Interview about joining the Renovate Europe Campaign

Interview about joining the Renovate Europe Campaign

     

Interview with Bert Wijbenga, CEO of Woonbron, for the National Renovation Platform

Why did NRP  join the Renovate Europe Campaign?

NRP is a Dutch national platform, which aims to professionalize renovations of existing building stock and to improve regulatory and financial conditions to do so better and more often. Our members are parties from the whole building chain, from owners, investors, architects, consulting-engineers, builders, sub-contractors and maintenance and housekeepers. We see deep renovation and improvement of energy efficiency as a pivotal chance to pursue our goal.

How does NRP intend to contribute to the success of the Renovate Europe Campaign?

We look forward to becoming personally involved in the events, communication and campaigns. We will share our own experiences, both good or bad. We will contribute our network in the Netherlands and in Europe, to the benefit of the existing political and public campaign of Renovate Europe.

What are your expectations and how would you like to see the Renovate Europe Campaign develop in the future?

Our expectations are diverse. We hope to see Europe deliver appropriate regulations to enhance the deep renovation activity throughout the different nations. Notwithstanding the importance of lawmaking, proper funding remains quintessential and a necessary part of strengthening the deep renovation as well.

With the support of many partners in Europe, we believe this goal will be reached better and faster. And while we're doing that together, we will learn a lot from each other. Learning from best practices in different countries in materials, design, financing, building-techniques and so on.  We look forward to meeting our new partners in Renovate Europe.

 

Learn more about Renovate Europe actions in the Netherlands in the 'National Initiative' section.

Learn more about the National Renovation Platform: www.nrp.nl


Energy Renovation – The real way to put citizens at the heart of the Energy Union

Renovate Europe held a breakfast briefing, hosted by MEP Theresa Griffin, on the theme of energy renovation and consumers on 15th June in the European Parliament in the context of the upcoming review of key buildings-related legislation in the autumn.

At the event, MEP Theresa Griffin (S&D, UK) spoke forcibly about the need to increase energy renovation of buildings and thereby address the principle root cause for energy poverty. “Energy Renovation is an opportunity to create a synergy between energy policy, social policy and industrial policy across the EU, and to reconnect with citizens she said.

“Energy renovation must be at the heart of the Energy Union,” explained Adrian Joyce, Director of the Renovate Europe Campaign, “Buildings are central to our lives, to our health and to our productivity  – citizens deserve quality buildings to live, learn and work in”.

Reducing the energy demand of the building stock in the EU will result in numerous benefits to citizens seeking more comfortable, affordable and healthier homes. “We must keep in touch with reality, and listen to the needs especially of low income groups on the ground, who are concerned about the potential rent increases following refurbishment”, said Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General of Housing Europe.

This breakfast event comes on the heel of Commissioner Cañete calling for a definition of energy poverty on 14th June during EU Sustainable Energy Week, and to develop an EU observatory for energy poverty. Clearer data for buildings will lead to more transparency and better policy making to address the serious problem of energy poverty affecting between 50 and 125 million people consumers across the EU[1].

The energy efficiency package expected in the autumn provides the Commission with the unique opportunity to rectify current loopholes in EU legislation hindering the uptake of the renovation market.  Energy Efficiency first must be prioritized in the upcoming revised legislation.

If we don’t address energy waste in buildings, energy production and smart buildings won’t fully benefit consumers”, insisted Yamina Saheb, researcher at OpenExp. “Inefficient buildings that produce energy do not solve any problem. Ensuring we get rid of energy waste in buildings is a prerequisite to moving to smart buildings”.

END

More information about the event

 

[1] See BPIE Report: Alleviating Fuel Poverty in the EU (2014)

 

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MEPs urge Commissioner Canete to include long-term vision for building stock in EPBD

caneteMEPs from 13 countries and 4 political groups sent a letter to Commissioner Canete calling for a transformation of the building stock into 'nearly zero energy buildings' by 2050 in the EU. "We in the European Parliament call on you to ensure that the revised EPBD proposal includes a clear renovation vision for the existing building stock to bring it to NZEB levels by 2050" said the 23 signatory MEPs. "Time is running out to meet our building renovation ambitions and we risk locking in huge amounts of savings and failing to grasp the numerous health, economic, societal and climate benefits."

 


Energy Renovation - What's In It for Consumers?

How can increased energy renovation of buildings make the Energy Union a success for citizens? What opportunities arise in 2016  to create a real renovation market that will bring added value to European consumers?  How can the revisions of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive contribute to reduced energy costs, improved health and wellbeing, higher property value, and increased job creation and competitiveness?

Hosted by MEP Theresa Griffin and organised by Renovate Europe, this breakfast debate on 15th June will focus on consumer interests in achieving Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards by 2050 for the building stock in the EU.

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Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction

BuildingsDay

Renovate Europe is an endorsing partner of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GABC). The GABC was launched at the Buildings Day at COP21 in December, which Adrian Joyce attended as a speaker.  Renovate Europe invited the Coordinator of the GABC to Brussels on 17th May for a Special Session with invited guests focused on “Follow-up to Buildings Day at COP21”.

 

WHAT IS THE GABC?

On the occasion of Buildings Action Day on December 3, Ségolène Royal, Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, and Head of the French delegation together with Ibrahim Thiaw,  UNEP Deputy Executive Director,  launched the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction to combat Climate Change.

The alliance is supported by the United Nations Environment Programme and has been joined by 20 States, representing more than 1 billion people.

The creation of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction was the subject of a joint statement signed by over 70 leaders from the construction sector.

The signatories to the Alliance are:
- 20 countries: Austria, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, USA, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Tunisia, Dubai, Ukraine, Armenia, Vietnam ;
8 major groups: Lafarge Holcim, Saint Gobain, Velux, Consolidated Contractors Company, Danfoss, Veolia, Sekisui House, Suez Environnement;
- Over 50 national and international organisations, professional networks and funders.

The Alliance will:
Bring together all the relevant global players on a large scale around a common ambition and sustain this momentum to ensure that they work together over time;
Increase the share of green building in international funding to implement new initiatives and increase the visibility of exemplary initiatives;
Gather around a program of operational activities strategic networks and partners covering the full range of stakeholders in the building production chain;
Promote initiatives and solutions by all the members signatory to the Alliance to make them reproducible and ensure their appropriation;
Create a network for public authorities in charge of construction, to align regulations and financing towards low-carbon strategies.

Learn more about the COP21 Buildings Day: http://web.unep.org/climatechange/buildingsday