Energy efficiency in housing
UNECE publishes an action plan
Geneva, 5 August 2011 | Published in Research
The United Nation Commission for Europe (UNECE) has recently published the action plan on energy efficiency in housing. The Action Plan focuses on the existing institutional impediments that keep both households and developers from in-vesting in energy-efficient technologies despite the availability of cost-effective technical solutions.
While setting a clear path for policy reform, the success of the Action Plan will largely depend on the commitment of Governments and other stakeholders, the opportunities for international cooperation and the willingness of national authorities to boldly implement each of its components. It will also require improving the synergies of cross-sectoral work among national authorities responsible for housing policy development and implementation.
Read MoreThe Action Plan for Energy-efficient Housing in the UNECE Region provides a framework for the member States of the region to raise energy efficiency in the housing sector and thus enable them to more effectively address environ-mental and economic challenges and meet social needs.
Improved energy efficiency in housing is defined as achieving reduced energy intensities in residential premises with-out compromising the well-being of the residents and the environment.
The Action Plan lists a range of measures aimed at removing barriers to energy efficiency and progressively moving towards a low-energy and ultimately zero-energy and carbon-neutral housing sector and is based on the following guiding principles:
- comprehensive-ness;
- flexibility;
- a people-centered approach; and
- sensitivity to geographical context.