30.11.  77 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 287/9 
is vital  to provide  the  resources  to enable  full 
evaluation  of the  degree  of success  of the  supported 
projects. 
2.4. The  Committee  notes  that  the  Commission  is 
proposing  Community  finance  for  projects  'which 
have  as their  basis  the exploitation  of energy  sources 
using  new  techniques  or technologies  capable  of 
providing  a reference  and  encouragement  for  other 
installations  of the  same  type'.  It recognizes  that 
given  careful  and  forceful  management,  such  a 
scheme  would  facilitate  the  transition  of  new 
technologies  from  the  R&D  stage  to that  of 
commercial  application. 2.5. Community  aid  for  projects  should 
complement  national  support  and  not  replace  it. 
2.6. The  Committee  wonders  why  no  limit  has 
been  set on the  percentage  of Community  assistance 
for projects  on the  conversion  of solid  fuels  into 
hydrocarbons. 
2.7. The  Committee  considers  that  the  Advisory 
Committees  on  the  Management  of  Reference 
Projects  should  contain,  besides  representatives  of the 
member  governments,  representatives  of  the 
economic  interest  groups  concerned. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 September  1977. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
Opinion  on the  communication  from  the  Commission  to the  Council  concerning  the 
Community  action  programme  for  rational  use  of energy  (RUE)  — second  series  of 
legislative  proposals 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 138  of 11 June  1977,  page  2. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 8 June  1977,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  communication  to the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  of the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the  above  matter  at its 
151st  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 28 and  29 September  1977. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  198  thereof, Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities  on 8 June 
1977, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
21 June  1977,  instructing  the Section  for  Energy  and 
No C 287/10 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 30. 11.77 
Nuclear  Questions  to draw  up  an opinion  and  a 
report  on this  subject, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Energy  and  Nuclear  Questions  at its  34th 
meeting,  held  on 9 September  1977, 
Having  regard  to  the  report  submitted  by  the 
rapporteur,  Mr Hipp, 
Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 151st  plenary 
session,  held  on 28 and  29 September  1977  (meeting 
of 29 September), 
Whereas  by bringing  about  improvements  in energy 
consumption  patterns  (elimination  of waste)  and  in 
the balance  of payments,  as well  as by playing  a 
useful  role  in the  creation  of jobs,  the Commission's 
recommendations  on  the  rational  utilization  of 
energy  can  help  to reflate  the economy; 
Whereas  the proposed  measures  must  form  part  of a 
comprehensive,  consistent  energy  policy; 
Whereas  these  measures  must  be  backed  up  by 
research  and  development  leading  to  proper 
exploitation  of  all  available  Community  energy 
resources, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by a unanimous  vote: 
1. General  comments 
1.1. The  Committee  generally  welcomes  the 
Commission's  initiatives. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. Proposal  for  a Council  Directive  on  the 
performance,  maintenance  and  regulation  of 
heat generators  and  the  insulation  of  the 
distribution  system  in new  buildings 
2.1.1.  The  Committee  hopes  that  the  following 
areas  will  be the  subject  of specific  proposals  in the 
third  and  fourth  series  of RUE  measures  promised  by 
the Commission: 
— construction  standards  to  reduce  heat  losses 
(walls,  roof,  windows,  etc.), 
— standards  for regulated  ventilation  systems, 
— recommendations  on building  design  in relation 
to outdoor  climate  in different  regions  (location, 
shape  and  landscaping). 2.1.2.  The  Commission  should  study  the 
applicability  of the  proposed  measures  to hospitals, 
where  there  would  seem  to be scope  for  significant 
energy  savings  without  in any  way  jeopardizing 
health  standards. 
2.1.3.  The  Committee  believes  that  the 
performance  characteristics  of  heat-generating 
equipment  used  in  the  Community  should  be 
harmonized.  It would  like  to have  seen  a stronger 
statement  of intent  by the Commission  to pursue  this 
goal in Article  2 of the draft  Directive. 
2.1.4.  The  Committee  would  have  preferred  the 
Community  to give  more  specific  guidelines  to the 
Member  States  on  the  type  of  maintenance 
programme  they  should  adopt  for heat  generators. 
