45 Amendments of Patrizia TOIA related to 2015/2232(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2010/31/EU),
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regard to the Paris Agreement made in December 2015 at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas increased energy efficiency, as the first fuel, and energy saving are key factors for environmental and climate protection and supply securi, industrial competitiveness, job creation, security of energy supply, and tackling energy poverty; whereas the Energy Efficiency Directive provides an important basis in this connection;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU is making goodshould speed up its progress towards its environmental targets for 2020 (reducing CO2 emissions, increasing the share of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency) and is playing ashould maintain its leading role at world level;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU is making good progress towards its environmental targets for 20202020 energy and climate change targets (reducing CO2 emissions, increasing the share of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency) and is playing a leading role at world level;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU is making good progress towards its environmental targets for 2020 (reducing CO2 emissions, increasing the share of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency) and is playing a leading role at world level; noting however that if Member States do not step up implementation, the energy efficiency target of 20% by 2020 will not be achieved, as primary energy savings will only amount to 17.6%, therefore missing all related benefits of energy savings;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that any assessment of the implementation of the EED can at this stage offer only a partial view given its relatively recent entry into force and deadline for transposition;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the directive’s flexibility has allowed many Member States to embark on energy efficiency measures, while at the same time making implementation, monitoring and reporting more difficult – therefore calls for binding templates for monitoring and reporting requirements to be issued by the European Commission and used by Member States;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Highlights that the provision in Article 7 whereby Member States may require a share of energy efficiency measures to be implemented as a priority in households affected by energy poverty or in social housing has so far been used by only two Member States; calls for this provision to be strengthened and for a significant percentage of energy savings under energy efficiency obligation schemes to be targeted at low-income consumers; suggests a parallel provision for energy efficiency national funds and any alternative measures;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Suggests that national energy efficiency action plans, as required in article 24 of the current directive, could ask Member States to set objectives to make use of energy efficiency measures to reduce the risk of energy poverty and report on how they are meeting these objectives;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Believes that the measures for energy- efficient renovation of existing buildings need to be prioritised among the most energy-poor; calls on the Commission to propose a target to improve the efficiency of residential building stock, alongside future minimum efficiency standards for rented housing in the context of the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that some key elements of the Energy Efficiency Directive (smart meters, cogeneration, renovation plans) need more time in order to give administrations and undertakings an opportunity to launch projects and innovationsthe necessary confidence and regulatory stability an opportunity to launch projects and innovations as a recent call from the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) showed;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that some key elements of the Energy Efficiency Directive (smart meters, cogeneration, renovation plans) need more timea stable framework beyond 2020 in order to givenable administrations and undertakings an opportunity to launch projects and innovations with a longer-term perspective to 2030 and 2050;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Emphasises the crucial role of consumers, citizens and DSO's in the ever more decentralised energy landscape and the importance of their involvement for reaching the energy efficiency targets; stresses therefore that more action needs to be taken to enhance their role through, amongst others, facilitating demand response, small scale storage, building refurbishments and district heating and cooling schemes, both on an individual as well as on a cooperative base;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out thatStresses the Energy Efficiency Directive became an Energy Saving Directive as a result of political decisions; calls for the focus of the directive to be turned more towards energy efficiency considerationsed for savings made under the EED to be additional, verifiable and deliverable, avoiding double- counting; is concerned at the EPRS study for the European Parliament indicating that out of the notified savings only 14% have been rated as fully eligible and up to 86% of all savings are partially at risk of not being realised;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Reminds that 40% of final energy is used in buildings, of which 50% goes to heating and cooling. More than 60% of imported gas is destined for buildings and buildings account for 36% of CO2 emissions. In order to reach our energy and climate goals, refurbishing our building stock is thus crucial. Moreover, it will boost our economy and help us reach the re-industrialisation goals with the potential of an average 0,8% EU GDP growth and up to- €830 billion in increased turnover per year for the construction sector creating up to 2 million local jobs by 2020;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that