ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(77)186
Vol.1977/0074

Disclaimer
Conformément aurèglement(CEE,Euratom)n°354/83duConseildu1erfévrier1983
concernantl'ouvertureaupublicdesarchiveshistoriquesdelaCommunauté économique
européenneetdelaCommunautéeuropéennedel'énergieatomique(JOL43du15.2.1983,
p.1),telquemodifiéparlerèglement(CE,Euratom)n°1700/2003du22septembre2003
(JOL243du27.9.2003,p.1),cedossierestouvertaupublic.Lecaséchéant,lesdocuments
classifiésprésentsdanscedossierontétédéclassifiésconformément àl'article5dudit
règlement.
InaccordancewithCouncilRegulation(EEC,Euratom)No354/83of1February1983
concerningtheopeningtothepublicofthehistoricalarchivesoftheEuropeanEconomic
CommunityandtheEuropeanAtomicEnergyCommunity(OJL43,15.2.1983,p.1),as
amendedbyRegulation(EC,Euratom)No1700/2003of22September2003(OJL243,
27.9.2003,p.1),thisfileisopentothepublic.Wherenecessary,classifieddocumentsinthis
filehavebeendeclassified inconformitywithArticle5oftheaforementioned regulation.
InÜbereinstimmung mitderVerordnung(EWG,Euratom)Nr.354/83desRatesvom1.
Februar1983überdieFreigabederhistorischen ArchivederEuropäischen
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft undderEuropäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI.L43vom15.2.1983,
S.1),geändertdurchdieVerordnung(EG,Euratom)Nr.1700/2003vom22.September2003
(ABI.L243vom27.9.2003,S.1),istdieseDateiderÖffentlichkeitzugänglich.Soweit
erforderlich,wurdendieVerschlusssachen indieserDateiinÜbereinstimmung mitArtikel5
dergenanntenVerordnungfreigegeben.

COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(77)186final .
Brussels,27May1977«
COMMUNICATION PROMTHECOMMISSION TOTHECOUNCIL
regardingenergysavingsfromthemodernization ofexisting
buildingsintheCommunity
CGM(77)186final.

Communication fromtheCommissiontotheCouncil
regardingenergysavingsfromthemodernization of
existingbuildingsintheCommunity
1.INTRODUCTION
Theneedtosaveenergyisnowrecognizedasapriorityobjectiveof
energypolicybothintheCommunityandbyothermajorconsumercountries.
DespitetheRationalUtilization ofEnergyprogrammeandthemeasures
adoptedintheCommunityasearlyas1974notenoughhasyetbeendone;
9addedtothisistheshortfallofproductioninrelationtotargetscaused
bytheslowdowninnuclear,oilandnaturalgasprogrammes.
Anystrengthening ofmeasurestosaveenergycanonlyhelpachievethe
basicobjectiveofreducingdependence onimportedenergy.
Furthermore ,apossiblesecondaryeffectofsuchactionwouldbeto
stimulateeconomicgrowththroughtheboostingofcertainformsofinvest­
ment,inparticularbycreatingasignificant numberofjobsintheCommunity,
whichwoulddosomethingtomopupthepresentunemployment inMemberStates.
2.CONTENTANDIMPLICATIONS
Thepriorityobjectiveofthemeasuresunderconsideration istoreduce
energyconsumptionforspaceheating,puttingthechiefeffortintothe
modernization ofexistingbuildings,witharemainingusefullifeestimated
tobenotlessthan20years,onthefollowingprinciples :
-insulationofwallsandroofs;
-doubleglazing}
-improvementofinefficientheatingsystems}and
-fitting'thermostats andmeters.
"Existingbuildings"meansdwellings,officesandcommercialpremisesand
publicbuildings,butnotindustrialbuildings.

