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PROJECT: IDEAL EPBD

IDEAL EPBD – A European Project On Consumer Response To Energy Labels In Buildings

ideal_epbd_project_headerThe European Union has committed itself to increase energy efficiency by 20% up to the year 2020. A main instrument for reaching this target in the residential sector is the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), originally introduced in 2002 and recast by Directive 2010/31/EU. The directive proposes the introduction of energy performance labels for dwellings in all European Member States. Such a label should be handed over when a dwelling is built, reconstructed, sold or rented out. The label shows the current energy performance status of the dwelling and in most Member States comes with tailor-made advice for dwelling improvement measures that would reduce energy use.

In countries where the directive has been implemented for a while, the energy label seems to have little motivational impact on people to improve the energy performance of their home. IDEAL-EPBD is a project co-funded by the European Union under the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme. It aims to investigate why the response of households towards the energy label has been limited, in particular trying to determine:

  • The reasons behind whether or not homeowners take the energy label into account,
  • The reasons behind whether or not homeowners take up the additional proposed measures.

To address these issues home owners views were investigated using a combination of in-depth interviews (in countries where the directive has been implemented for a relatively short time), and electronic questionnaires (in countries where the directive has been implemented for a comparatively long time).

The results of the investigations are being used to develop policy recommendations and action plans for improving the effectiveness of the energy certificates and other activity in the field of energy savings in the residential sector. Part of the development process includes a consultation exercise with stakeholders to discuss and fine tune the proposed recommendations.

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