Energy efficiency plan unambitious for buildings (Interview with Frédéric Melchior, European Building Automation and Controls Association)
- 1. 20
Thursday 12 May 2011 N° 4200 EUROPOLITICS
Interview with Frédéric Melchior, European Building Automation and Controls Association
Energy efficiency plan unambitious for buildings
The European Building Automation and
Controls Association (eu.bac) admits difficulties in communicating a rather technical industry. Bringing together companies
providing products, systems and services for
home and building automation, eu.bac is
also behind the European Association of
Energy Service Companies (eu.ESCO).
However, according to eu.bac’s Frédéric
Melchior, director of government relations, building automation and controls
and energy service companies are essential if the EU is to meet its 20% energy
savings target by 2020.
Are you just another industry pressure group for a binding efficiency
target?
We are in favour of a binding energy
efficiency target. Historically, the building automation and controls industry
has been under-represented in Brussels. We enable buildings to become
intelligent, for example, by operating lighting, heating and cooling. By
using such technologies, the energy
consumption of a building becomes
visible and tangible. This allows building owners to reduce consumption. In
order to guarantee that the products
and systems that are put on the market
really deliver what they have promised to
deliver, we have also set up a European
certification scheme. This provides users
with the assurance that products and systems bought are conform with the different
requirements in European legislation and
laid down by various European standards.
Do benefits of automation and control
systems really outweigh costs?
Yes, the benefits of home and building
automation and control systems really do
outweigh the costs. When considering
existing buildings, the most cost-effective
measures with the lowest payback time
are behavioural. They are closely followed
by building automation and control systems. Such systems can optimise the use
of the existing technical equipment in
buildings. In an ideal world, everybody
www.europolitics.info
would behave in a cost and energy-efficient manner. As we are still very far from
that, automation and control systems
are needed. Such systems for buildings
have an average payback time of four to
six years with low investment. Replacing
components, for example, boilers, heat
pumps, cooling machines, circulation
with standard technology as required by
national building codes.
Is the new energy efficiency plan (EEP)
giving the right signals?
We are disappointed by the lack of ambition shown by the EEP in driving more
energy efficient buildings. Buildings represent a golden opportunity to reduce
European energy use, greenhouse gas
emissions and dependence on energy
imports. For instance, introducing key
performance indicators in kWh/m²/
year for all types of buildings would
really drive energy efficient buildings.
However, some encouraging signals
can be found. For example, the EEP
identifies the greatest energy saving
potential in buildings. It also highlights that a stronger emphasis on
energy efficiency in the public is crucial. Energy performance contracting
(EPC) is also seen as an important
tool for the refurbishment of buildings
and underlines the key role of energy
service companies (ESCOs).
pumps or fans is next in line. In general,
investments in technical building equipment have a payback time of less than ten
years.
So what’s holding ESCOs and EPC
up in Europe?
We see a lack of awareness, policies
and support mechanisms as well as a
lack of common definitions and harmonised processes. We hope that these
hurdles will be addressed by the revision of Directive 2006/32/EC on energy
end-use efficiency and energy services.
Are there shorter payback times?
Yes. Circulation pumps, for instance, may
even have a payback time of a couple of
months. To invest in insulation measures,
for example walls, windows or roofs, has
the longest payback time. Such measures
usually have a payback time of ten to 25
years. The European standard for building
automation, controls and building management [15232:2007 - Ed] shows clearly
that simple and affordable measures enable
building owners to easily save double-digit
percentage figures. The calculations indicate that a fully automated non-residential
building consumes on average 53% less
energy than the same building equipped
Do you think Europe is now getting it
right on financing efficiency?
The 2011 EEP also highlighted that
for ESCOs to play their role, they need
access to finance. However, this idea has
not been further developed. Nonetheless,
there are some good initiatives. The obvious one is the ELENA facility even if it
does not provide finance towards final
investment costs, but prepares projects
for financing by others. There is also the
European Energy Efficiency Facility that
was recently launched. The fund and the
associated technical assistance are complementary to the support provided under
the ELENA facility. n
© DR
By Dafydd ab Iago
Melchior: “We see a lack of awareness”
Sold by subscription only © reproduction strictly prohibited in any language
![20
Thursday 12 May 2011 N° 4200 EUROPOLITICS
Interview with Frédéric Melchior, European Building Automation and Controls Association
Energy efficiency plan unambitious for buildings
The European Building Automation and
Controls Association (eu.bac) admits difficulties in communicating a rather technical industry. Bringing together companies
providing products, systems and services for
home and building automation, eu.bac is
also behind the European Association of
Energy Service Companies (eu.ESCO).