buildings account for 40% of energy use in the EU, and that improving the energy efficiency of buildings is therefore of prime importance in reducing CO2 emissions and improving energy security, as well as ending energy poverty and improving health;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Underlines that 85% of the energy consumption within a building is required for space heating and domestic hot water and that it is therefore necessary to accelerate the modernisation of old and inefficient heating systems in Europe in order to deliver at least 20% energy efficiency gains with available technologies, including renewable heating systems;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Criticises the 2 000 or so energy reporting obligations imposed on businesses, consumers and public authorities; regrets that it is ultimately electricity consumers who bear fact that the Energy Efficiency First principle has not yet been fully applied in energy policy, calls for aligning energy demand projections in line withe consequences of an overly complex reporting systemst-effective savings potential in key sectors;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that energy saving rules and rules on increased use of renewable energy sources have a direct and indirect impact on the carbon footprint and the ETS system (certificate prices); notes that low ETS certificate prices reduce the incentives for investment in energy saving; not all risks associated with energy saving investments can be dealt with by the ETS system (certificate prices); notes that low ETS certificate prices reduce the incentives for investment in energy saving; calls therefore to maintain dedicated regulatory measures in order to manage such risks, commonly called "barriers", and deliver energy savings and associated wider societal benefits;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that some national legislation (exit from coal, payment schemes for renewable energy, capacity markets) restricts the scope for European solutions that provide the best possible results in terms of cost and supply-effectiveness and cancels out the price advantages obtained through energy saving; calls for increased possibilities for binding coordination by the Commission which would lead to increased convergence between Member States within the framework of EU legislation such as the EED;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that uncoordinated national legislation (exit from coal, payment schemes for renewable energy, capacity markets)may restricts the scope for European solutions that provide the best possible results in terms of cost and supply and cancels out the price advantages obtained throughreate environmental and price advantages through increased cooperation and energy savings; calls for increased possibilities for bindingregional cooperation and coordination by the Commission;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is concerned that European electricity prices for medium-sized industrial and business customers and private consumers are among the highest in the worldPoints out that investing in energy efficiency can boost the competitiveness of European industrial and businesses and reduce the cost of energy for private consumers;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is concerned that European electricity prices for medium-sized industrial and business customers and private consumers are among the highest in the world; notes that innovation also increases with greater investment in energy efficiency, placing EU industry in a world leading position;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes that energy efficiency can be the best energy 'source' investment improving affordability of energy, driving down the need for additional and costly infrastructure and tackling climate change; stresses that the focus should be on measures targeting long-term savings which are cost-effective;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is concerned at the repercussions of general saving rules on the targets for expanding the use of renewable energy sources; takes the view that improved cross-regional distribution and storage systems provide good opportunities for the further expNotes that energy efficiency measures, especially reducing energy demand in buildings, are the best starting point for an effective transition of optimal locations for wind, hydro and solar power to supply the whole of Europe; expects that this will have a dampening effect on energy pricestowards a decarbonised, resilient and smart energy system, which would deliver benefits to consumers, including increased comfort and well-being;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective measure to meet the EU's CO2 emissions reduction commitments;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Energy legislation needs to be more coherent and more flexibleambitious
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on Commissioner Timmermans as the Member of the Commission responsible for ‘better law-making’ to look more intensthe Commission to adopt a societal perspectively into the extent to which competing or overlapping EU energy rules lead to a lmodelling and assessment of overall costs of legislative efficiency and effectiveness and increased costs for administrations, business, industry and household& benefits of different levels of energy efficiency targets;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission to treat energy efficiency as an infrastructure priority, recognising its nature and making it a crucial factor in future investments decision in Europe's energy infrastructure;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that a barrier-free internal energy market for energy efficiency goods and services will optimise the costs of energy production and distributionfor all energy consumers and significantly improve energy efficiency across Europe;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Proposes that Article 7 and notably EEOS prioritise action in the buildings sector, notably by fostering the implementation of the national long-term strategies included in Article 4, which should