-2-
Thesemeasuresshouldresultina5%reductionintotalfinalconsumption
ofenergy,thuscontributingone-thirdofthe"15$less"targetadoptedby
theCouncilofMinistersfor1985.
Theestimatedinvestmentneededtoimplementsuchmeasuresforthewhole
oftheCommunitymaybeputatabout120to130.000millione.u.a.for
theplannedperiod.Itisestimatedthatthisinvestmentcorrespondsto
some300to350.000jobsayear,andthattheresultingdirectorindirect
creationofjobsamountstosome700.000jobsayear(seeannexI).
Theeffectsofsuchmeasuresonthebalanceofpayments,thoughinsignificant
inthefirstyear,wouldbecomemoremarkedthereafter ,withsavingsof
6000to7000millionu.a.in1985(basedonthepresentpriceof$12a
barrel)andlastingthelifeofthebuildingsconcerned.
Inadditiontotheeffectsalreadymentioned,theyshouldcontributeto
environmental improvement .
3.MEANS
Theeffectiveimplementation ofthesemeasuresrequirestheMemberStates
toacttosetstandardsandprovidefinancialincentives.Andsuch
incentiveswillbeneededsincethereturnoncertainmodernization schemes
maybeinsufficientintheeyesofprivateinvestors.
MemberStateshavealreadyintroducedmeasuresconcerningthethermal
insulationandheatingofbuildings.Theseshouldwhereverpossiblebe
strengthened inallMemberStatesandbeputintoeffectmorequickly.

-3-
ItisforMemberStatesthemselvestodecideontheformofincentives
(grants,creditfacilities,taxdeductions,etc.).However,suchaids
shouldbemadesubjecttotheprovisionsoftheTreatyparticularly on
competition andfreemovement.
Proceduresforperiodicalreviewsandforcomparisons ofresultswith
objectivesshouldalsobelaiddown.
4.PROPOSAL
Inviewoftheforegoing,itisproposedthattheCounciladoptaDirective
onenergysavingsfromthemodernization ofexistingbuildingsasfollows:
-notlessthan20$ofpublicbuildingsby31December1982}
-notlessthan30$ofdwellingsby31December1985}
-notlessthan20$ofcommercialandofficepremises,notincluding
industrialbuildings,by31December1985.

■·.Energy --.c-cnsvsption within -theESCper*unit,ofgrosscor.ecticproduct
:*r.t4- -*iscRtictedtohavet^clircdbyobouth"X/2%in197*»,27.'in19?5>
i»r.dr.yhwcrc'.'.orxCur.'.j.i;c.T;>ccorc'.ir.gtotheprcvipior.tl csti.r..vtc
forlSV'C...Ar.uv.b-roffactorscombinedtobringaboutthe*dccreai.eir
19?''aid1972includirgtheworldrecession,chcngesinclir.oticcon­
ditionsandenergyccrcerv;t:or.r.easurec.Soreliablemeasureofthe
efreclofenergy-snvi :gre-rurcnperecisavailable#
'.,ereturnon•investmenti»enrrgy-c-iv:isafunctionofthecor.-*:'
ftridlife-cxpectancy ofthehouse,thecnoun'toftheinvestment ,the
tj-propriatoratyofir.tore:t,t).eextenttovhichenergyiscavedsr.C
·»· ,Λ
t).r»CCr;toffuel.
'i.icc■;i{;iii'.r:»L'!cdiversityofthebuildingstructures inexistence ,
hovevcv,findthevarietyoftV.-irrenairir.g 3ifc-rp-ri5,ctc.recr.sth-
theeffectiveness ofenergy--*nv;rgmeasuresisliabletovaryr»ig:;ifi
CM.tlyfi^or.onebuildingt^anotherandthatsov.econservation r.ca-.vr
willnotbeoperational ata31incertaincategoriesofbuildings.
χ.
Studie-;onthecosteffectiveness ofvariousenergy-savingr.eacures
haveU'sncarriedoutforindividual countries andundercertainccr-
t?itic»ijthe'payoffperiodforinves-trcentinroofii.rulrtie:;cov'ii*.e
littleos2toJyearswhilethatfordoubleglazingcouldbe8to1C
ycr-rc*»i;dlonger. . .
71.eeffectivenessofenergy-caving treasurescanvaryconsiderably de;*
di::pc:.thetypeofbuild:'nginvolvedbutcorestudiesvould£r.dic:;.e
thatf«ranfeverrgeseni-detached dwellinghour*anrroxir ..-.'.e1vC-0rcr
centofthehe.tlotsisthroughtheexternalvf«llr,therocfendthe
floor.Therer*;ir^erofthe'hertlessirv,veryrev.~hly
dividedbetweentheventilation andthewindowglazing.

