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Response to Revision of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive

1 Sept 2020

The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the European Commission’s publication of an inception impact assessment on the revision of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). While the Directive has played a substantial role in improving the quality of European water resources and reducing pollution levels in water bodies, we believe that Europe remains some way from full compliance with collection and treatment requirements and has made little progress with water reuse. We believe the 29-year-old Directive should be updated to better address these critical issues and today's challenges including climate change, resource scarcity, increased energy consumption and population growth. Based on this, EU-ASE would like to highlight the following recommendations to support the Commission in its ongoing work on the UWWTD revision: 1. Digitalisation as a key opportunity 2. Make use of data transparency and advanced data analytics for a knowledge based approach 3. Preserving natural water resources with smart water management 4. Better legal framework for urban runoff and storm water management 5. Carbon neutral wastewater management 6. Circular economy for water 7. Supporting investments For more detailed recommendations, please refer to the supporting document
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Meeting with Kadri Simson (Commissioner)

16 Jun 2020 · Energy efficiency first, implementing the Clean Energy for All Europeans package, recovery and resilience measures and building renovation.

Response to Strategy for smart sector integration

8 Jun 2020

European Alliance to Save Energy’s contribution to the Roadmap on the EU strategy on energy sector integration The EU has been at the forefront of international efforts to fight climate change. In the current context, more than ever, it should continue in this direction by focusing its economic recovery efforts on technologies and sectors where Europe is leading, like energy efficiency. Doing so offers Europe the twin benefit of stimulating economic recovery and creating jobs, as well as enabling the energy transition to climate neutrality by 2050 through sector and energy system integration. Reducing emissions across all sectors and decarbonizing “hard-to-abate sectors”, which include buildings, industry and transport, will strongly depend on the EU ability to apply the ‘Energy Efficiency First’ principle, which should be mainstreamed to all energy policymaking, planning and investments, including to the upcoming EU Strategy on energy sector integration. Enforcing Energy efficiency first principle is a pre-condition for reducing demand, delivering a cost and energy efficient system integration, and make decarbonization of the energy system economically feasible. Energy efficiency is the first fuel and should be the starting point for all decarbonization efforts, and this according to the energy efficiency first principle as defined in the Governance for Energy Union Regulation. Together with renewables, it must represent the lion’s share of the measures needed to meet the 2050 target. Energy efficiency and renewable electrification are two key pillars of a 1.5C decarbonization pathway. To achieve its climate neutrality goal by 2050, the Commission has also announced an Energy System Integration Strategy as part of its Green Deal. This new strategy will look at how to facilitate the interlinkages between the electricity, heating, building, transport and industry sectors, in order to better use synergies likely to emerge (including in energy conversion and storage), thereby enabling a more cost-efficient decarbonization of the energy system. This includes looking at how integrating sectors can improve the overall efficiency of the energy system through enabling reuse of excess/waste energy, storage of surplus electricity in thermal networks, buildings and transport as well as to incentivize clean electrification of sectors, interconnectivity and energy storage. The European Alliance to Save Energy calls on the European Commission to take into account the following set of recommendations, which put forward a number of ideas to fully consider the potential for energy efficiency and its role in facilitating the transition towards more integrated energy and other sectors: 1. Defining and mainstreaming sector integration to improve the efficiency of the energy system 2. Prioritising energy efficiency in all planning, policy, and investment decisions 3. Buildings as the central pillar of a more integrated and efficient energy system 4. Utilizing synergies between electricity and heating and cooling sectors to increase energy efficiency and meet decarbonization goals Please see full contribution attached.
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Response to Commission Communication – "Renovation wave" initiative for the building sector

