Monday 29 January 2007

SEI event - European Perspective on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)

The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) contains a range of provisions aimed at improving energy performance in residential and non-residential buildings - both new-build and existing.

The EPBD obliges specific forms of information and advice on energy to be provided to building purchasers, tenants and users. The intention is that this information and advice will help consumers make informed decisions leading to practical actions to improve energy performance.

The European Commission encourages and supports dialogue between Members States through the Concerted Action (CA) programme. Concerted Action - funded by the Intelligent Energy-Europe Programme of DG TREN - works in certification of buildings, inspection of boilers and air-conditioning systems, procedural aspects for energy performance characterisation and specification and training requirements for experts and inspectors.

Participants of the Concerted Action Programme are representatives of national governmental ministries or governmental affiliated institutions from 25 countries that are in charge of preparing the technical, legal and administrative framework for transposing and implementing the EPBD in their own country.

On 24th January 2007, contributors to the Concerted Action met in Dublin. To coincide with this meeting, SEI organised an EPBD information event in Dublin. The target audience was made up of Irish building professionals - particularly those involved in non-residential and public sector buildings. A number of speakers from EU member states shared their experience of the introduction of the EPBD.

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