be devised to unlock the full potential for investment in the energy renovation of buildings;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Takes the view that more flexilong-term regulatory stability is needed in order to reach the EU’'s climate protection and efficiency targets; calls for ‘target flexibility’ for Member States; takes the view that rebates should be available foran expectation widely shared by the financing community, as a recent call from the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) showed and takes the view that these targets arelating to energy saving and increasing the share of renewable energ mutually reinforcing and should be binding, while some flexibility scources (Article 3 of the Energy Efficiency Directive) where for examplld be granted to Member States on the exact mix of measures and instruments to adopt at national level in order to achieve the CO2se targets have been exceeded;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls in this connection for the Energy Efficiency Directive to be adapt strengthened in line with the EU’s climate protectionuropean Parliament's proposed binding 40% energy efficiency targets for 2030;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls for a continuation and an improvement of the EED framework after 2020, with a 2050 perspective, especially for the building sector, in order to ensure regulatory predictability and enable investor confidence;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Regrets the Court of Auditors' criticism of less-than-effective energy efficiency projects supported by the EU Structural Funds (2007 to 2013); calls for improved guidelines and more intensive Commission monitoring with a view to making better use of the Structural Funds and EFSI for energy efficiency investmentsCalls for improved guidelines and more intensive Commission monitoring with a view to making better use of the Structural Funds and EFSI, together with private financing, for energy efficiency projects, notably in buildings, where there is the biggest cost-effective potential for energy savings; calls in this regard for a swift deployment of the Smart Finance for Smart Buildings Initiative;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for an improved transposition, implementation and enforcement of the EED, welcomes in this regard an increased technical support and more guidance from the European Commission to the Member States, and welcomes further exchange of ideas among Member States on the saving obligations and building and renovation plans (Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7) with the aim of applying existing instruments (tax incentives, support programmes, model contracts) more quickly and more ambitiously; calls for Commission guidelines for future national plans; and binding templates for future national energy efficiency and building renovation plans in order to ensure transparency and comparability, and also to simplify implementation at national level;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for an exchange of ideas and best practices among Member States on the saving obligations and building and renovation plans (Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7) with the aim of applying existing instruments (tax incentives, support programmes, model contracts) more quickly; calls for Commission guidelines for future national plans to ensure transparency and comparability, and integration of energy efficiency policies from all levels of government;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Proposes that Article 4 be referred to as ‘long-term strategies for the renovation of the national building stock, including for mobilising investment’;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Calls for Article 6 requirements to be extended to all public buildings, whether at central or local level, in order to fully tap the cost-effective potential in buildings, which has been proven to be the sector with the highest potential, not only of energy savings, but also for delivering other wider benefits, including increased comfort and well-being;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Welcomes the fact that the Commission is working on guidelines for the implementation of Articles 9 to 11 of the Energy Efficiency Directive in order to help consumers to better control their energy consumption; considers cost transparency – taking account of cost- effectiveness and technical feasibility – to be a prerequisite for energy saving; takes the view that this topic could potentially be included in the Buildings Directive;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Points out that consumers' energy bills are still unclear and inaccurate; recommends improving the transparency and clarity of bills by establishing high level principles for bills at the EU level so that key information is available to consumers in a comparable format in order to adjust consumption patterns; stresses that consumers have a diverse range of preferences and of accessible tools so the approach to information should be shaped by consumer research at the national level;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Calls for extra support to be provided to assist fuel poor customers manage the costs of replacing less energy efficient appliances and investing in home energy efficiency and self-generation schemes;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls for an obligation to perform national cost-benefit assessments of energy efficiency programmes rolled out through - or in combination - with local authorities, and to follow through this approach where this delivers efficiencies and cost savings for consumers;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for a strategic approach by the Commission to increase awareness of new technical developments (in areas such as refrigerants, lighting, insulation, thermostats, metering, glazing and many others), and of how their deployment at building level, in a coordinated manner and following an individual renovation roadmap can help unlock both savings and multiple benefits of energy efficiency on the EU economy and for consumers;