Europe Policy

The United Nations is encouraging governments, non-governmental organisations and the wider community to discuss what kind of communities they wish to see in the future.

In the EU, the public water supply represents 21% of total water usage, and buildings account for the major component of this. In some regions, up to 30% of the volume of water consumed in buildings could be saved, according to research carried out by the European Commission (EC). 

Europe has adopted a three-fold programme for tackling climate change in this decade.

The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Committee on Climate Change – despite internal misgivings – and committed itself to cutting emissions by 50% by 2025. But how are these cuts to be achieved? Simon Napper looks at the role of the building sector.

Dishwashers, TVs and fridge freezers are among the domestic white goods to be allocated a new energy saving rating label, set to launch on 20 June 2011.

At the beginning of March, the European Commission adopted a European Energy Efficiency Plan. The set of measures proposed aims at reaping benefits for households, businesses and public authorities.

As often happens at European Summits, external events changed the agenda at the last moment, so instead of devoting the whole time to energy, there was a great deal of discussion about events in the Middle East. So what was achieved?

Leaders of household name brands, including Electrolux, Honeywell, Indesit and Whirlpool, have signed a joint letter to the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and all national Heads of State and Government pressing ahead of the upcoming European Energy Summit in Brussels on 4 February.

17 Dec: The Government has announced reforms to the electricity supply which will aim to put the UK at the forefront of global electricity investment, drive the growth of clean energy industries and ensure consumers get the best possible deal on their supply.

The European Commission has published the 2009 Environment Policy Review

Following EU proposals in 2008 the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive was adopted and published in May

European heads of government have been criticised for failing to grasp the benefits of energy efficiency

Three of the largest EU countries are supporting the European Commission’s proposal for a 30% reduction of the bloc’s carbon emissions by 2020