2.1.5.  Article  5 stipulates  that  an  'economical 
degree  of insulation  for distribution  systems'  is to be 
made  compulsory.  The  Committee  believes  that  the 
term  'economical'  requires  more  precise  definition.  It 
accepts  that  Member  States  should  be given  flexibility 
to lay  down  insulation  standards  which  best  match 
local  conditions.  However,  the  Commission  should 
pursue  its efforts  so as ultimately  to arrive  at uniform 
minimum  standards  for  the  insulation  of heating 
systems  throughout  the Community. 
2.1.6.  Finally,  the  Committee  agrees  with  the 
deadline  of 1 January  1979  for the Member  States  to 
comply  with  the Directive. 
2.2. Draft  Council  recommendation  on  the regulating 
of space  heating,  the  production  of  domestic  hot 
water  and  the metering  of heat  in new  buildings 
2.2.1.  The  Committee  accepts  the  Commission's 
view  that  inclusion  of  specific  guidelines  for 
temperature  levels  in  residential  accomodation 
might  impede  adoption  of  the  Commission's 
proposals.  It would  be necessary  to ensure  greater 
flexibility  to meet  individual  health  requirements  as 
well as local  climatic  conditions,  but  the Commission 
should  not  rule  out  hope  of establishing  Community 
guidelines  in this  area  at a later  stage. 
2.2.2.  The  Committee  suggests  that  the  types  of 
temperature  programming  and  regulating  devices 
installed  should  be  subject  to  approval  by 
appropriate  authorized  bodies  to ensure  that  they 
meet  satisfactory  performance  standards.  Alternative-
ly, the  bodies  responsible  for  rational  energy  use 
might  provide  builders  and  prospective  new  house 
purchasers  with  comparative  data  on  the 
30. 11.77 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 287/11 
performance  of the  heat  regulating  systems  available 
on the market. 
2.3. Draft  Council  recommendation  on  the  rational 
utilization  of energy  in industrial  undertakings 
2.3.1.  The  Committee  is  in  favour  of  the 
establishment  of bodies  in each  Member  State  lo 
promote  energy  conservation,  especially  if these 
bodies  enjoy  the  support  of  the  Community 
authorities. 
2.3.2.  However,  the recommendation  regarding  the 
establishment  of machinery  in firms  for  compiling 
and implementing  an  energy  conservation 
programme  — in particular  the  appointment  of an 
energy  manager  in firms  with  more  than  100 
employees  — and  those  firms'  obligation  to report  on 
energy  consumption  and  the  results  of energy  saving 
operations  is neither  suitable  nor  necessary  for 
attaining  further  significant  cuts  in  energy 
consumption.  It would  be sufficient,  the Committee 
thinks,  if such  firms  were  left  to decide  for themselves 
Done  at Brussels,  29 September  1977. whether  to designate  energy  managers  to keep  un 
touch  with  the competent  national  bodies. 
2.3.3.  The  Committee  believes  that  it is important 
to guard  against  a proliferation  of agencies  in the 
Member  States  dealing  with  rational  energy  use. 
2.4. Draft  Council  recommendation  on  the  creation 
in the  Member  States  of advisory  bodies  on 
combined  heat  and  power  production  in  the 
industrial  sector  and  for district  heating 
2.4.1.  The  work  involved  in  promoting  the 
combined  production  of heat  and  power  for industry 
and for  district  heating  might  well  be carried  out 
under  the supervision  of the  agencies  in the Member 
States  which  should  have  overall  responsibility  for 
rational  energy  use. 
2.4.2.  The  Committee  believes  that  the 
Community  can  play  a useful  coordinating  and 
catalytic  role  in this  area  which  promises  significant 
savings,  but where  much  work  has  yet to be done. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  on the  approximation  of Member 
States'  laws,  regulations  and  administrative  provisions  on the  protection  of the  health 
of workers  occupationally  exposed  to vinyl  chloride  monomer 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 291  of 6 December  1976,  page  5. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 1 December  1976,  the  Council  referred  the  abovementioned  proposal  to the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  100  of the  Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the  above  matter  at its 
151st  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 28 and  29 September  1977. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: