Policy around CONCERTO

The CONCERTO initiative constitutes an important effort of putting EU energy and climate change policy into practice. The initiative also has the potential to stimulate policy developments at local level. It is part of the work of Concerto Premium to analyse and support both of these aspects.
Findings from CONCERTO Plus regarding Phases 1 and 2 are available already –  you can download the report here.

In January 2007, the Commission proposed the comprehensive energy and climate policy “An Energy Policy For Europe” (for the full text click here) containing three targets: 20 % share of renewable energy sources by 2020, 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and 20% energy saving compared to projections by 2020. This policy was endorsed by the European Council in spring 2007. Since then, a longer term of reducing emissions by 80-95% by 2050 has been agreed by the Council of the European Union (read more here).

The building sector is crucial for meeting these ambitious energy and climate objectives. Residential and commercial buildings are the largest user of energy and the largest CO2 emitter in the EU: it is responsible for about 40% of the EU’s total final energy consumption and 33% of CO2 emissions. The sector has significant untapped potential for cost-effective energy savings which, if realized, would mean that in 2020 the EU will consume 11% less final energy. Exploiting this potential provides a number of benefits, such as reduced impacts on climate, reduced energy needs and import dependency, reduced energy bills for citizens, an increase in employment in the EU and an encouragement of local development.

The CONCERTO initiative aims to demonstrate that the energy optimization of an entire neighbourhood or community with an integrated approach is more efficient and financially more attractive than optimising each building individually. This section offers an overview of the EU’s regulatory framework and its implementation into national law by the 23 member states involved, concerning the three policy fields: low carbon construction policy, low carbon refurbishment policy, low carbon energy supply policy.

All information is available in two information categories that differ in the level of detail. The second information level “more detailed” will be available end of 2012.