O)inthecaseofeon»erentedhousingitiocustor.aryforthelandlord
/4Λ*··.«>/,<'/·*.·«·*.·.«· |,«·Λι·'·.«· *»·.,♦··'«»··Λ··<«|··,··/»»'·· «·*·■··«·.·..Vν4^Λ2I··«ν··ι<«Γ^·ι «/I·ινι*ν*··^ν··»^·>·««*·«»*·.··»,!«··.*ι·*^
■arethencalculated onthebasicoftheoverallconcurpt-onir*tr.c
«
bvi'itfinf.'ir,dnotc'nthehocicofir.~iv:dv.r.l^pr.ru~ptior..Should
' \
theowjitsru.'.ccrlul;-"f.nyaudiLmr.ali.-iVt-lar.t-V)lhrcr.y.octtothe
heatingt-iiuij:..ent,hemayr.otbeinapositiontorecoverhLout­
layfronthetenants.
Ontheotherhand,thetennnthasnointerestinundertaking '".he
investmentso1oj:£asheatingchargesarenotcalculated ontho
basicofhispersonalconsumption andur.leaaheisc-r-c-ofavery
lengthyfixityoftenureonhisrentcontract.
(A)Thecalculationoftheerrountofinveslr-vnt'invo3vc-dop.aCcrjty-
videta.'iioiner.crcy-conservation nicasuresisbasedonthefoMv«-:i
rou^hc.-.t(Sr.alecandhypothctcc:
(i)TIje\<;l.\lt'a.r!;ofdv.clllr.jhousesinthe-Communityisc.u'
·«etover90million.Itisaccusedthatasa.resultofthepro­
grammesor.e30;^ofthesewillbemodernized.
(ii)Averageinvestmentoutlayperfullymodernizeddwellingisesti-
ratedat2,000Et'A.
(iii)Thenumberofprivatear„dpublicofficebuildings,hotels,schools,
hospitalsetc.tobemodernizedhasbeenveryroughlyestimatedat
around3.6millionwhichrepresents20percentofthestock.
(iv)Averageinvestmentoutlayperofficeandothertertiarysectorbuil­
dingi6estimatedat2G,CC0EUA.
1ν
Thetotalestimatedoutlayisthereforeasfollows:

*1 i-;'.vH riAit*iJ~c-»u i/n
27million dwellings
with average outlay of
2,000 LUA •'
'.6 million office &r.d other
buildir.gs with average outlay
of2C.CG0 SUA perbuilding
Thisistobespent over the7year period of .'.the programme ,c.t
constant prices .
' 4" •
(5)Itislikely that theemployment content oftheextra activity generated
bythepropoced programme would vary significantly betv /een thevarious
types ofmoderr.izn lion undertaker !.For example ,cone ofthework night
beundertaken bytheowners themselves ,some byunskilled workmen and
Go .-r.ebyskilled workmen .Theeffects onemployment inthe industries
supplying thematerials would also vary .
I:;view ofthedifficulty involved inobtr.ir.ing precise inform.-itior .or
©Community baric only' arough approximation hasbeen possible based on
information received from industrial federations .The cost ofeor.pletc.iy
modernisation !.anaverage house isestimated tobearound 2,000 SUA ar.J
toinvolve 8 «sandays ofwork .Theestimated coot figure islikely tobe
exceeded insome countries orregions andmayweli besomewhat above
this in .others .Given that ittakes 2502UA onaverage toemploy one
worker per dny and taking anaverage work year asequal tc220 days ,the
tothljob"creation "over theseven year programme foranexpenditure of
126milliard SUAis2.3million sanyears .-Onaverage ,this would cecn
about 320»0C0 jobs perannum#
9 1 ψ
Onthebasis ofthe e.rpir'ical :study carried ou<.inSweden andreported
intheOSCD paper (1),afigure for
total -direct andindirect employment -generated bytheprogramme ofsome
îobs '
7CC,_CC0 /perannum appears justified asalikely order ofmagnitude .h'owev
inview ofthe •numerous qua ]ifipations which have hr.d tobemade in ,
. ./,
(1)Tr:ploynent Effects ?fEnv irender ,taLpcliciss :Review oftheSwedish
Experience with Subsidisation ofEmission Control Investment ",
OECD ,Paris ,22March 1976 .pp.17-18 .72
126 milliard SUA

calculating this result itshould betreated more asgeneral indication
ofmagnitude than asaprecise estimate .
rt

