Buildings worldwide account for 40 per cent of global energy consumption. The residential subsector accounts for a significant proportion of this percentage. Due to a lack of insulation and non-adapted or insufficient heating and cooling systems, a great quantity of energy is wasted.
At its annual meeting the Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) calls upon EU and US governments to:
- Enact standards: For example government should set energy performance targets for existing buildings and they should set ambitious minimum energy performance requirements for new ones.
- Improve labelling: For example governments should ensure the provision of clear and reliable information about the energy efficiency of products.
- Ensure sufficient funding: For example governments should provide incentives that align the interests of tenants and landlords in order to ensure that energy efficiency measures are adopted by rental properties.
The Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue is a forum of US and EU consumer organisations which develops and agrees on joint consumer policy recommendations to the US government and the European Union to promote the consumer interest in EU and US policy making. Once a year representatives of the organizations come together at a meeting to present their concerns and recommendations.
For further information, see: www.tacd.org/index2.php
Source: TACD