However, according to eu.bac’s Frédéric
Melchior, director of government relations, building automation and controls
and energy service companies are essential if the EU is to meet its 20% energy
savings target by 2020.
Are you just another industry pressure group for a binding efficiency
target?
We are in favour of a binding energy
efficiency target. Historically, the building automation and controls industry
has been under-represented in Brussels. We enable buildings to become
intelligent, for example, by operating lighting, heating and cooling. By
using such technologies, the energy
consumption of a building becomes
visible and tangible. This allows building owners to reduce consumption. In
order to guarantee that the products
and systems that are put on the market
really deliver what they have promised to
deliver, we have also set up a European
certification scheme. This provides users
with the assurance that products and systems bought are conform with the different
requirements in European legislation and
laid down by various European standards.
Do benefits of automation and control
systems really outweigh costs?
Yes, the benefits of home and building
automation and control systems really do
outweigh the costs. When considering
existing buildings, the most cost-effective
measures with the lowest payback time
are behavioural. They are closely followed
by building automation and control systems. Such systems can optimise the use
of the existing technical equipment in
buildings. In an ideal world, everybody
www.europolitics.info
would behave in a cost and energy-efficient manner. As we are still very far from
that, automation and control systems
are needed. Such systems for buildings
have an average payback time of four to
six years with low investment. Replacing
components, for example, boilers, heat
pumps, cooling machines, circulation
with standard technology as required by
national building codes.
Is the new energy efficiency plan (EEP)
giving the right signals?
We are disappointed by the lack of ambition shown by the EEP in driving more
energy efficient buildings. Buildings represent a golden opportunity to reduce
European energy use, greenhouse gas
emissions and dependence on energy
imports. For instance, introducing key
performance indicators in kWh/m²/
year for all types of buildings would
really drive energy efficient buildings.
However, some encouraging signals
can be found. For example, the EEP
identifies the greatest energy saving
potential in buildings. It also highlights that a stronger emphasis on
energy efficiency in the public is crucial. Energy performance contracting
(EPC) is also seen as an important
tool for the refurbishment of buildings
and underlines the key role of energy
service companies (ESCOs).
pumps or fans is next in line. In general,
investments in technical building equipment have a payback time of less than ten
years.
So what’s holding ESCOs and EPC
up in Europe?
We see a lack of awareness, policies
and support mechanisms as well as a
lack of common definitions and harmonised processes. We hope that these
hurdles will be addressed by the revision of Directive 2006/32/EC on energy
end-use efficiency and energy services.
Are there shorter payback times?
Yes. Circulation pumps, for instance, may
even have a payback time of a couple of
months. To invest in insulation measures,
for example walls, windows or roofs, has
the longest payback time. Such measures
usually have a payback time of ten to 25
years. The European standard for building
automation, controls and building management [15232:2007 - Ed] shows clearly
that simple and affordable measures enable
building owners to easily save double-digit
percentage figures. The calculations indicate that a fully automated non-residential
building consumes on average 53% less
energy than the same building equipped
Do you think Europe is now getting it
right on financing efficiency?
The 2011 EEP also highlighted that
for ESCOs to play their role, they need
access to finance. However, this idea has
not been further developed. Nonetheless,
there are some good initiatives. The obvious one is the ELENA facility even if it
does not provide finance towards final
investment costs, but prepares projects
for financing by others. There is also the
European Energy Efficiency Facility that
was recently launched. The fund and the
associated technical assistance are complementary to the support provided under
the ELENA facility. n
© DR
By Dafydd ab Iago
Melchior: “We see a lack of awareness”
Sold by subscription only © reproduction strictly prohibited in any language](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/fr-c3-a9d-c3-a9ric-20melchior-20in-20europolitics-20-2812-05-2011-29-140214084628-phpapp02/85/Energy-efficiency-plan-unambitious-for-buildings-Interview-with-Frederic-Melchior-European-Building-Automation-and-Controls-Association-1-320.jpg?cb=1707745089)