4 Jun 2020

European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) feedback o the "Renovation wave" initiative for the building sector Unlocking the potential for energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction that lies in the EU buildings stock is a top priority for the European Alliance to Save Energy. As businesses and investors having energy efficiency and energy demand reduction at the heart of our activities, we look forward to seeing Europe’s global climate leadership translated in green measures which will lead to a sustainable recovery through stimulus packages. We strongly believe that the Renovation Wave as part of the EU Green Deal is a great opportunity to promote our technologies and expertise. This will help to maintain the competitive advantage of European industry and will contribute to the European green recovery and local job creation, while lifting millions of Europeans out of energy poverty. We support a system-wide approach which puts highly energy efficient, renewable-based, smart and flexible buildings at the centre of a fast-changing decentralized energy system . With this in mind, we envisage an EU wide building Renovation Wave which revolves around the swift implementation of the Energy Efficiency First principle as the fastest and most cost-effective way to reduce emissions and stimulate sustainable economic recovery. We are convinced that highly energy efficient and smart buildings are the first and indispensable step to: • accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources; • foster sector integration of buildings with other sectors, including industry, transport and energy sectors; • catalyse energy system decentralization and enhance overall system efficiency; • stimulate a sustainable economic recovery, and boost local employment For this to happen Europe must back a ambitious and impactful Renovation Wave to increase energy efficiency of buildings by reducing their energy consumption and by fostering the greater quality, the rate, and the depth of comprehensive renovations encompassing envelopes and technical buildings systems. Concretely, and to stay on track with the EPBD goal of decarbonizing the EU building stock by 2050, the Renovation Wave should be designed to reach a minimum of a 3% renovation rate per year combined with an average energy efficiency improvement of 75%. The social impact of an EU wide energy efficient Renovation Wave would be tremendous. Improved comfort, cleaner indoor and outdoor air quality, reduced energy bills, better and more qualified local jobs are just a few concrete examples of the multiple benefits that Energy Efficiency First in buildings would deliver to those who need them the most, i.e. live in energy poverty. Attached set of recommendations reflect ad elaborate our ideas for a Renovation Wave communication which should recognise the role of energy efficiency as a potent and critical catalyst to the massive scale-up of building renovations in a resource-constrained Union, especially during the unprecedented crisis triggered by COVID-19.
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Meeting with Kurt Vandenberghe (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)

29 May 2020 · European Green Deal

Meeting with Riccardo Maggi (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

6 May 2020 · Recovery, energy efficiency and renovation

Meeting with Stefano Grassi (Cabinet of Commissioner Kadri Simson)

5 May 2020 · Discussion on the contribution of Energy Efficiency to COVID-19 response and 2030 targets

Meeting with Mauro Raffaele Petriccione (Director-General Climate Action)

28 Apr 2020 · COVID-19, Renovation Wave

Meeting with Elisa Ferreira (Commissioner)

6 Feb 2020 · Energy efficiency & Cohesion Policy

Response to Climate Law

3 Feb 2020

According to the Commission LTS,the EU must halve its energy consumption by 2050.Energy efficiency therefore has to play a central role in achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. •Taking into account that the world economy will triple by 2050 and that global population will increase by nearly 2.3 billion by 2050,energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to decouple economic growth from emissions. •Significant reductions in overall energy demand will come from energy use in buildings.Residential and commercial buildings currently account for 40 % of EU energy consumption – with 75 % of these buildings being built before energy performance standards existed – 36% of emissions and 50% of the total mineral resources extracted from the planet. Most of the housing stock of 2050 already exists and will need to be renovated. Our building stock needs to become net zero carbon, which involves ramping up the rate and depth of renovation, and ensuring efficient and decarbonised energy supply in the building sector.The “Renovation Wave” needs to build from the implementation of the Long Term Renovation Strategies, but also explore new drivers and triggers, including regulation, in order to scale up what has worked well in some countries. •There is no smart system without managing and optimizing the demand and supply of energy. Hence, pathways that do not count in and are based on efficiency are simply not feasible and incredibly risky. In order to make this green transition a reality, we have no choice other than become an energy efficient society. •EU and national policy makers need ensure that this transition is not “just a transition”, but a just transition. •Fortunately, increasing share of the population understands that EU will gain from the green transition; However, the distributional consequences of climate policies need to be addressed, otherwise we risk social backlash against decarbonization ( yellow vests). •EE helps to address such social backlash because of multiple social, economic and environmental benefits of the EE policies. The green transition will eliminate the need for jobs in some sectors but will also create and redefine local jobs in new, smart and sustainable sectors. For example, the building renovation in the EU already impacts around 20 million jobs and 99,9 companies in the construction sector are SMEs and more than 94% are micro-enterprises.According to the EC Impact Assessment, for every 1% extra energy savings by 2030: -EU gas imports fall by 4% -GHG emissions decrease by 0.7% -Employment increases by 336000 jobs •More than 50 million Europeans are at risk of energy poverty.Member States have often chosen to finance public support to renewable energy by increasing electricity taxes for individual consumers, which may have worsened the situation of vulnerable households.However,the energy transition gives a genuine opportunity to alleviate or even eradicate energy poverty in Europe if ambitious measures to increase the energy efficiency of housing are put in place.This would improve living conditions (especially of the most disadvantaged part of our society),reduce bills, revalue properties and create more jobs in the construction sector. CURRENTLY EE TARGET IS NOT LEGALLY BINDING: Energy consumption has been increasing since 2014. Energy Efficiency gap in the draft National Energy and Climate Plans is around 6%. THIS IS WHY WE CALL FOR: 1.Inclusion of climate neutrality by 2050 in the Climate Law with intermediate milestones in 2030 and 2040. An in depth assessment of the trajectory towards 2050 would enable to set a relevant 2030 targets that put our economies on track to 2050 2.Inclusion of the energy efficiency first principle in the Climate Law and its application to all energy planning and investments. 3.Climate law to promote policy coherence across the board, as such, an increased and mandatory EE target,increased RES target and phase out of fossil fuel investment
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Meeting with Daniel Calleja Crespo (Director-General Environment)

