RICS Recommendations on Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment
3rd May 2007
On 19 October 2006, the European Commission adopted its Action Plan on Energy Efficiency, titled 'Realising the Potential'. As a response, RICS has created a list of recommendations.
The Action Plan's aim is to reduce the EU's energy consumption by 20% by 2020, which, according to the Commission could save €100bn per year.
The Action Plan comes at a time where Europe is still facing a growing energy consumption, which has been deemed undesirable in terms of security of supply, emissions and competitiveness.
According to the Action Plan, buildings use 40% of the energy consumed in the European Union, with a huge energy saving potential. Residential households have a 27% energy saving potential by 2020, commercial buildings no less than 30%.
According to RICS, the built environment has rightly been identified as having a large energy saving potential and has therefore published a list of recommendations on how to achieve efficient use of energy in the built environment.
These recommendations include:
- Install loft/wall insulation
- Use energy efficient lighting
- Install detailed meters in every home
- Introduce energy labelling on all electronic goods
- Phase out standby buttons
- Avoid urban sprawl
- Install energy efficient condensing boilers
- Better tax incentives
