WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1218/97 by Annemarie KUHN , Ursula SCHLEICHER to the Commission. Reducing CO2 emissions
Date: 1997-04-07
Institutions: European Parliament, KUHN, SCHLEICHER
Subjects: EU law, Germany, building industry, building insulation, energy technology, greenhouse gas, heating, national law, pollution control measures













EUR-Lex - 91997E1218 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91997E1218

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1218/97 by Annemarie KUHN , Ursula SCHLEICHER to the Commission. Reducing CO2 emissions  


Official Journal C 045 , 10/02/1998 P. 0017 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1218/97 by Annemarie Kuhn (PSE) and Ursula Schleicher (PPE) to the Commission (7 April 1997)Subject: Reducing CO2 emissionsHeating buildings accounts for around 40% of annual CO2 emissions in Germany. This percentage could be reduced significantly by cutting heating requirements. This would require improved insulation for existing buildings and stricter legal standards for new buildings.1. Are there any insulation regulations for new buildings in the EU Member States? If so, in which countries do they apply and what standards do they lay down?2. Are there any regulations on upgrading the insulation of older buildings in the individual EU Member States? If so, in which countries do they apply and with what objective?3. The EU's objective is to stabilize CO2 emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000. Would it not be appropriate, with a view to achieving this objective, for there to be European standards on insulation which take account of the variation in climate?Has the Commission considered such a possibility, and is it prepared to act?Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (11 June 1997)The Commission agrees that steps should be taken to improve thermal insulation. It wishes to stress, however, that the question of thermal insulation for new or existing buildings is a matter for the Member States, as is the question of how to go about fulfilling their commitments to cut CO2 emissions.There are, nevertheless, a number of relevant Community provisions:1. Council Directive 93/76/EEC of 13 September 1993 to limit carbon dioxide emissions by improving energy efficiency ((OJ L 237, 22.9.1993. )) provides that 'Member States shall draw up and implement programmes so that new buildings receive effective thermal insulation, taking a long-term view, on the basis of standards laid down by the Member States, taking account of climatic conditions or climatic areas and the intended use of the building'. All the Member States have now introduced energy efficiency requirements for new buildings. These requirements generally specify the insulation standards to be met but also allow other factors to be taken into consideration, such as the efficiency of the heating installation, internal energy savings or the passive solar contribution. The Commission will soon be producing a report on the application of Directive 93/76/EEC.2. The difficulty facing any legislation to improve the insulation of old buildings is that such an operation is not worth while unless combined with other objectives. Thus most Member States have introduced legislation uncer which certain levels of insulation must be included in any major renovation work.3. Under Directive 93/76/EEC, the thermal insulation requirements laid down by the Member States must take account of variations in climate.The Commission is considering what further measures to propose to reduce CO2 emissions as part of our efforts to combat climate change.