23 Oct 2019 · Energy and water savings

Meeting with Ditte Juul-Joergensen (Director-General Energy)

17 Oct 2019 · Energy efficiency

Meeting with Mauro Raffaele Petriccione (Director-General Climate Action)

27 Nov 2018 · Views on the EU Long Term Strategy and the role of energy efficiency and sustainable finance

Meeting with Mauro Raffaele Petriccione (Director-General Climate Action)

16 May 2018 · role of energy efficiency for decarbonisation

Meeting with Juraj Nociar (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)

27 Apr 2018 · Energy Union

Meeting with Jyrki Katainen (Vice-President)

24 Apr 2018 · MFF and climate and energy targets

Meeting with Nicola De Michelis (Cabinet of Commissioner Corina Crețu), Tomas Nejdl (Cabinet of Commissioner Corina Crețu)

15 Mar 2018 · Exchange of views on the MFF

Meeting with Dominique Ristori (Director-General Energy) and Danfoss A/S

9 Dec 2016 · energy efficiency and ecodesign

Meeting with Corina Crețu (Commissioner)

17 Nov 2016 · Energy Winter Package

Meeting with Pierre Schellekens (Cabinet of Vice-President Miguel Arias Cañete)

16 Nov 2016 · Energy efficiency and winter package

Meeting with Denis Cajo (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica), Nils Behrndt (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica)

16 Sept 2016 · European External Investment Plan

Meeting with Riccardo Maggi (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

26 Aug 2016 · Better Regulation + Energy Union

Meeting with Christiane Canenbley (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

14 Jul 2016 · Energy efficiency in agri sector

Meeting with Shane Sutherland (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

13 Jul 2016 · Energy Efficiency Investment

Meeting with Robert Schröder (Cabinet of Commissioner Carlos Moedas)

12 Jul 2016 · European vision for the development and acceleration of energy efficiency investments

Meeting with Christian Burgsmueller (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

11 Jul 2016 · Energy issues in general and also related to TTIP

Meeting with Arunas Ribokas (Cabinet of Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis)

11 Jul 2016 · Energy efficiency investments

Meeting with Jos Delbeke (Director-General Climate Action)

30 Jun 2016 · 2030 Climate and Energy Framework and revision of the EU ETS

Meeting with Dominique Ristori (Director-General Energy) and Danfoss A/S

30 Nov 2015 · Energy Efficiency

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and

17 Jul 2015 · Energy efficiency

Meeting with Carlos Moedas (Commissioner), Carlos Moedas (Commissioner), Carlos Moedas (Commissioner)

14 Jul 2015 · Electricity and energy efficiency industrial sectors

Meeting with Friedrich-Nikolaus von Peter (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)

20 May 2015 · Meeting with EU-ASE

Meeting with Juergen Mueller (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella) and Stichting European Climate Foundation

26 Mar 2015 · Energy efficiency policies: follow-up to Energy Union Communication / link to environment policies

Meeting with Corina Crețu (Commissioner)

17 Mar 2015 · Meeting between Commissioner Crețu and Monica Frassoni, President EU-ASE

Meeting with Maroš Šefčovič (Vice-President)

26 Feb 2015 · Energy Union Strategy

Meeting with Dominique Ristori (Director-General Energy)

18 Dec 2014 · Energy Efficiency

Meeting with Telmo Baltazar (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker)

11 Dec 2014 · Investment in Europe & Energy Union