Since 2003 the European Commission is carrying out online consultations when developing new policies and legislation. The web-based surveys target public authorities, associations, private organizations, companies and citizens and attempt to make the legislative process more transparent.
From June to October 2015 a public consultation on the EU directive regulating the Energy Performance of Buildings (2010/31/EU) took place. According to this directive, the EU member states have to determine standards for energy efficiency of buildings, issue energy performance certificates and guarantee that all buildings will be converted into nearly zero-energy buildings by the end of 2020 – meaning buildings with a very low or almost zero energy demand mainly from renewable energy sources. EU countries had to implement most of the measures of this directive until January 2013. According to estimates, the directive will lead to a reduction of the overall energy use in the EU of up to 5 – 6 % and the creation of 280.000 to 450.000 new jobs.
As a member of the working group Europe (AG Europe) of the German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development, aconium GmbH contributed to an opinion regarding the aforementioned directive.
The commission seeks to promote the consultation on the status of implementation in the issues of energy efficiency of buildings for complying with the deadline for evaluating the directive. The deadline will end on 1 January 2017. These issues are of great importance in the light of the EU´s attainment of the energy policy, climate policy and growth policy goals as well as the improvement of living standards and the reduction of energy costs for EU citizens. The results of the public consultation will play a substantial role in the evaluation. According to the directive, the commission has to undertake the evaluation with the support of a committee of the member states.
A detailed analysis of the contributions to the online consultation can be downloaded on the homepage of the European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/consultations/public-consultation-evaluation-energy-performance-buildings-directive
Another consultation officially started the review process of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED – 2012/27/EU), which came into force 2012. The views were gathered until the end of January and a reform will be proposed in September.
The reviewed directive is a central implementation measure for the non-binding 2030-energy efficiency goal, which strives to reduce energy consumption by at least 27 %. As the member states implemented the EED into national legislation only recently, the consultation will focus solely on a few articles, e. g. the adaptation of the latest energy efficiency goals and the role of public procurement in the course of the promotion of energy efficiency.
A third running consultation of the European Commission in the field of energy concerns renewable energies. Its goal is to consolidate views on the new Renewable Energy Directive for the period after 2020 (REDII). The call for contributions is open until 10 February 2016.
Calls for consultations are available on the website of the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/consultations.