“Boosting the solutions that EU industry can deliver for energy saving and climate change is the right thing to do in order to couple these goals with the EU growth and jobs agenda. Yet, more should be done and we will be part of the debate to demonstrate the energy efficiency potential we can deliver”, said Gerd Götz, Director General of the EAA.

Buildings currently account for 40% of Europe’s energy consumption in the EU and have a large potential for energy savings. Aluminium is the champion material to make existing buildings more energy efficient. Extensive work undertaken by EAA shows that the CO2 payback of investments in aluminium technologies can be as short as one year.

“With Europe’s quest for more resource-efficiency and energy independence, we should not only focus on the long-term, but take immediate action. Energy savings are being missed due to lack of focus on practical measures. The renovation of buildings is a perfect example. The rate of renovation staggers at 1.4% per year. We need stronger policies and financial instruments to get this number above 2%. This is indispensable if Europe wants to achieve its energy savings objectives by 2050” stressed Götz.

EAA has developed three renovation case studies in Greece, Germany and The Netherlands and performed simplified life-cycle-assessments that illustrate the way in which aluminium contributes to the enhancement of the energy performance of existing buildings. For more information: http://www.alueurope.eu/publications-building/