Proposal fora
Counoil directive onenergy savings from themodernization
ofexisting "buildings intheCommunity
THECOUNCIL OPTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Community ,andin
particular Article 103thereof ,
Having regard totheproposal from theCommission ,
Having reyarJ tot!ieopinion oftrieEuropean Parliament ,
*
Having regard totheopinion oftheEconomic andSocial Committee ,
Whereas thecontinuation ofahigh degree ofdependence onenergy imported
from third countries ,inparticular because Community production hasfallen
short offorecasts inthenuclear ,oilandnatural gassectors ,maycause
supply difficulties for theCommunity ;
Whereas theCouncil ,initsResolution of17December 1974 concerning the 1985
objectives fortheCommunity energy policy ,approved theobjective ofreducing
therate ofgrowth inenergy consumption fortheCommunity asawhole insuch
awayastoachieve in1985 alevel ofconsumption 15$below theforecasts made
inJanuary 1973 ?
Whereas ,despite theCommunity action programme fortherational utilisation
ofenergy ,towhich theCouncil gave agreement initsResolution of .
17Deoember 1974 *what hasbeen done until nowdoes notappear such that the
objeotive setfor 1985canbeattained ;
Whereas themodernization ofexisting buildings intheCommunity ,inparticular
bymeans ofbetter insulation ofwalls androofs ,double glazing ,the
improvement ofheating systems andtheuseofthermostats andmeters ,could
contribute one-third oftheobjective ofa15$reduction intotal final energy
consumption in1985 ;
Whereas theexecution ofsuch measures could also create directly orindirectly
asignificant number ofnewjobs ,mopping upsome ofthepresent unemployment in
theCommunity ,could have afavourable effect onbalances ofpayments andhelp to
conserve theenvironment ;

Whereas Member States must adopt programmes tothis end .:
Whereas theCommission must "beinformed ofthese programmes andofprogress
incarrying them outandreport onthem totheCouncil andtheEuropean
Parliament ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE :
Article 1
inview of
Member States shall adopt measures /themodernization ofexisting buildings
which ,onthedate upon which this Directive takes effect ,have anestimated
remaining life ofnotless than 20years . They shall include inparticular
better insulation ofwalls androofs ,double glazing ,theimprovement of
heating systems andtheuseofthermostats andmeters .
These measures shall affect :
–notless than 20$ofexisting public buildings notlater than 31December 1982 ;
–notless than 30$ofexisting homes notlater than 31December 19855
–notless than 20$ofcommercial andoffice premises ,notincluding industrial
buildings ,notlater than 31December 1985 *
Article 2
Member States shall draw upprogrammes inaccordance with Article 1and shall
notify them totheCommission notlater than 1July 1978 .
This notification shall specify allmeasures which Member States propose to
take ,inparticular technical standards andtime-limits andother
detailed rules ,fortheir implementation ,andtheir geographical variations
ifany ,andfinancial incentives .These measures shall notbeincompatible
with theprovisions oftheTreaty ,inparticular those relating tofree
movement and competition .
Article 3
TheCommission ,after consulting Member States ,shall report tothe
Council within sixmonths ofthe Notification oftheir programmes and
shall express anopinion onthecontribution ofthese programmes tothe
attainment oftheobjective ofa15$reduction intotal final consumption
ofenergy in1985 *

TheMember States shall periodically inform theCommission of
progress with theimplementation oftheir programmes *TheCommission
shall report totheCouncil and totheEuropean Parliament and shall
deliver anyopinions orrecommendations onthis subject after consulting
theEnergy Committee .
Article 4
Member States shall bring thelaws ,regulations andadministrative
provisions necessary fortheimplementation ofthis Directive into
force not later than 1July 1979 *
Article 5
This Directive isaddressed toMember States .
Done atBrussels .
For the Council
The President