Energy saving policy is going in the wrong direction in the EU

Prague - The energy-saving policy in the European Union is heading in the wrong direction, said former Prime Minister and Chair of the Executive Board of the Heat Association Mirek Topolánek at today's conference on Energy-Efficient Buildings 2012. He believes that regulation, politics, and subsidies are currently prevailing over market dynamics.
There is also a lack of a suitable energy-saving strategy in the Czech Republic, Topolánek stated. He believes it is wrong to support only energy savings in buildings. Savings achieved during distribution and production are said to be equally important. He mentioned, for example, using heat generated during electricity production for heating buildings. The advantages of savings should not be determined by subsidies, but by price, he said.
     The situation regarding energy savings in the Czech Republic was also criticized by Petr Vogel, chairman of the board of the Czech Council for Energy-Efficient Buildings. "There is chaos in the Czech Republic," he said. According to him, there is a lack of measurable goals in energy savings in the Czech Republic, and it is unclear which parameters need to be monitored.
     At the state level, competencies regarding energy savings are, according to Vogel, fragmented among several ministries, which allegedly do not cooperate with each other. In contrast to Topolánek, he believes that a supportive program from the state could significantly help energy savings in existing buildings.
     Reducing energy intensity in existing buildings is also considered key by Leoš Vrzalík, director of business development at the domestic construction group Skanska. According to him, the trend is moving towards the construction of zero-energy consumption buildings. "I don't know if it will be in 2030 or 2050, but the direction is clear," he noted.
     Based on a decision by the European Commission in 2010, EU member states must ensure by December 31, 2018, that all new buildings used and owned by public authorities have nearly zero energy consumption. From the end of 2020, all new buildings will have to comply with this standard.