CALL FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS

Call summary

Scene Setter

The buildings industrial sector (residential and non-residential) is the first economic sector in the construction market, as construction and refurbishment activities account for 85% of the total construction sector output. It represents about 7 % of the EU28 non-financial business economy and provides 11.5 million direct jobs (about 8.8% of total employment in the non-financial business economy)[[Based on EUROSTAT statistical business survey [sbs_na_sca_r2] and as also reflected in table 1.1. (page 17) and table 1.3 (page 21)in the JRC study available at: http://iet.jrc.ec.europa.eu/energyefficiency/system/tdf/eur26888_buildingreport_online.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=9069]]. Furthermore the built environment affects the life and work of all EU-citizens: The construction sector also has a crucial impact on the EU environment and energy policies as buildings use 40 % of total EU energy consumption and responsible for 36% of Green-House Gases in Europe while the replacement rate of the existing stock is very small (1-2% per year).

The buildings sector is on the critical path to decarbonise the European economy by 2050. In order to achieve this objective it must enable reducing its CO2 emissions by 90% and its energy consumption by as much as 50%. This is a unique opportunity for sustainable business growth provided that products and related services for both new and refurbished buildings are affordable and of durable quality, in line with several current or future European Directives. Yet, together with the 2050 deadlines, such Directives are putting more constraints on a sector which is directly impacted by the on-going financial and economic crisis, taking into account that, although Europe has major companies, this sector is highly fragmented with over 95% of SMEs.

The objective of the Energy-efficient Buildings Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Initiative is to drive the creation of a high-tech building industry which turns energy efficiency into a sustainable business, fostering EU competitiveness in the construction sector on a global level.

This call will complement the call on Energy Efficiency of the Energy societal challenge, by helping deliver, implement and optimise building and district concepts that have the technical, economic and societal potential to drastically reduce energy consumption and decrease CO2 emissions, both in relation to new buildings and to the renovation of existing buildings. This new initiative should have a large payoff, as it will increase the market for energy-efficient, clean and affordable buildings. Priority will be given to delivering new building technologies, materials and components for energy saving and energy generation, thermal energy storage systems, advanced insulation systems, thermal distribution systems, lighting, windows and glazing, energy generation systems based on renewable sources. Priorities also include reliable simulation and prediction tools, including assessment methods that integrate economic, social and environmental issues, including comfort and safety. To date, the construction industry has difficulty to effectively integrate key technologies into its operations in order to achieve sustainable, long-term competitiveness and such integration should also be promoted.

Activities supported under the EeB PPP are expected to contribute to EU industrial leadership and the grand societal challenges.

The participation of public authorities may be an asset for some projects, as public authorities own a large part of the building stock at European level.

The EeB cPPP will support a high-tech building industry which turns the need for energy efficiency into an opportunity for sustainable business, fostering EU competitiveness in the construction sector at the global level.