Bid to open up EU funding for green energy in low income homes
Thursday 04 December 2008
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| EU regional policy commissioner Danuta Hübner in Brussels yesterday, explaining to the press how Europe’s cohesion policy for 2007-2013 will contribute to developing renewable energy and improving energy efficiency |
Low income households could get EU funding to help with the costs of installing renewable energy or energy efficiency equipment, under proposals laid out yesterday.
The EU Commission yesterday adopted a proposal to open up the £300 billion of European Cohesion Policy funding for low carbon energy investments in housing.
The measure will be targeted at low income homes, the Commission said, allowing the European Union to co-finance national, regional or local authority schemes including double glazing, insulation and solar panel programmes.
It could also support schemes to replace inefficient gas boilers.
As well as the environmental benefits of the proposal, the Commission is highlighting the job creation and energy security benefits of promoting renewable and efficient energy investment in low income housing.
Before it becomes law, the proposal will have to gain approval from both Europe's Parliament and its Council of ministers.
Danuta Hübner, EU commissioner for regional policy, said yesterday: "This is a win-win measure. It will save energy, cut emissions, bring down fuel bills for the most vulnerable in society and help the construction industry and SMEs in particular.
"We hope that the Council and the European Parliament will adopt this proposal without delay and that Member States will move quickly to set up schemes to harness this investment," added Ms Hübner, a former professor of economics at Warsaw University.
Savings
The Commission said buildings are the source of 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, with energy wasted by inefficient heating, air-conditioning and lighting systems.
The residential sector is responsible for a quarter of energy consumption in Europe.
It says 28% of costs could be saved from EU energy bills by 2020 if suitable efficiency measures are put in place, citing EU studies claiming that the average householder could save between €200 and €1,000 (£171-£855) per year.
At present, the European Regional Development Fund allows EU funding only for schemes in common areas of a building within a deprived area unless it is for social housing.
The Commission's new proposal would allow all 27 EU Member States to use the fund to support renewable energy and efficiency projects in all types of buildings, albeit with a focus on low-income households.
EU energy commissioner Andris Pielbalgs said: "The residential sector is responsible for a quarter of energy consumption in Europe. With this measure we are going to help European citizens to improve the quality of their homes, while making a substantial contribution to our climate change and security of supply policies."
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